Malea Martin, United States
One-year MAPP candidate,
Class of 2016
Intern, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
I am interning in the State Department's Regional Environmental, Science, Technology and Health Hub for Central and Eastern Europe. I am based at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. The hub seeks to increase cooperation on trans-boundary environment, science and technology, and health issues in 20 countries in the region. This includes promoting initiatives focused on development, innovation, and renewable energy. The hub also supports trans-boundary water cooperation and nature conservation.
I first heard about the U.S. Department of State's Student Internship Program when I was studying abroad in Bulgaria as an undergrad. This is my second State Department internship. I did my first internship in the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey in 2012. One of the reasons I enjoy interning at U.S. Embassies is that each day brings new opportunities to expand my knowledge of the region and to learn what the day-to-day life of State Department employees is like. One day I may be attending a conference and researching renewable biomass energy, while the next day could find me at meetings with government officials on collaboration between American and Hungarian scientists. The constant change of pace and opportunities for new experiences is something that makes a career with the State Department particularly attractive to me.
Thanks to this internship, I am further developing skills in a number of areas, such as writing decision memos and briefing notes, assisting in organizing outreach programs, and public speaking. As I have recently been applying for jobs, I have noticed that potential employers are drawn to the fact that I have interned with the State Department. This experience will be particularly beneficial if I end up working for the federal government in the future.
Although I have had quite a few interesting and exciting experiences during my internship, I have to say that my favorite has been the opportunity to explore three Hungarian National Parks with Ambassador Bell. These trips have shown me the natural beauty that Hungary has to offer. I have expanded my knowledge of the country's biodiversity as well as its history and culture. I am especially grateful for these experiences because I didn't have much time during the academic year to explore Budapest and the surrounding region. In addition to these trips to national parks, I have also visited the baths and discovered the caves of the Buda hills. I recently biked to the nearby town of Szentendre and on another trip visited the beautiful Pannonhalma Archabbey.
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