Queen Mary University of London BA Politics and International Relations student Tasnim took part in our Global Leadership Summer Programme, interning in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She shares her impressions of the working culture, food, and realising she’s more capable than she thought.

Before this trip, I had never travelled abroad on my own so when I received the offer letter for a work experience opportunity in Malysia, I was filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I honestly had no idea what to expect and there were definitely moments where I questioned whether I should even go. Looking back now, I’m so glad I decided to take the leap as I had no idea just how rewarding and memorable this trip would turn out to be.  

Workplace culture shock

Coming from a rigid workplace culture in London, I went into my internship with the same formal attitude, but I was pleasantly surprised by how laid back the team was.  The difference was honestly shocking. Everyone was so incredibly friendly and warm, making the office feel like more like a group of friends than coworkers. As the new intern, I expected to mostly listen and follow instructions (and maybe get ignored a little). Instead, the team regularly turned to me for feedback, genuinely wanting to hear my perspective and involved me in their decision making. It was refreshing to be treated as a valued contributor rather than merely a newcomer. There were also local Malaysian interns that I connected with where I got to hear more about everyday life and received amazing recommendations for local food and hangout spots.  

Food in Malaysia

Now onto the best part of the trip, the food! (just kidding it’s definitely the people…but the food comes pretty close). I think I ate more in Malysia than I have in my entire lifetime. Malaysia is such a melting pot of flavours and cuisines there’s genuinely an endless amount of things to try, from nasi lemak to Hainanese Chicken Rice, to even dishes from my home country so I never missed my mum’s cooking. I quickly realized that food is a huge part of Malaysian culture. Thus, I made sure to try everything I could, and the best part was that almost all of it was halal. My favourite however was the night food market which had some of the best snacks and flavours I’ve ever tried like the rougamo, tanghulu and ABC. Honestly, every bite felt like a trip to a different country because of how authentic the flavours were (I wasn’t really a fan of the durian though).  

People: the heart of my experience 

I’m quite an introverted person, so I knew that to make the most of my experience in Malaysia, I’d have to step out of my comfort zone. Doing so helped me meet new friends who made the whole experience a lot more fun. One of my favourite memories was a trip to Langkawi with those friends, where we sang (badly) along to throwback songs in the car. Moments like that made Malaysia feel less like a place I was just visiting and more like a second home. 

Through these friendships, I realised how quickly I can adapt when I put myself out there and thanks to them, I never once felt homesick. I also discovered just how warm and generous people in Malaysia are when I got lost on the MRT. What should’ve been a 15-minute train ride turned into two hours, but when I finally asked for help, a stranger kindly travelled with me all the way to my destination to make sure I didn’t get lost again. That kindness really summed up the spirit of the people I met there. 

Finding myself: growth and reflection 

Being a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, Malaysia felt like a breath of fresh air. I didn’t have to worry about halal food, there were prayer spots everywhere, and hearing the call to prayer every day was comforting. Shopping for modest clothing and hijabs was a lot easier too. It was nice to be somewhere where my religion was just part of everyday life. Beyond these aspects of daily life, my placement was also a significant period of personal growth. One of the biggest takeaways from my placement was realising just how capable I am. Managing life in a completely new city on my own for a month, juggling work, friendships, exploring, and even taking a trip out to a different island, all of it pushed me in ways I didn’t expect. 

This experience gave me a huge boost in confidence and made me feel much more sure of myself. Working with people in another country improved my cross-cultural communication skills. I learned to navigate different communication styles and ways of thinking, which broadened my perspective and helped me become more adaptable both personally and professionally. This experience also confirmed that I want to focus more on international relations in my career and made me consider working in Malaysia again someday. 

Final thoughts

Leaving Malaysia was definitely bittersweet, I was sad to say goodbye to a place that had quickly started to feel like home. But I’m going back with so much more than I came with: new friendships, a newfound confidence, and a fresh perspective on life and work. 

My advice to anyone who is thinking about doing something similar is to take the leap. You won’t regret it.