AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Italy

My overall experience was invaluable. The program I felt was well organized and it was nice to have Eleonora and Anna at hand for any questions. I found my internship to be a perfect fit for me. Everyone in the office was incredibly nice and welcoming and never had a problem with me asking questions. It was exactly what I was looking for when I initially chose to work in a showroom. The housing was near the metro and just a few stops away from my internship and the city center. The trips that were planned through the program were amazing fun, my favorite was Venice 100%. It was great because Eleonora took us to some amazing cities in Northern Italy and we had a great time with her. I would absolutely recommend this internship opportunity to anyone considering doing the program!

Studying in Florence was hands down the best decision I've made in my life. For 3 months I lived and worked in one of the most culturally stimulating and beautiful cities in the world. My initial internship placement didn't work out, but the Florence GE staff was so helpful and accommodating in quickly helping to resolve that issue. Interning at the Florence Newspaper was a great experience that got me involved in various events throughout the city and made it feel more like home with every assignment. From morning cappuccino in a side street "bar" to wine at sunset in Piazzale Michelangelo...I loved every minute of it and can't imagine not having had that experience. If you're considering studying in Florence, I have only piece of advice for you: GO!!! :)

I had the opportunity to be part of the Global Experiences program in Florence this past summer. My experience with the program went well beyond my expectations.
I greatly improved my Italian language skills at the language school. The professors are incredibly helpful and there are students from all over the world, so not only will you make friends with your fellow Global Interns, but you have the chance to become friends with students from other countries as well.
After the three weeks of the language school, I had an awesome, one-of-a-kind legal internship where I was able to experience the Italian civil legal system, work with international business contracts, write and prepare legal documents, and get client interaction. Best of all, I developed close connections with my supervisor and co-workers that made going to the internship great everyday.
The staff was very kind and helpful, the trips were fun and exciting, my housing was conveniently located, and the other students in the program were awesome people. Your transition to living in Florence will be easy and effortless thanks to the support you will be surrounded by.
I really have no complaints from this summer. It was an unforgettable experience that has no comparison. I wish I was still working there!

This past summer I spent in Florence was one I'll never forget... and one I wish I could go back to every day! I'm bilingual in Italian, so I started the program after the language school portion. I wouldn't say I'm the most outgoing person, so it took me a little to meet all the other interns. However, as soon as I got comfortable, I had the best summer of my life. Not only did I have an awesome internship (yes, I cried when I had to say bye to my co-workers) but I had so much fun exploring Florence and all the other cities Global Experiences takes you to! For my internship, I was in a small showroom in a town right outside downtown Florence. There were only 7 sellers and 2 secretaries who worked the showroom, so I quickly got to know everyone and how everything worked. It was amazing getting to see all the spring/summer collections a whole year before they are released to the public and be able to sit in on client meetings with buyers who came in to purchase merchandise for their stores. I was also lucky enough to be placed with another intern who has become one of my closest friends! In the end, I gained some incredibly valuable experience in fashion business and had an amazing summer while doing it. Plus adding a fashion internship in Italy on my resume doesn't sound too shabby! This was my first internship I've ever had and it is definitely one I will never forget.

My time in Florence Italy was by far one of my most valuable experiences I have ever had. Not only was I given an amazing opportunity to intern in a high-end showroom, I learned more then I could have imagined outside of my internship. The Showroom experience was like none other. I had the best time and was able to gain so much knowledge from my coworkers. They were extremely supportive and gave me responsibilities as if I were a permanent part of their team. Not only was I able to go to the biggest fashion trade show in Italy, I learned how international business works. I did everything from displays to helping them sell. Global Experiences helped me throughout each step of the process, the interview, first day, and anything else I needed along the way. I also was surrounded by the best people and have made life-long friends in the process. Global Experiences had so many activities for us there was no time to be bored.The staff was very supportive and was always there to listen if we had a problem or conflict. We were given the opportunity to travel outside of our internship, as well as spend time with our friends. I used this amazing time abroad to learn about my surroundings as well as myself. I walked away from this experience a well rounded individual and ready to start my career in the fashion industry. Interning abroad has been the best decision I have made regarding my college career!

The internship I did through global experiences was incredibly multidimensional. Not only did I actually get do so some designing for the fashion brand I interned with, but I also got experience in brand development, graphic design, and marketing. I even got the opportunity to go and participate with them in the huge trade show in Florence. Who gets the chance to do all of that in a single summer?? Global Experiences provided me with an internship experience that has, no doubt, shaped my career path as a college graduate. So happy I chose them.

Italy is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever traveled to, and the entire city of Florence is like an outdoor museum. There was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting at a cafe and watch people walk by. The Italians are wonderful people, so strong in character, filled with emotion, and passionate about food. They truly know how to appreciate and enjoy every day that goes by. When I chose to go abroad with Global Experiences I had an idea of where I was headed, but I did not expect to be blown away by such a rich and fascinating culture. The experience began at LinguaViva, where I made friends from all over the world that came to Florence to learn the language and seek a life changing experience like I was. Global Experiences made a wonderful job placing us in homes that were in the heart of the city. My apartment was literally two blocks away from Il Duomo. After a month of intensive Italian lessons, we were placed in an internship. I must say, when I first walked into the design studio I was placed in, I was terrified. It was a firm of two architects and a few interns besides myself. The studio was filled with all kinds of bizarre and funky objects, a collection of Barbie dolls that took up an entire wall, a collection of eccentric canes that one of the architects designed, and it was all cramped up in this small town house. Although I had a shocking first impression, the warmth and kindness of these two wonderful designers made my experience in Florence extremely pleasant. We had very fun projects, and the creativity and skills of my mentors gave me so much to learn from. Apart from assigning great jobs, and a wonderful school, Global Experiences did an awesome job at giving us a glance of Florence and Tuscany with excursions to Lake Garda and Cinque Terra and events like aperitivos on rooftops. Over all, I would not change a single thing about my internship and experience in Florence. It has changed me in all positive ways, and I would be blessed if one day I could call Florence my home.

I had the best experience with Global experiences in Florence. I had studied abroad there and wanted to stay for summer and i'm so glad i did because i definitely picked the right program. They were so helpful in getting me set up earlier than the rest of the ladies because i was already in florence and didn't have to fly over. I got into my new apartment and schooling right away, which was one of the best parts. The school that they use is amazing and taught me so much italian that i didn't already know, and i also got to meet other international students also studying in the school. I was able to make new friends and take field trips with them and the school. The first two weeks we just focused on learning italian which was so incredible and worthwhile. After school i had time to explore the city and hang out with people from schools as well as travel. When everyone arrived we had a dinner to get to know each other which was so much fun, and we continued to have these dinners (apperitivo) throughout the program time which was so great. it was nice to bring everyone together and have something to do with other people. they also had an extensive interview process for internships, so i got placed in one that matched me after meeting with the boss. The internship was a great learning experience however it turned out it wasn't exactly what they said it would be so Global moved me to another one right away that was AMAZING and i couldn't have been happier. I learned so much in such a short amount of time even and it was so worth it. I met amazing people and had the internship and summer of a lifetime!