MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Liana Matei

A graduate from Nicolae Titulescu University in Bucharest, Romania, Liana Matei earned a Masters degree in international and community law, and she completed her undergraduate work at Romanian-American University, also in Bucharest. Liana was working as a junior councilor within the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority at the European Integration and International Relations Department in her country where she transposed the European Union’s laws into Romanian legislation, went to meetings of the European Commission, and met with government officials. Liana was trilingual in English, French, and Romanian; she had traveled extensively through France, Tunisia, Spain, Austria, Italy, Greece, Cambridge, and England. Liana requested an internship in diplomacy when she and her boyfriend, Augustin Tudor Paul Dragan both applied to the Washington Internship Program in early October of 2003, and by the end of the month WIP placed her at Meridian International Center, which works with foreign embassies, conducts seminars on world affairs, sends missions overseas, and promotes educational outreach throughout the schools by teaching American youngsters about the cultures of other nations. Liana and Paul moved into International House four months later, and due to superb English and leadership skills, by the summer they became resident assistants for other interns. In the fall, the couple applied to extend their visas by six months, and both became paid interns for the Washington Internship Program where Liana planned recruiting trips in Canada and the U.S., managed a weekly job-bank of part-time paid employment, spoke with students from across America and abroad who wanted information about WIP, did computer work, and helped execute field trips and retreats. Below is Liana’s description of her first internship.

“Meridian International Center is a nonprofit institution that promotes international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and arts. Established in 1960 with headquarters in Washington D.C., Meridian educated people of all ages about global issues while connecting professionals from different countries and promoting multicultural perspectives across the United States and abroad. Meridian International is a place where the world comes together. I started my internship there on February 23, 2006, and for more than seven months I enjoyed working in a global environment. I was based in the Educational Outreach Department where I provided office support and was an archivist for the Culture Box Library (that contains hands-on learning resources for teaching about different countries and regions of the world). I created the Romanian culture box as part of what Dr. Bayer described as a ‘time-capsule museum,’ and I prepared materials for India while renovating display artifacts for Japan, Senegal, and Russia. I also served as liaison for teachers throughout area schools who checked-out these boxes, and I served as a receptionist for visitors to the office. During six weeks in the summer, I was the sole representative of the Educational Outreach Office as other staff members were out of the country at a work project. My supervisors felt comfortable leaving the office in my hands, and I did my best to meet their expectations and respond to other departments. I felt so proud when they returned and were highly satisfied with the work I did while they were away.”

“At Meridian I learned to write more effectively in conjunction with public events, and I conducted background research, corresponded with embassies and guest speakers, updated the library, prepared invitations, monitored the cultural lending system, maintained databases, and performed a host of administrative duties. I also planned specialized programs and worked with clients using various computer programs. My internship at Meridian was one of the best experiences of my career thus far. Supervisors encouraged me to apply the skills I had learned in school, trusted me to assume responsibility, and helped me gain new insights and tools for success. At the same time, the Washington Internship Program taught me about this extraordinary capital city and what people can accomplish when they really care about what they do.”

“This past year I had the great opportunity to experience Washington, D.C. from an insider’s point of view, which was an amazing chance for a young adult seeking professional development and enrichment. I learned about foreign affairs and international education, but one year was not enough to achieve all my goals so I extended my J1 visa to eighteen months in order to stay longer in this fascinating city where my boyfriend and I made so many close friends. We were able to compare diplomatic life in America with Romanian models, and I was thrilled to assist WIP – the organization that made possible this exciting chapter in my life.”

Back to Sample internships main page