Skip to main content
Arts + Social Sciences › Political Science
SFU Co-op Student

Kamilah and a woman standing
Every day is different at the Consulate; there are always new and exciting projects to take on.

This article was originally published in the Arts Co-op Newsletter in Summer 2013.

This spring I spent a co-op term working as a Public Affairs Intern for the United States Consulate General Vancouver. Although a quieter post than perhaps Ottawa or Baghdad, Vancouver offered up many exciting opportunities and experiences for me as a fourth-year political science student.

Practicing public diplomacy in Vancouver for the Consulate was a great introduction to international affairs and crossborder cultural relations. Thanks to my past co-ops, my small but effective network came in handy when programming events for the Consulate throughout Metro Vancouver.

As most media will go first through Ottawa before coming to Vancouver, much of our work here is based on public diplomacy. For me, this included hosting Digital Video Conferences with American experts who presented on topics to key audiences, facilitating a meet-and-greet with the Consul General, the Mayor of Abbotsford, the Abbotsford Youth Commission, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and filming a short web-series on past women alumni of the State Department’s International Visitor’s Leadership Programs for Women’s History Month.

Working in public affairs is exciting - especially for the US Department of State. Every day is different at the Consulate; there are always new and exciting projects to take on. My co-interns and I were given lots of responsibility; we were able to represent the Consulate at various events and meetings, and drafting notes for speeches and cables. We were also proud to be members of the US Consulate’s team at the 2013 Vancouver Sun Run, which was a great experience.

I was lucky enough to be present for Ambassador David Jacobson, the United States Ambassador to Canada’s visit to Vancouver in early April. This was quite the opportunity for us as interns, and an experience I know I’ll appreciate throughout my career.

I’ve recently attained citizenship to the Czech Republic, and as I prepare to spend my summer in Prague on an SFU Field School, the idea of working internationally has become quite attractive. It was always a treat to hear my supervisor talk about her previous postings in Jamaica and Poland. Thanks to the US Consulate, this idea also appears to be more of a realistic option than a daydream. Perhaps the Canadian Embassy in Prague needs a Public Affairs Intern…

It will be a bitter-sweet goodbye at the end of April, but I hope the following interns have an equally rewarding experience with the Consulate, working for the US Department of State in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

SFU Co-op Student
visibility  78
May 5, 2013

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking, Work Term Extension

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

picture of glichelle pondering a though
Surviving Workplace Politics

Ever been peeved with workplace politics? Have you ever been a victim of office politics? One student shares her experiences from the workplace with tips on how to survive.

 

person with their head in a book
Responsibility and Success

One of the most memorable parts of my time in co-op was the collection of accidents, errors, mistakes, and mix-ups that happened in the course of working in the laboratory.

 

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

Portrait of Elizabeth
Getting Familiar with Adobe Creative Suite

Within the first week of my second work term, it became apparent just how much I would be working with Adobe Illustrator. I felt I should be an expert when I was, in fact, still a beginner. How would I rise to the challenge, and become more familiar with the Adobe Suite while on the job?

Claire and her students
Heat in Catalonia: Lessons from International Co-op

A student desperately wanting to have class outside suggested we put the decision to a vote. An overwhelming amount of hands went up for having class in the sun and I paused to think about how I could adjust my lesson plan without a chalkboard. The students saw my hesitation and said, “but Claire, don’t you believe in our right to have a democracy?”. This was when I knew I would learn a lot more than just how to teach, from my international co-op term in Catalonia.

michael sitting next to the computer
The Marathon of the Service Desk: A First Nations Health Authority Co-op Experience

Do you enjoy working with computers? Do you find the idea of solving puzzles to be exhilarating? Do you want to help people get introduced to the world of computers? If so, perhaps a Service Desk Analyst will be a perfect fit for you. Follow SIAT student, Michael Sandrin, in his first occupational adventure: working as a Service Desk Analyst for the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).