Panigram Summer Interns Arrive in Bangladesh!

Panigram Summer Interns in the Sundarbans

This summer I have invited four exceptional students from my alma mater, Cornell University, to Bangladesh to assist me with various aspects of designing and developing the resort. I hope that this will be a summer of exploration, cultural exchange, and professional development for them.

After a long flight from halfway around the world, they arrived in Dhaka tired, but eager to begin. The first week was primarily an orientation to Bangladesh. I gave them a crash course in Bangla, showed them how to hail a rickshaw, and introduced them to Bangladeshi cuisine. We visited the site, went to the local market, visited some archaeological sites, and took a trip to the Sundarban Forest. The rest of the summer they will spend working on projects which will enhance the Panigram experience.

I will let them introduce themselves in their own words…

Janine Beydoun

Janine

I am Janine Beydoun, a freshman at the Cornell University School for Hotel Administration. Born and raised in New York City, all my life I have been intrigued by the myriad of cultures and cuisines which have always surrounded me. Needless to say I am excited to join Panigram this summer as the culinary intern.

This internship particularly interested me based off the unique experience it can give me. Unlike culinary internships in New York, the Panigram culinary internship affords complete creative expression in my edible creations combined with immersion into Bangladeshi culture. I have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in the longstanding oral tradition of how to prepare these dishes from Bangladeshi mothers and grandmothers. Kristin charged me with the task of learning how to prepare traditional Bangladeshi dishes and fuse these flavors with Western influences in a healthy manner. I am eager to tackle this challenge.

Chi Chi Lin

Chi Chi

I’m seated on my coconut husk bed, dressed in a lime green
salwar, legs crossed, editing a day’s worth of photos on my MacBook Pro. My name is Chi-Chi Lin, an American-Taiwanese. I was born in Ohio, spent my childhood in China, and grew up in Singapore. This fall, I will be a second-year architecture student at Cornell University. I aim to pursue a career in sustainable architecture in the future.

As an architecture intern at Panigram Resort, I am leading the design and construction of a temporary pavilion on the site that Kristin will be able to use to host guests. While in Jessore, I’ll source tiles and design a playground. Rain, ponds, and paddies play a key part in Bangladeshi daily life, so I will employ these elements of water in my projects.

The opportunity to intern at Panigram Resort as an architecture intern allows me to synthesize what I’ve learned in the classroom with my experience in the region, the local culture, and traditional building materials.

Jonathon Spada

Jonathon

Born and raised in Lompoc, California, I am a senior in the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University with a concentration in Hospitality Facilities Design. Beyond design, I have always had a keen interest in international hospitality. Last summer I worked as a management intern with Aramark for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China where I led a team of Chinese students in the Facilities Operations Department.

This summer, I wanted to expand my international experience and I enthusiastically accepted the internship with Panigram Resort. My primary responsibility is to create a guide program for the resort, including walking, bicycle, rickshaw, and boat tours around the property and surrounding villages. I am very excited for this project and look forward to exploring the area in order to share the natural beauty with all future Panigram guests.

Brian Grambow

Brian

I’m Brian Grambow, a junior at Cornell University School of Hotel Adminstration, interning with Panigram Resort. Raised in Portland, Oregon, my interests include travel, fine dining, and hiking. The opportunity to travel to Bangladesh and intern with Kristin excited me very much. I was looking for a summer internship filled with adventure where I could use my education in hospitality and business to make a difference. Panigram proved to be the right fit, with a beautiful, exotic location and a focus on responsible, sustainable entrepreneurship.

My primary directive this summer is to document the experiences of Chi Chi, Janine, and Jonathon and share our adventures on Panigram’s blog. I will also be helping Kristin with market research and publicity.