AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Italy

I just completed interning in Florence, Italy with AIFS this past semester and I would do it all over again if I could! I loved my boss at my internship, however, I feel like the placement could have been slightly better to help me learn and develop professionally. The position would have been perfect for someone with a beginner level experience but I had previously done 2 very similar jobs so there wasn’t a lot of room for me to grow in the position. There were 10 of us total in the fall program and each of us had different placements that fit the different personalities so there are a lot of internship options and they do try to pick the best fit for every intern. If you’re wanting to go abroad and gain work experience I would absolutely recommend the program!

I decided to participate in the AIFS Florence Internship program as a recent college graduate. I wasn't quite ready to dive into the workforce and I wanted to travel, so this gave me the perfect opportunity to live abroad while still gaining professional experience. I definitely recommend this program to someone who is looking to experience living abroad but still wants to build their resume at the same time. However, it's important to expect that your main priority during this INTERNSHIP program should be showing up to work and not just prioritizing traveling/leisure, so be ready to work!!

During my undergrad I never had the chance to study abroad or do an internship in my field of study. AIFS allowed me to not only intern in my desired field, but also travel abroad to an amazing country. The process was incredibly simple, I was able to pay for the program out of pocket throughout the months leading up to it, and I even received scholarship as a post grad! This experience boosted my resume and prepared me for my new work life after college! I met the most amazing friends, and the program did an excellent job setting us up with roommates in the program.

I'm so disappointed that I must leave a bad review, but I must share my experience. AIFS has been so unorganized from the start. Because of their miscommunication and disorganization, I almost did not receive academic credit for my internship. Also, our emergency coordinator SUCKED; the two times we had emergencies (locked out of our apartment for hours at night and a hospitalized roommate), she tried to blame us! I would NOT recommend AIFS bc they've caused me trouble before, during, and after.

I met so many great people during this program. Not only were the other girls in the internship program amazing, but I also created some long-lasting connections with my employers. The AIFS staff were also very helpful and they planned some very fun day trips for the whole group such as wine tasting, biking around Lucca, and a cooking class! I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life as it allowed me to grow emotionally and professionally through all the connections i made with the staff, my peers, and my employers.

I loved the experiences, culture, staff and safety procedures. My one complaint would be that I was interning for someone in my field so they never had any advice or critiques for me. I think my favorite part was traveling to other places around the area, as well as the food and rich history of the location. The staff was so helpful and kind that they really helped and I’m so thankful. I would say this program helps the resume look better, but I didn’t learn a lot in terms of my field of study.

I met the most amazing friends during this experience, and also got to travel a lot which was top of my list. I personally felt like I had a really good match for my internship and was satisfied. However, I hesitate recommending this program due to the number of girls who were unsatisfied with their internships and were not able to get new ones. The communication in general is not the best, however Lucy Boscan who is the location coordinator for interns in Rome was extremely helpful. She truly cared about helping us even if she didn’t always have the power to make the decisions.

My summer abroad in Milan was a great opportunity and an experience I will always be grateful for. I’ve made memories traveling around Italy, eating delicious foods, seeing amazing sites, and spending time with the other students in my program. Thanks to our program coordinators we had a variety of group events that allowed us to meet each other. Although my internship placement wasn’t what I was expecting, living abroad allowed me to gain independence and immerse myself in a culture I have grown to really enjoy.