Friday (25/3) is the final day to apply for the internship at the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje for the autumn semester. To give you an idea what an internship at the embassy might look like, we would like to present our current intern Viktor, who is here as a part of his master program in International Relations at Sciences Po Bordeaux in France. You might recognize him from before – he was with us in 2020 while studying at the Swedish Defence University, until the pandemic abruptly ended his stay.
What do you find similar to Sweden, and what is different?
-I can tell that North Macedonia belongs to Europe. Like Swedes, the people living here are eager to discover the world, meet people from different cultures, and enjoy being out in nature. In Skopje, the trendy cafes and good restaurants make me feel like I’m in some hipster neighborhood in Stockholm, and I love that it is combined with a more oriental vibe on the northern side of the river Vardar. Still, there are some differences: people are more laid-back, and it is very easy to connect with new people. Also, there’s šopska salad on the menu in every restaurant, something which Sweden should definitely copy.
How is it to be back as an intern at the embassy, and what is left on your to-do list since last time?
-I’m very glad to be back! My previous internship got interrupted due to the pandemic, and I’m excited to get the chance to complete it, while also writing my master thesis in which North Macedonia is the main topic. This time, I hope to properly understand the role of the international community in North Macedonia, and how the different sections of our embassy work together as Team Sweden. Of course, I’m also excited to travel around the country – aside from the usual tourist hotspots, I would like to visit places such as Tetovo, Kruševo and Šuto Orizari to fully experience North Macedonia’s multiculturalism.
What is most challenging to you professionally during your internship here at the embassy?
-You mean other than learning how to tie a tie? I would say that the unwritten rules of diplomacy pose some difficulties – it’s difficult to know what you can and cannot say and how to behave in certain situations. That’s why it’s so important to get to experience diplomacy in practice! It’s also a challenge to filter all the information I receive and determine what is relevant for the embassy’s work and what is not.
Thank you, Viktor!
For more information about the conditions for internships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, see: Praktik inom utrikesförvaltningen
