HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT THIS INTERNSHIP:

WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME HAVING DONE THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE:

Personally I’m very very happy about the opportunity of doing an internship in a place like very50. People have really helped me a lot, and always made sure I was able to do the tasks they gave me. If I had any question, I always received answers and help from everyone in the company (especially from Nozomu, to whom I asked at least 1000000 questions in a day). I feel like I personally have more understanding of what it means to work for an NPO that supports Social Enterprises and people in need. I still have a lot to learn, but I think that was certainly an amazing start. Also, I feel like I understand more what it means to work in an office. I’ve always worked in schools, so the atmosphere is different. I really like the atmosphere here, because no matter how much everyone had to work, people always found a bit of time for a good laugh. Also, the professionalism it’s been of the highest standards I have ever seen.

THE CREW:

I will absolutely miss the lunches prepared at home by Ryoh Sugitani, or discussing ideas for the blogs or the next topics with Nozomu. With them around, it was a mix of great ideas and laughs, which made the general vibes of the office amazing. I will also miss Akko, who always has a positive outlook on life, and is very strong. How can I forget Ryoma. I still believe that he could read minds, whenever we had to see who would win the rock, paper, scissors game (what a cheat hahahah). Maasa and Saaya, with their calm really taught me that, no matter what happens, you can be the calm in the middle of the storm, no matter what’s going on around you. Ayakitano has also always been super kind to me as well. She would always make sure everything was going well for me and if I ever needed help, she was there to look after me. Also I believe that the professional attitude of Ryoichiro was amazing and is something that I believe I will bring with me on my next phase of my life. Last but most importantly, Ryosuke, founder of very50. What can I say, brilliant, simply brilliant. I would say a genius. And I mean it. He founded the best place I’ve had ever the pleasure of working in.

WHAT THIS INTERNSHIP TAUGHT ME:

I believe this internship taught me that I can do more than I believe I’m capable of. I don’t know everything, and there is still a lot I need to learn, but the ideas that I’ve heard, especially during one of the meetings we had, when we were discussing about how the coronavirus would affect MoG and the work in very50, I’ve heard so many interesting things that I wouldn’t have learnt if I just stayed at home. Also, I appreciate the fact that everyone at very50 always cheered up for me whenever I did a good job. Also I have to say that the atmosphere at work has been amazing. I felt like people here became like part of my family. I will miss every single one of them. People, no matter how crazy my ideas were, made me feel very welcome and part of something bigger.

MY GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

I think Japan for me it’s more than just a place where I come for holidays or work experience. Whenever I come here I feel like I’m coming back home after a long time. The people here have been so helpful and never made me feel bad if I didn’t know something, and had the patience of a Saint to explain to me everything I needed to know in order to do the task well. I will miss the laughs during launch, the feeling of being able to make a difference somehow, even if I wasn’t able to do everything everything. I would not change anything of this experience for the world.
I feel sad that it had to come to sudden halt because of the virus, because I would have loved to stay here longer and get to start the new project that I was planning. It would have been so much better to do that from Tokyo, while now from Milan everything will become more complicated. No matter what the difficulties however, I know that me and the others will meet again and it will be great. Until then, may the force be with you all.