AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Italy

I definitely enjoyed my time with my Global Experiences internship, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique 'study abroad' experience!

I was an intern in Milan, Italy for a PR and marketing agency. At first, I was nervous about this, as I had preffed a retail marketing and/or merchandising experience so I thought I would want to work in a showroom there. However, I decided to just go with it because the company seemed great to work for, and it was just a more general example of what my marketing major could teach me. This brings me to my first piece of GE advice: Be open to whatever opportunities may come to you. Maybe it’s not exactly what you had in mind, but being open to more experiences can introduce you to new passions or even further reassure you that the career path you’re on is the right one for you.

After my decision, I can honestly say that I was not disappointed at all once I began my internship. I could not have asked for a better placement after working at this agency. My co-workers were all so caring and immediately made me feel welcome, which eased another worry of mine. I showed enthusiasm everyday for the work given and they responded to that by giving me meaningful work to showcase what I could really do for them. My second piece of GE advice: I would encourage anyone thinking about going through the program to do the same and show enthusiasm as it really does pay off. You won't enjoy your work 100% of the time, but I think that definitely helps you grow and realize that this fact follows you everywhere. It's best to make the most of it! Because of this, I was able to later handle blogger collaboration negotiations, potential client presentations, website development for the agency, help with photoshoots, attend a fashion week event as a guest, and even celebrate my boss’ birthday with my co-workers on a weekend vacation to Tuscany. All of these things helped me realize that I really, and surprisingly, enjoy this line of work.

As far as the accommodations from GE go, I was very pleased with the location of my housing, my roommates, and the socials that the program had planned for us. They definitely made it easier to connect with others, and there is absolutely no need to be worried about not finding a great group of people to spend your free time with. My third piece of GE advice: I would highly recommend getting everyday advice from your co-workers and your program coordinators. They are more than likely willing to help if you just ask, and since they live in your internship location, they can definitely tell you how the locals live which can make your time adjusting much easier! Even if they don’t know the answer right away, your program coordinators will do their best to help you- that’s what they’re there for.

Overall, I had an unforgettable summer of learning and growth with Global Experiences. I made great connections, saw some beautiful sights, and discovered new professional strengths and passions. You might be nervous to be away from home for so long or about the internship in general, but I really don’t think that should stop you from joining this program. It is different and it will take some adjusting, but I promise you that it is so so worth it. Go GE!

Florence is a very artistic place. Since I never been to Europe before, it was a change in scenery I never expected. Everywhere I go, I can find some form of art or history. I got to:

1. try different food that I never ordered before from different restaurants
2. Been to different theme museums
3. Been to different theme Churches
4. Take pictures of old streets

In the end, Florence was a nice working vacation spot.

1. The staff were all so helpful and patient, I never had issues with them
2. I learned how to be more confident, independant, and got a ton of real world experience
3. I got to experience things and places I never thought I'd get to do
4. The high expenses are worth it for everything I got to do and see
5. If you are wondering about doing an internship through Global Experiences, GO FOR IT!!!

My experience has been amazing!
Nothing really about the internship that I didn't enjoy. If anything it was more like certain types of blog posts were less fun than others, but that's the same with any job. Writer's block was an obstacle for me when I wasn't terribly inspired by the project and I really had to kick myself in the pants sometimes to just get it done!
As for the Global Experiences parts of the internship I loved the outings, big surprise huh? Having Eleonora as our overseer was amazing, she's the best! Friend, tour guide (because she knows alot about the places we go!), guardian angel. We were lucky to have her, she's very sweet and kind and it was great knowing if we needed something or had questions she would be very prompt with her responses.
The schooling sadly did little for me, maybe it was just my learning style didn't fit but I regret not using that two weeks to just travel. The instructors themselves were very friendly though.
Another thing, the metro card, guys this saves us so much hassel! Never get rid of this! Ever!

Talking about my internship:
When I arrived and began working with my supervisor, a fashion blogger, we jumped right in to things. She had me up an running with all the log in's for her email, wordpress, pinterest, twitter, and instagram in the first few days and by the end of the first week I was keeping her calendar, reasearching trends, writing blog posts and going along for outfit pickups and events. I also helped her shoot a look book for a designer she was consulting for which was pretty cool.
Fashion week itself was a different kind of schedule altogether. Before fashion week it's all about the prep work like picking up fashion week outfits from press rooms, writing about what trends we will see in the show as well as keeping up the everyday work like shooting and writing about different outfits. We also try and lay out a tentitive scheduale as best we can before fashion week with the events and shows we know about before all the last minute (like 'day of' last minute) emails come in and we are scrambling to make sure they all make it on the calendar. Then it's a week of running to this show or that event, fighting for a seat amongst the seasoned fashion week photographers, and hagling with security. Exchanging pleasantries with PR, picking up press releases and goodie bags and doing all this while constantly updating twitter and instagram stories from every event you go to along the way.

