AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in France

Global Experiences put together a great program and I really enjoyed my entire experience abroad in Paris! I was able to work abroad instead of just having done a study abroad, which really helped me gain lifelong experiences for my career as well as my life education. I had a lot of independence with my internship, which allowed me to see how I could handle an entirely new city on my own while speaking a second language. I was doing an internship alongside other Parisians doing the same internship and really felt as though I was emerged in the culture. Things like taking the métro and finding places were a little difficult the first week, but by the end of the trip I'd transformed into a true Parisian and could handle going anywhere. I met tons of really neat people and I will always remember my experience! It has led me to explore more of the world. I am very thankful for the opportunity that I was given through GE.

<p>I had a tremendous experience with my Paris internship which consisted of me working at the National Institute of Sport Expertise and Performance. While there were many highlights for me in Paris, one that stood out for me was how well my GE matched my interests and major with an opportunity in a foreign country. The internship was exactly what I was looking for and also became a huge resume builder for me.</p>
<p>I had a full time internship while I was in Paris and a very friendly host family that cooked me amazing meals three nights a week.</p>
<p>What many people should realize when they do an internship in a foreign country is that its not like a study abroad. When you study abroad you are surrounded by other students who generally speak the same language as you and you are being taught in a class by professors. This was an amazing experience because I was in the workforce and fully immersed in a foreign culture with a foreign boss. It was very exciting and while it made me a little nervous at first I soon realized that not only was GE making sure everything went smoothly for me, the people that I worked with were also very understanding and accepting.</p>