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Global Experiences/AIFS Abroad

About

Global Experiences believes that everyone deserves a career they love, and their mission is to help young people find their paths sooner in life. Global Experiences internship programs open doors for young people to enrich their lives personally and enhance their futures professionally. Along with exciting placements in many different locations, Global Experiences internships abroad provide the support to assure students of great, safe and educational experiences, and an award winning career development program to connect the dots between school and the professional world.

Since 2001, Global Experiences has established a network of over 7,000 alumni and has given students and recent grads the chance to gain concrete skills in their desired industry, meet industry contacts, and experience the 'real world' in a new location. Global Experiences' staff are all world travelers and live to pay it forward.

Scholarships

Global Experiences Generation Study Abroad Scholarship

Global Experiences offers scholarships for both summer and semester terms in any of the organization’s 11 global cities. Full scholarships are available for semester-long programs, with special consideration given to those who are underrepresented in study abroad programs. Global Experiences also contributes to those who receive a Pell Grant or Benjamin A. Gillman scholarship, for both in person and virtual programs.

Value
$500 - $3,000

Reviews

Default avatar
Alexa
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Milan

It was amazing being in a city where fashion is such a big deal. I would recommend this program to anyone that is in a creative field and especially interested in fashion. I learned a lot and feel like I applied my major to my job. This was such an eye opening experience and has pushed me outside my comfort zone so much. I really do feel like I have grown a lot and now have realized I would maybe like to live in a different country at some point in my life. Amanda and Antonella have been so helpful during this experience and have always been there when we needed it.

Pros
  • Work Experience
  • Travel
  • Learning
Cons
  • Could have been more people in the group
  • Could have been cool to have options for the jobs we got/ interview with multiple jobs
Default avatar
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I love amanda and Antonella and they are so amazing and beautiful

I had such an amazing experience! I gained so much valuable experience to add to my resume that helped to prepare me for me future and I also learned so much about what I do and don’t want for my future career. I loved having the opportunity to experience life and work in a totally new city and environment, as well as being able to travel during the weekends. My housing was definitely another plus, as it was such an amazing apartment in a great area. We also had amazing program advisors, who truly made the experience so special.

Pros
  • New city experiences
  • Resume builders
  • Learn about yourself
Cons
  • Broken washing machine
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Annie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved it

This is a great place to go if you want to learn some Italian but also be able to speak English everywhere you go! People are very friendly and Milan is very easy to get around using public transit. Also a great location for traveling to places outside of Milan! I had a great time and loved being able to work vs study because I feel like I am getting to improve my real life skills can get comfortable in a real life work setting! You definitely get a little bit more of a sophisticated abroad experience!

Pros
  • Accessibility
  • Safety
  • Big city
Cons
  • Only Italian food
  • Cold
  • Not super flexible work schedule
Default avatar
Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing program!! Awesome advisors and activities

I did the GE internship program in Madrid, Spain! The living situation was great, very central and close to a metro station. My roommates and I were matched well, I had a really helpful and personable program advisor, Lourdes who I could go to with questions and concerns. I was matched with a company I liked for my internship, and was given opportunities to get involved and learn from my supervisors The program had excursions and activities every week, and my work was flexible to my traveling plans on weekends. Great experience :)

Pros
  • living situation
  • activities
  • helpful advisor
profile of woman wearing sunglasses
Marina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

La Vita Italiana

I'd always known that I would study abroad in college, but when I was introduced to programs that would allow me to be an exchange student in high school, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Unlike college where you've already had a few years of independence as an adult, going abroad in high school can seem quite daunting, but is so worth it! My time in Sardinia, Italy taught me not only another language and culture but helped me become more mature and independent as I learned to advocate for myself amidst changing host families and taking 3rd year Latin (in Italian) at a scientific high school when I'm more linguistically/artistically inclined... I still keep in touch with the friends I made during my year abroad and have visited a few of them in their home countries in addition to reuniting with my host siblings as adults in various European countries.

Pros
  • Learned another language
  • Gained confidence
  • Made lifelong international friendships
Cons
  • Remote location
  • Couldn’t choose school’s concentration
  • Difficulty changing host families

Programs

Displaying 1 - 9 of 19

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I joined this program for a billion reasons but for the sake of the people reading this I’ll try to shorten it down. After traveling to Spain on a family trip over the summer, I developed the travel bug. No one in my family had ever studied abroad but I couldn’t find a reason not too. Besides traveling, making new friends, and living my life to the fullest...I’ll be attending grad school in a year and they rank international work very high. Just a little added bonus :)

