AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Italy

My time in Florence was an extraordinary chapter of my life, enriched by an incredible learning experience at C-YourCulture. Having the best boss imaginable, I delved into a world of knowledge that expanded my horizons. The team's warm embrace fostered a sense of belonging, and in a remarkably short span, I absorbed a wealth of knowledge from their expertise.

The AIFS team played an instrumental role, their swift responses and warm reception smoothing my transition into a new culture. Their meticulously curated events were nothing short of spectacular. The enchanting wine tours stand out vividly – a delightful symphony of stunning landscapes, sumptuous food, and an array of fine wines. An unexpected gift of a bottle of exquisite white sparkling wine from a winery added to the enchantment.

One of the highlights was a serene boat ride on the Florence river, accompanied by champagne – an idyllic scene that etched itself into my memory. Sharing two exquisite dinners at charming restaurants showcased the city's culinary prowess, leaving a lasting impression.

However, it was the people who truly defined this experience. From the kind-hearted companions on the journey, we transformed into a close-knit family. We explored the city, prepared meals, and shared laughter during wine nights. Nights at bars and nightclubs were a blast, cementing memories of joy and camaraderie.

Reflecting on this journey, I wholeheartedly advocate for anyone considering studying abroad. It's a rare, irreplaceable experience that not only broadens academic horizons but also instills a profound appreciation for different cultures. Florence will forever hold a cherished place in my heart, and the bonds formed are a testament to the magic of venturing beyond one's comfort zone.

I'm so happy I decided come here! for my last year at UC Davis. I did have major culture shock coming into this, and I feel like it took me at least 5 weeks to finally get used to everything, but it was all worth it. I think if I started learning the language prior to going on this trip, it would have helped a lot because communication is what I struggled the most with for both my internship and everyday life. Overall though, there's never a dull moment in Milan, and the main area of criticism I have would be to have AC or fans in the houses for when we arrive.

Cons:
- apartment had no AC, we were given money to buy a fan, but it would’ve been better if it was included right from the beginning. Had to compare fan prices, buy a reasonably priced one, then had to carry it home on a hot day

- maintenance took weeks to fix hot water problems, didn’t provide every bedroom with a trash can from the start, didn’t communicate with us effectively

- a classmate who arrived to Milan before me took my room for the whole summer and didn’t inform me before hand

- Milan can be difficult for POC to get used to, was the only Asian in my internship, finding authentic authentic Asian restaurants was really challenging

- had to figure out public transportation on our own, would’ve appreciated navigation instructions to and from the Italian school

Pros:
- Amanda was amazing, responded quickly, helped me locate my missing luggage

- my internship placement was a good fit, learned a lot, very rewarding, helped me decide career paths

- coworkers were super nice at A-Tono

- lots of beautiful places to visit

- lots of personal growth thanks to this program

I loved my experience here, I got to see and learn so much during my time. Our coordinators, Amanda and Antonella, were so helpful and planned such good events. I really enjoyed how much time I was able to spend with the other people in my program, and how well we got to know each other. I loved that we mostly all lived in one building so it was easy to travel and cook together. My internship was very educational and intense, I learned a lot in my time there. My only complaints were about our housing, the maintenance was not reliable and we had no AC, which was very difficult to deal with during the heatwave.

In terms of progress at the workplace things have been pretty slow in terms of work to do because they’re coming to a close pretty soon. However I’ve gotten pretty comfortable here, by that i mean i’ve gotten pretty familiar with everyone and the places around it. I know I didn’t end up getting to do what I came here to do or learn what I intended to learn but I liked it here and I made the most out of it and my experience. It has been great getting to know everyone to the capacity that I have and I wish them all the best. I’d say I would say a cultural highlight has been the vintage markets they have every first and last Sunday of every month

Love this place and these people! I grew much thicker skin working at the place that I did, and still learned a lot about work culture in Italy and in the fashion realm. Made a number of incredible friendships and had innumerable experiences that I’ll cherish forever. The housing amenities were definitely mediocre, especially considering how much we paid to be here. Other than that I had an absolute blast. I learned how to be independent!!! I will say that being a woman anywhere, but especially in a foreign country, can

This trip was so amazing. Amanda and Antonella were such great coordinators and were super helpful. They really helped make everyone feel so welcome and answered any questions we had. I really enjoyed Milan and living in the city. There was so much to do and see. The architecture was amazing and everyday I felt so blessed to be walking around and seeing all of the monuments and gorgeous buildings. I learned so much from my internship and I definitely made meaningful connections from my placement.

Milan was amazing ! The activities that were made were good! It was great to meet new people and create new memories with so many people from around the globe. I think what was the best thing was going to Lake Como and enjoy the boat ride that was conducted. What really was great about it was that we had the opportunity to have internships with great companies that we were able to collaborate in the future. I recommend everyone to really experience some type of study abroad program. Funnnnnnnnn!