A drink with ... our CAPA intern Nicholas Hermanson

the drinks association has spent the past four years supporting the CAPA International Exchange Program, an exciting internship initiative that gives students from global universities the opportunity to live and work in Australia.

Our latest intern, Nicholas Hermanson, was integral in driving the communications plan for the launch of the 2017 Australian drinks Awards entry process.  

Here's what he had to say about his internship at the drinks association.

"My time at the drinks association and in Sydney was absolutely amazing. Though only a short seven weeks, it has felt like seven months.

"Everyone in the office made me feel like I had been a part of the team from the day I arrived. The staff is very hard working, while maintaining a great work/life balance, which I think is a great quality for employees to have in the workplace. Being able to socialise with your co-workers really makes the office run very smoothly, because you get to know the people you are working with, from their weekend hobbies to where they are from.

"I worked on the communications plan for the 2017 Australian drinks Awards with the communications manager, Alana House, who taught me so much. She really challenged me to do things I have never done before, but that would help develop my skills, all while being there to help any time I needed it. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was given, as it has really helped develop my writing and communication skills. 

"Living in Sydney has been a life changing experience. I have never lived in a major urban area before, so this has all been very new to me. Being my first time out of the United States, I would not have rather been anywhere else than here. Coming with a large group, we stopped in New Zealand for 10 days before heading over to Australia, which was a dream come true.  I have always wanted to come to this part of the world more than anywhere else and still cannot believe everything I have experienced.

"Being in central Sydney, we were very close to anything you could want to do, with easy access to public transportation to travel anywhere we wanted. Although I have not experienced everything I would have liked to while in Australia, doing things like the Harbour Bridge Climb, touring the Sydney Opera House, visiting the Blue Mountains and going to the Great Barrier Reef has been the greatest experience of my life. 

"Being able to not only explore, but work as well, also really helped me prepare for life after graduation.  Seeing the work/life balance hands on, in a major city, can really teach you a lot.  My co-workers were also very helpful, giving me advice on where to go and what to do, so that I could get the most out of my short time here.  It has been the experience of a lifetime and I am extremely grateful for all I have been able to do and see on this trip.

"Big thanks goes to my home school of Augustana College, CAPA and the drinks association for making this all come together and provide me with the experience of a lifetime.  The main thanks go to my parents.  I would be nothing without them and thank them every day for all the sacrifices they have made to allow me to not only go on this trip, but giving me the best chance possible to succeed in life.  I hope that what I learned here will help me be successful and make them proud."