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Salisbury University does a fantastic job taking most of the organization out of my hands. My only tasks consisted of getting a few forms signed, a few phone calls with the global experiences team (resume prep, skill building, etc.), and then completing an interview for my internship. The school was very supportive and made sure I was on top of my tasks. They were always there to answer my questions and put me at ease.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I have 2 big pieces of advice
1. SAY YES TO EVERYTHING! Even if something isn’t up your alley, try something new. That being said, try to cross one big thing of your To Do list every week. Also, download the “Pin Drop” app. It marks everything you want to do on a map. SUPER CONVENIENT!
2. Don’t except an internship if it’s not exactly what you’re looking for. I personally loved my internship but one of my roommates didn’t step up and say that she didn’t like the internship they lined up for her. This program is extremely accommodating and will find an internship you’ll love. They’re really big on having a 10 out of 10 experience.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My internship was very different in hours compared to everyone else. Most internships are 9-5 from Monday-Friday. Most days after work, I’d try to get together with the other people in the program and grab dinner or do a small activity. On the weekends I always tried to do something BIG. By doing this, I crossed off everything on my list!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was actually commuting to my job. I found out a month before going to Australia that my internship was 2 hours away by transit (most are local). I didn’t find out until the week before I got to Australia (when my boss emailed me) that she picks me up and drops me off from work 3 days of the week. Global experiences knew this too but I didn’t ask. I simply uberpooled (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) the other days. Most of the time I saved 50% off my Uber fee and they didn't pick anyone else up. I realized that commuting to work wasn’t even worth fearing. If you’re uneasy about something, talk to the global experiences staff or email your employer.

What were your favorite things you did in Australia?

-Camping in the Blue Mountains
-Figure 8 Pools
-Sydney Bridge Climb
-Great Barrier Reef (a little piece of advice, you’ll want 3-4 days here at least!)
-Melbourne Cup in Melbourne!
-Glow worm caves
-Holding a Koala and Feeding Kangaroos at the Gold Coast
-Grounds of Alexandria
-Wine tasting in Hunter Valley
-Chinese Garden of Friendship

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Lydia Theologus

Lydia spent her senior year of college interning abroad in Florence, Italy for a Tuscan Wine Touring company. After graduating, she wanted to help other young professionals have the same life-changing experiences. At GE, Lydia's favorite job tasks are showcasing their interns' amazing experiences abroad on their platforms.
Lydia Theologus

What is your favorite travel memory?

When thinking of my favorite travel memories, an array of breathtaking new sights, laughter, stepping out of my comfort zone, and spending time with unforgettable people flashes through my mind. One memory that combines all four aspects was during my time interning abroad in Florence, Italy.

My roommates and I took a day trip to visit Cinque Terre, the string of centuries-old villages on the Italian Riviera coastline. After exploring Riomaggiore (picture the famous shot of colorful houses on a seaside cliff), the beach town of Monterosso al Mare was next on our list. The furthest villages away from each other, there were two options for methods of transportation: the train, or a strenuous 7.5 mile hike that could take up to 5 hours. While most of the group opted for the train, my roommate from Amsterdam was feeling adventurous and asked me to join her in the hike.

Together, we braved through climbing, descending, narrow passages, and steep, uneven stone steps. Though it was exhausting, the trek was well worth it as we discovered incredible views of the coast, lush olive groves, and exotic plants and flowers.

My favorite part was coming across a quaint stand selling limoncello during one of the descents, manned by a sweet old Italian man. While I may have regretted thinking that taking a limoncello shot in the middle of a 5-hour hike would be refreshing, I’ll never regret that I said yes to a new adventure that would turn into a cherished memory.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started working at Global Experiences fresh out of college, eager to learn and take on responsibilities. While I've gained technical skills such as learning how to code and Photoshop, I've also learned valuable soft skills that I'll have with me for the years to come. I've gained organizational skills and become more confident in my decision making. Through being welcomed to give new ideas and input, my creativity has also been able to grow.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I'm lucky to be able to work with many of our alumni and interns while they're abroad and capturing their stories and experiences. I get to hear a lot of awesome perks that our interns receive from working hard at their internships, but my favorite was when our Barcelona Fashion Business intern, Olivia V., attended the 080 Barcelona Fashion Show for work. She was interviewed by Elle Magazine, and was featured on their next issue!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

This question is perfect for me because I have gone on one of GE's internship abroad programs!

Fall of my senior year, I had a marketing internship abroad in Florence, Italy for 3 months. Studying abroad in Italy had always been a dream of mine, and Florence seemed like the perfect choice for many reasons. I wanted to experience a different culture, and knew that Florence had so much art, history and architecture to offer for me to learn and explore. For my first time living abroad, I wanted to live somewhere that was easy to get around in, yet was also an easy gateway to explore the rest of the country and Europe. The language barrier did not bother me either because I heard that Italians were friendly and just appreciated you trying to speak their language.

Upon arriving, these reasons proved to be right on all accounts. Interning in Florence, Italy was everything that I could have dreamed of and more!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I find Global Experiences to be unique because of how passionate every member of our team is about our mission. We've all had life-changing experiences abroad, and want to help young professionals gain a worldly perspective while enhancing their career path. We truly care about every single intern that goes through our program and are dedicated to finding the best possible match for them from pre-departure to when they're on the ground. I felt that myself as I was going through the Florence program, and was confirmed once I started working behind the scenes at GE.

I was especially proud of my team when we pledged to donate $20,000 every year in scholarships to interns. We want to make this experience accessible to as many students as possible, and to make this official was really exciting.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe that the biggest factor in being a successful company is to value your customers and always put their best interests first. It's important to ask for their feedback, listen, and act on it. No one knows their customer journey better than they do. Using their data to create useful, personalized experiences for others is okay, but it's important not to abuse their data. A successful business starts and ends with valued customers.

Professional Associations

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