Hei! My Name is Jayke. I am a student from Germany and study International Tourism Management at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences. Spending a semester abroad is a mandatory part of my studies, and I chose to complete my internship at JVB Travel AS in Norway. I have always been interested in the Scandinavian countries, so Norway was a great choice for me. I really enjoy being here, especially because of the beautiful nature and landscapes.
Where could you find me?
You could mostly find me in the booking department, so if you booked a tour with us between April and August, you probably talked to me at some point.
But I was not only in the office during my internship. In my free time, I also took the opportunity to explore Norway by car and discover different places around the country. This gave me the chance to see more of the beautiful landscapes, visit new areas, and experience Norway outside of everyday working life. It was a great way to make the most of my time here and get to know the country better. I even tried to go skiing with the others, but we figured out fast that that wasn’t for me – I was soaking wet after 20 minutes of trying.
My internship at JVB Travel gave me the opportunity to learn about the tourism industry, work in an international environment and experience everyday life in Norway.
What were my expectations for Norway?
There were three things I wanted to see in Norway:
1. A Moose
2. A Fjord Horse
3. The Fjords
I managed to do this (though the moose took its time) and many other things. I got to travel to both Bergen and Oslo, which are really beautiful. And even though Bergen is known for a lot of rain, I was very lucky and had sunny weather during my visit.
I also saw a lot of Reindeer, which was really cool.
What were the highlights of this internship?
Through this internship, I had so many opportunities to do things I would normally never have thought of doing.One of these was getting the chance to ride in a Beltebil, and because of a miscommunication, I also got to take a ride on a snowmobile – which was really exciting. I definitely need to do that again.
I also got to join the crew on the Bitihorn and take a trip across Lake Bygdin to enjoy the landscape. We took the boat from Bygdin to Eidsbugarden and back. Normally, I am not a person who enjoys football, but experiencing the World Cup here in Norway has been such a pleasure.
I had so much fun watching the games, which I would never have expected. RO!!
From travelling through beautiful landscapes to riding in a snowcoach and sailing across Lake Bygdin, my time in Norway has been an experience I will never forget.
What is my conclusion on this internship?
This internship has been such a great experience. I have had the chance to meet many wonderful people, learn a lot about the tourism industry, and gain valuable practical experience. Everyone at JVB Travel and in Norway generally has been very friendly, helpful, and welcoming from the very beginning, which made it easy for me to feel comfortable and become part of the team.
I also learned a lot about working in an international environment and experienced what every day working life in Norway is like. I would definitely recommend an experience like this to other students, as it is a great opportunity to develop both professionally and personally, meet new people, and experience a different country and culture.