Hello, everyone! My name is Nadzirah, but everyone calls me Nana. I’m an intern from Kolej Vokasional Sandakan 2, currently pursuing a Diploma in Tourism Management. It’s been 22 weeks since I started my internship at BSBCC, and honestly, so many days, so many stories, and so many memories….I never expected this internship to become such a special part of my life.

Throughout my internship, I had the chance to meet so many amazing people… the wonderful staff, fellow interns, volunteers, and of course, visitors from different places. I got to interact with visitors, guide them around the centre, learn how to care for the sun bears, and spend so much time observing and spotting different wildlife. Every day brought something new. Sometimes it was exciting, sometimes tiring, sometimes completely unexpected, but somehow, every experience gave me something to remember. Along the way, I gained new knowledge, made new friends, became more confident, and experienced things I never thought I would. Most importantly, I was genuinely happy and enjoyed coming to work every day. Looking back, I’m really grateful that I got the opportunity to experience all of this.

*Taking a picture with the staff on Sari and Calvin's last day*

*Selfie with Dr. Wong Siew Te also with the interns and volunteers after having a session*

*Picture with Sakurako before she returned to Japan*

And then… I MET OLIOZZZ!! NO TUHAU, NO POWER! HAHAHA! This was definitely one of the most unexpected and unforgettable moments of my internship. Oli was visiting Sandakan for a four-day trip, and of course, he came to Sepilok to visit the orangutans and our beloved Bornean sun bears. When we realised he was there, my friend Calvin and I were honestly SO shy to ask him for a selfie. We were basically standing there trying to convince ourselves to just go and ask. But somehow, we finally gathered the courage and WE MADE IT HAPPEN! HAHAHAHA. It was such a small moment, but definitely one that made my internship story a whole lot more fun and memorable.

Another huge highlight of my internship was my mini project. Seeing the project that I worked on finally completed and successfully used was honestly such a rewarding feeling. But this achievement wasn’t mine alone. Throughout the whole process, I received so much help, guidance, ideas, advice, and encouragement from the staff. Whenever I was stuck or unsure about something, there was always someone willing to help me. So, to everyone who contributed to my mini project in one way or another, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I truly appreciate every bit of help and support you gave me. Seeing the final result made all the effort, stress, and time spent on it completely worth it.

*My mini project: Sun Bear Life Cycle Wheel*

Looking back, this internship was never just about completing my On-the-Job-Training or collecting experience for my studies. It became a journey filled with people, laughter, challenges, learning, unexpected moments, wildlife encounters, and memories that I know I’ll carry with me for a very long time. I came here as an intern, but I’m leaving with new knowledge, new friendships, new experiences, and a heart full of memories.

*Picture with staffs and friends during the Pre-International Sun Bear Day*

To everyone at BSBCC, the staff, interns, volunteers, and everyone who crossed paths with me during these 22 weeks…Thank you for being part of my journey. Thank you for teaching me, helping me, supporting me, laughing with me, and making my internship experience so much more meaningful than I ever expected.

*Picture of me after stamping my fingerprint on the board*

*Picture with my Buddy, Izlan after successfully setting up the enrichment for Chin*

Thank you, BSBCC, for everything. This may be the end of my internship, but the memories I made here will always be a special chapter in my life.

My Journey Among the Sun Bears

A Journey I Will Always Remember

Rest In Peace, Soo. We will miss you dearly!