Internship recap

So Friday marked the last day of my internship. Overall I really enjoyed my time. I got to tour all of the departments and learn how financial institutions operate in an environment that is largely informal. I looked back on my notes and I've learned so many new French financial terms which is fun to think about. Overall, I think I've learned the most about creativity, innovation, and adaptability. It took me so long to wrap my head around the informal sector. I couldn't understand that the government/institutions acknowledge their presence. But it was so cool to see the process of how Cofina verifies a credit for the informal sector. The bankers visit the business to see their receipts, stock, sales, and inventory with their own eyes. Then they interview the owner to assess morality (because as they say, if a person has the money but doesn't want to then game over). It's so interesting because the bankers go out to the field to educate them about the products available to them. Once they become clients, bankers help them keep track of sales and expenses to reconstruct financial statements. So these institutions educate populations along with increasing financial inclusion.

Everyone was super welcoming and I was a bit sad to say goodbye. I'll miss eating ceebu yapp and listening to Wolof over lunch. By the end, once they figured out I was only 21 (everyone here leaves their home around 25 so they thought I was at least that old) and American (hence why I sometimes had a blank look on my face), I felt like everyone's little sister who got teased so it was a good time. It was the first of many goodbyes this week.

This is Maimouna who the first day made the guys bring me with to lunch so ever since then we were buddies :)

Since it's Ramadan, the Christians in the office (there were around 5 of us) ate at a different restaurant (before we would go to a woman's house). This meal was Senegalese couscous (I forgot the Wolof name).

This is Celestine's office. I thought the painting was cool.

And finally the welcome desk on the ground floor. If ever I had nowhere to go I just came and sat down with them. I even got to work with Excel some days and met some American clients so that was a fun surprise.