The End

After 6 weeks, I have finally reached the final day of work here in New Lanark. It's hard to believe that I have been here for so long! I started this internship worrying that time would pass by at a slow pace, but it feels like I've only been here for a few days.

This morning, I worked as the greeter in the Lego Exhibition and got to interact with some of the staff that I had previously never met. It's crazy how you can work somewhere for this long and still manage to meet new people!

This afternoon, I primarily worked on ensuring that my projects were as complete as I could get it. Also, I had a meeting with Jane in order to go through my experiences here in Scotland. Through Jane's guidance, I have been able to learn a great deal about the search room, as well as about how a heritage site runs. Having so many different jobs truly helped to keep me on toes. Instead of being stuck on one project for an extended period of time, I instead got to delve into a number of tasks. This helped me to be flexible while ensuring that I developed a broader knowledge of New Lanark and search room procedures. 

I have learned so much from everyone here and I am going to miss this place. New Lanark is an incredible place with a rich history and an endless amount of beauty. Not only can you take an educational tour, but you can also simply wonder around, enjoying the beauty of Scotland. 

During my weekend getaways, I was able to see a great deal of sites that further deepened my knowledge of Scotland. Even though I didn't make it as far as I would have liked to, and I often felt uncomfortable going too far alone, I still managed to see some of Scotland's best tourist destinations. 

I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity and I can't wait to go back home and tell everyone about my adventures. Also, it is my hope that I can get more students involved in applying for this internship. It is a wonderful grow as an individual, especially for someone that is not confident in themselves. This internship has helped me to be more comfortable as a solo traveler while still having people nearby that were willing to help me when I needed it. 

Words cannot begin to describe how incredible the staff members in New Lanark are. Through their guidance, friendliness, and warm welcome, I have been able to enjoy this trip even amidst my insecurities and homesickness. It is sad to know that I will likely not see any of these individuals for some time, but I am confident that each of them has a great career ahead of them. Hopefully I will be able to reconnect with some of the staff in a few years when I come back to visit!

For now, I must begin the final sweep of my room in order to ensure that nothing is left behind unintentionally. Tomorrow will be a long day, but I will get to see my loving family and wonderful fiance! Let the journey home begin!