Here at BigTent, we recently bid goodbye to our summer interns. Thanks to Bernhard, Courtland, Gary, and Mary Liz for all of their enthusiasm and hard work!
As our interns headed back to school to complete their studies, Bernhard had a particularly long voyage. He flew all the way back to Dresden, Germany, where the snow is already starting to fall.
For warmth, there’s always Starbucks.
After a year of getting to know BigTent inside and out, we’re hoping that Bernhard will someday help implement “Das Grosse Zelt,” the German variety. To find out how Bernhard first united with Big Tent, please read on:
Going to the USA, working at a cool company, and getting international experience and new contacts – this is a dream for all European boys. Especially when, like me, they have just finished their boring civil and army service and are craving some international spirit.
So I decided in 2006 to work for a web company in San Francisco, but I wasn’t sure if I should join a start up or a larger company. After my first Skype call with BigTent it became totally clear to me: This is the company you just have to join. Full of opportunities and challenges and great people, I knew it right away.
So after flying over, orientating in a new culture, fighting for housing in San Francisco, applying for a social security number and fighting for my new visa, I started working in the mid-February 2007. I think I started on Valentine’s Day (<3).
I got to work on a variety of projects, from public page implementation, admin area design, and moving the Big Tent blog to a more robust hosting service, WordPress. Meanwhile, I tried to spread some German culture around, handing out hundreds of German beer mugs, amusing my coworkers with my harsh accent and my special way of small talking.
Now I am leaving to finish my college education. It’s not easy to say goodbye, to leave this wonderful environment and the friends I have made here. It has been a pleasure to work here – my BigTent, I’m gonna miss you all! Thanks for everything, I think I can’t phrase it in words how much you have given my life a wonderful, new direction. It has been so much fun!
Sincerely,
Bernhard Schmidt