After fashion week everything slows nearly to a halt for about a day or two, while we catch a breather, doing clean up work like retrning borrowed designer peices and organizing the million goodie bags with product and press releases. Then things in the writing sector take off and, because we now have so much material to work with our topic pile is overflowing, the blog post frenzy begins. So it may seem quieter because no, you aren't running around hopping on and off public transport til 8,9,10 at night, you are technically staying in but you're staying in because you have several hours, days of writing that needs to be done haha!

Working with this supervisor there's a role you don't find in a lot of work environments, she really wants you to be soaking in a learning as much as possible. It is actually a must for her, as oppossed to a lot of places where it is more 'here's the work you have done by this time, oh and hopefully it will help you learn something'. No she wants you to understand what you are doing, the reason and purpose behind doing it and how to do it well.
She also gives you a lot of independence, if you have a list of events to go to, you go on your own a lot of the time, and unless told otherwise you pretty much decide which order to go to them and when. You're job is just to make sure you make it to all of them and do the job right. So an important role here is to really keep yourself on task.

Patience, perhaps stemmed from years of retail work, has helped tremendously in this line of work and in a new country. Patience with the people, patience with the public transportation system that has an agenda of it's own and is at times utterly confusing, or on strike! Patience with those who send last minute emails but fully expect you to attend their event, and those events that don't start on time by like a whole hour. Patience with the workload, and with yourself for not having more of done.

My advice to any intern: Communicate, keep yourself in line and organized and be useful! Because it will all help you in the end!

In summer 2016 I jetted off to Florence, Italy for a digital marketing internship that I landed through the amazing Global Experiences program. Travelling has always been a major part of my life however, I wanted more than a vacation. I wanted to be immersed in an entirely new culture for a prolonged period in order to broaden my world view. This is exactly what Global Experiences gave me. Not only that, I will have memories, stories, and friendships that will last a lifetime. While it sounds scary to move to a country where you not only don't know anyone but you also do not speak the language, it was the best decision I could have ever made while in university. I am a firm believer that only good things come from stepping outside of your comfort zone and, if presented this choice again, I would jet across the world with GE in a heart beat!

I knew from the moment that I went to a Global Experiences interest meeting my junior year, I was hooked (and it wasn't just the free pizza). The idea that I could spend three months doing a credited internship in one of the most beautiful cities in the world was a dream. The team at Global Experiences helped make this dream a reality. The entire process was not confusing due to how organized and helpful they made it. My hometown is the same city as their office, so I stopped by to meet everyone, and their office had such a cool vibe and the people were so welcoming! Later on in the process, they even had a coach call me and help me work on my resume and cover letter for my possible internships. They want to prepare you the best they can for your future endeavors!

As for my internship, they really took the time to make sure that I was matched with one that was well suited for me. I did marketing and social media for a bicycle touring company, and they honestly became my family as I was working for them. I joined many of their tours, biking through the stunning hills of Tuscany, touring through family owned wineries, eating delicious food, and meeting people from all over the world. They taught me so much not just about the touring business, but Italian culture and their language. Also, I can now I can make a mean cup of Italian coffee.

As for the city of Florence, it can seem scary to some to live in a foreign country for any amount of time. Global Experience quickly helped make this city a second home, giving us a coordinator, aka "mom" during our stay (I love you, Rachel!), making many group activities, tours, and always checking up on us. I never felt alone in Florence, and this was because they made us an awesome tight-knit group. I also loved my housing, as I was right next to the duomo and basically in the center of the city. Being able to walk everywhere was such a refreshing change than that I was used too.

I would give Global Experiences a 10/10 overall for so many reasons, but most of all for how much they care about anyone going through the process. You are not just a number, and they really want to make sure that your dreams come true during your intern abroad experience. Thanks GE!!!

Through my internship with Global Experiences I found lifelong friendships and countless networking opportunities.
I traveled to Milan and Paris to work in showrooms for my internship company. I would not have been afforded these opportunities had I interned in the states.
If you are looking for a killer internship to put on your resume, look no further than letting Global Experiences place you in the prettiest city in the world.

I just want to say that from the beginning to the end Global Experiences was very helpful and accommodating! I am so thankful to have joined this internship abroad program for it brought me a new worldly perspective without all the hassle of having to plan the trip on my own. My internship placement was perfect and my coworkers were all so welcoming and accommodating. If you are thinking of doing an internship or a study abroad program Global Experiences is the way to go !