Internship Feedback

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Russell Crosby, CTU Prague,

ročník 3

About the country

Location of the place

Badaro, Beirut

City

Beirut

Surroundings (possible trips, ...)

Due to the COVID epidemy, it was more complicated to discover surroundings than usual. We had to organize by ourselves, we found a group of people, with whom we visited Baalbek whit ruins from the ancient world, Betroun, the Pyramid of Hermel, and other beautiful places. As well as Beirut had many places to visit and lots of what to do.

Employer

I was employed as a geotechnical engineer by the Lebanese company “STS Consultants”, which provides high-end geotechnical consultancy services.

Work description

I got many interesting experiences, I have been assisting in slope stability analysis, design of shoring systems for excavations (diaphragm wall, nails, anchors ...) design of reinforcement, design the shallow foundation, deep foundation, and rigid inclusion.

Salary (sufficient for local conditions?)

Lebanon, during my internship, was in critical condition, my salary was 1,000,000 LBP/month (~$50). However, I was not able to afford many of the goods, many of them were imported, but it was enough to survive.

Language requirements

Language requirements was on “good" level

Accommodation (price, who provided it)

I was accommodated by the local IEASTE in the very nice studio with my private bathroom and kitchen near the AUB campus for free.

Social life

Meeting IAESTE members (pick-up at the airport, organized events...)

The members of the local IAESTE booked me a taxi to pick me up at the airport. Events from the local IAESTE weren't organised due to the COVID epidemic. We organised by ourselves.

Meeting other foreign students

We have been only 3 (me, and guys from Poland, and Jordan). The member of the local IAESTE gave us contacts of each other on WhatsApp.

Sport and culture

My employer showed me surroundings and introduce me to culture as well as Lebanese cuisine.

Food, local specialties

Most of time, I used to go to restaurants on Hamra street, which was plenty of Lebanese cuisines and it was cheap.

Other information

Possibilites to communicate with the Czech Republic

By mail

Recommendations for students who will go to the same place

Don’t forget to take dollars in cash, don’t pay by card because the banks use the official rate (artificial rate), which was 1,500 LPB per dollar, but the real rate was 20,000 LBP per dollar at the time of the internship. And be patient, sometimes to get something takes time.

What not to forget with you

Passport and dollars in cash

Benefits of the internship

Work experience, new culture, new friends and beneficial for my CV

Cooperation with IAESTE in the foreign country

It was great, informative, and clear. We communicated by mail and after arrival in Beirut we used WhatsApp

Overall experience with IAESTE

I got many experiences in Civil Engineering and likewise, I learn about situations, life, and culture in the Middle East and Lebanon, which change my view. Also, I made new friends.