Dear future intern,
Congratulations on securing your internship. This experience will undoubtedly change who you are and how you view the world around you. Standing where you are, six months may feel like a long stretch of time, but I promise that within the blink of an eye, this experience will be behind you, and you will be wishing you were beginning this chapter, not closing it.
PACOS and my friends in Sabah gifted me a life-changing experience, shifting how I approach relationships and community. I will always feel a deep connection with Sabah. Leaving this internship, I have realized just how large our world is and how small I am. I feel inspired to never stop learning and to incorporate PACOS’ teachings into how I show up in the world. Your experience in Sabah will be individual to you. PACOS will wrap you up in community and tradition. Lean into this experience, and don’t shy away from feeling deeply about the journey.
I’m sure you are burning with curiosity about this place you will soon call a second home. Here is some advice from me to you for the journey ahead…
You will never be an expert, but you should try your absolute hardest. Working with PACOS, you will be given extensive opportunities to deepen your understanding of life in Borneo. Soak up and learn as much as humanly possible. Work hard to take part in the cultural practices shared with you with reciprocity and care. Show your respect through curiosity. There will always be more for you to learn from the world around you; never let your eagerness fade during these six months.
Avoid “no” at all costs. The more you participate, the stronger your relationship with your host organization will be. You will never regret the adventures you pushed yourself to take part in, even when you felt overheated or tired. You will earn respect by showing up consistently and displaying your appreciation. It’s okay to rest if you need it, but take advantage of your organization’s generosity, and you will experience way more of Sabah.
Take the adventure for what it is and don’t run from things that challenge your beliefs. Many times during this journey, you will face things that may cause discomfort. Don’t be afraid to share these feelings respectfully with your new community. Having open communication about these moments will allow you and your coworkers to learn from eachother. Everyone around you wants to see you succeed, so don’t shy away from telling your organization when something feels unsettling to you. On the flip side, you should not be a burden to your host organization. You may be taken to small villages with unique sleeping arrangements or unfamiliar food. Come prepared and do not complain. You are lucky to be invited at all.
Learn some Malay; a little goes a long way. People will always be working to accommodate your language barrier, especially in the villages. Be reciprocal and do your part by learning even a few phrases; it’s really the bare minimum and will help you connect with people in the community.
People will be blunt, so make sure you have a sense of humour. Find humour in uncomfortable moments. Sabahans are not always the most sensitive and will say what they think. Coworkers would say, “Sarah, you look horrible today!” which translates to “Sarah, I’m worried you look tired. Are you feeling alright?” Sabahans often have no filter, and even strangers will ask you very personal questions about your life. I had a few locals ask for pictures of my “big, giant nose!” apparently because they had never seen a nose so massive before. Have a laugh, these types of comments all come from kindness and care, don’t take it too seriously.
Find a hobby. I took up pottery classes as soon as I arrived, which helped with my transition. I recommend finding something in the community that you can do independently. If you spend too much time alone at home, it can feel pretty lonely.
Don’t underestimate the strength of local lihing (rice wine). Self-explanatory.
Work hard to maintain relationships with your new friends; they will have a larger impact on you than you think. When you meet new people you want to spend time with, reach out and show your interest in getting to know them. Sabahans are very inclusive, and if you share things you are interested in doing, they will most definitely make an effort to take you. Adventures and family gatherings with friends and coworkers enriched my experience. Try your best to push yourself out of your comfort zone when making new connections. At the PACOS office, staff are incredibly busy, so you will often need to reach out yourself.
Eat absolutely everything! Unless you have a religious or dietary restriction, eat traditional food as much as you can, especially when you are in the village. Don’t worry about food poisoning when travelling with PACOS. I never once got sick from food in the villages. Eating is the centre of community life in Sabah. If you show excitement towards local food, your coworkers and new friends will be very eager to take you out to eat. There is so much good food to try! For me, I ate as much durian and seafood as humanly possible.
Leave your embarrassment on the flight over. Prepare yourself to sing your heart out at karaoke, do traditional dancing and lots of public speaking. The less embarrassment you feel, the more fun you’ll have. Do yourself a favour and teach yourself to dance the pocho pocho and learn one traditional Kadazan-Dusun song (my go-to was Tupus Ku by Hain Jasli).
Share what feels challenging with your co-interns. Things are bound to be challenging at times; it’s very normal to feel scared, alone or overwhelmed by so many new experiences. Don’t shy away from reaching out to your fellow CAPI interns, present or former, for support; there’s a good chance they’ll understand how you are feeling better than your friends and family at home. I recommend meeting up with or hosting interns whenever you can; times with other interns will bring so much additional joy to your experience.
Show your gratitude at every opportunity. Understand how lucky you are to experience this. Dig your nails into this internship, because there are so many people across our globe who would do anything to be where you are. It is such an unbelievable privilege to be funded for an opportunity like this, including so much travel and adventure. Count your blessings and don’t waste them. Show your thanks to PACOS at every step and be as enthusiastic as you can.
Future intern, I can’t say I’m not jealous that you are beginning this chapter as it closes for me. PACOS will give you a deeply rewarding experience that I’m looking forward to following along with.
Thanks for reading, and I wish you all the luck on this beautiful adventure you’re beginning.
Semua cinta saya kepada Sabah,
Sarah Pollard, CAPI Intern 2025 with PACOS Trust
