AIFS Abroad Reviews

I spent my fall semester interning in Dublin, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! I developed so much both personally and professionally and feel that I have learned so much more about myself. I worked alongside some amazing professionals who allowed me opportunities to take on big projects and made me feel a part of a workplace community. The Global Experiences staff were always there to lend a helping hand if I needed anything. They also hosted some great events during the program, so there is always something going on and opportunities to interact with some of the other people in the program. The friendships and memories I made on this trip I will always cherish and it made it hard to leave Dublin behind. There are so many fun things to do in Dublin and Ireland and I loved every second of it.

Being a student who has been out of the country three times before turning the age of one, I have always had a passion to see what’s beyond The United States and gather insight into how people differ across various cultures. Upon entering Berlin, Germany for the Fall Semester, my greatest concern was window shopping for the right affiliate program to study with so I could have a rewarding three-and-a-half-month experience. After researching the various study abroad programs to choose from both at fairs and online, I confidently landed my decision with AIFS. I weighed my benefits based on price, included itineraries, housing options, and location. The program clearly matched my budget while including various social events, trips, and activities for us to engage in right in the heart of Europe.
AIFS provided our flight package with a 2-day layover in London, England where we connected with other AIFS members and got familiar with each other before beginning the semester. We were given time to explore the city with our new friends and participate with the program on a double deck bus tour to the London Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham palace. The architecture was incredible, but don’t forget to bring your rain jacket! London was a great opportunity to ease the crazed emotions of culture shock upon entering a new country for the first time and familiarize ourselves with the transformation.
Upon entering Berlin, I chose to live with a homestay family as I had four years’ language experience and hoped to widen my perspective on the German culture even further. Through the duration of the semester, the homestay option was very challenging as I had expected. With every day came a new lesson learned as I practiced my German speaking with my 11-year-old homestay sister. She did not speak any English but was currently learning, and I had been very rusty with my German, so we began to teach each other. It is important to understand the cultural norms when entering a new country to not offend locals around you. In Germany, we would have breakfast at 7 A.M every morning which would consist of a baguette and an apple. Lunch was typically the largest meal of the day and dinner occurred later in the evening with soup or pasta and yogurt for dessert. AIFS did an excellent job in placing students in the right homestays, but if one goes abroad, they are expected to try new dishes and be open to a difference in cuisine.
Many students’ greatest concerns are the academic aspects of managing homework while traveling the world. With AIFS, we were enrolled in three classes with two of choice and one for learning the German language. These courses were difficult, but they assigned little homework and dedicated their time towards teaching you through valuable lessons and given paper assignments. I never felt that I was behind on my homework while traveling and I found these classes to be very interesting because they pertained to Germany. Although we were enrolled at an off-site campus of the main city campus, but we were still immersed into German culture through the variety of clubs and sports they offered during the semester.
With one of the most central locations in Europe, it’s easy and cheap to travel all around the continent. I was given the opportunity with AIFS to attend a two-week academic excursion to both Belgium and The Netherlands where accommodation and most meals were provided. We also traveled with them to smaller cities in Germany and to the Baltic Sea to learn about more of Germany’s history. When I wasn’t on a weekend academic trip, I was traveling with friends or solo to various countries surrounding Germany. I will never forget the döner kebab in Berlin, the white sausage in Münich, or the Glühwein in Dresden. These recipes are one’s that cannot be forgotten when visiting these hidden treasures, and AIFS makes sure of it.
Many students do not choose to go abroad or feel they aren’t given the opportunity to do so, but through AIFS, I experienced the academic trip of a lifetime. I feel much more knowledgeable in current news and connecting with European citizens. This was a chance to become independent and explore myself without the pressured guidance of friends back home. With the endless cuisine to sample, the multitude of museums to take in, the various ways of ordering a coffee, and an appreciation for the cultural norms that surround each city, I discovered a better version of myself and I want to spread that knowledge to others. There is limited free time to travel the world and a lifetime to work and regret a valuable opportunity. AIFS provided me with positive takeaways and after studying with them for a January term in both Ecuador and Spain as well, I can guarantee that this program is worth every dollar and will succeed in your ambitions to make this trip memorable.

My stay in New York is definitely something I'll always treasure! I learned so much- career-wise, and also, got to experience a lot of cultural exposure! I got to grow as a person as well. In Global Experiences, being abroad does not get lonely, because you are introduced to so many people who are very kind and warm.

Kristi made sure that my group and I are always doing well in our personal and work life. At first, I was very homesick but the more I exposed myself to this amazing opportunity. It diminished a whole lot. Kristi made me feel like I can call New York my second home, because of all the wonderful things she exposed us to.

I would like to thank Kristi and Hailey for helping me out throughout this whole journey! I would have not been as satisfied without them!

I had an absolutely blast in Sydney, Australia! Through this program, I was surrounded by open minded people from different backgrounds who were eager to explore and try new things. I was absolutely impressed that our internship coordinator, Andrea, was able to help me get a great internship in the music industry (which is very difficult). I worked a variety of tasks in music management, marketing, and PR, with supervisors who have worked and are still working with artists on a regional and global scale. Some notable artists I have worked with are Pixies, Lauv, and Northeast Party House. I learned a great deal about myself from the people I worked with and the friends I made on this trip. This trip is a great way to get you out of your comfort zone and get a bit of a taste of adult life.

Madrid is a busy and bustling global city. That being said, belonging to the local culture is a little different because Madrid invites so many cultures. Integration in Madrid was fun and taught me that I can live in a global city on my own. I feel like one of the biggest strengths about my program was that we were in the heart of a major European city, which meant that you could opt-in and out of whatever AIFS excursions or activities that you wanted, and still had the option to go out and explore on your own as well. There is ALWAYS something to do in Madrid. Similarly, I liked how my program was immersed into a Spanish University that had not only other students in study abroad programs similar to AIFS, but also other international students who chose Madrid as their study location. I chose to live in an apartment over a homestay and I wouldn’t change my decision because I got to live with not only other AIFS students but also a girl from Norway and a girl from Italy which was great

I absolutely loved my time interning in Sydney with global experiences! Also Andrea the on site staff was very helpful & went above and beyond what she was required to do. I would recommend this program to anyone. I did a internship with a corporate event planning company & it has shifted what I want to do in the future. Everyone on the group was nice and always open to try new things and go new places in Australia. We went to the great barrier, port Stephens, blue mountains, royal national park, Olympic stadium, northern beaches, the outback, south Australia, tassie, Perth (pink lakes) and many many more!! Such a great time, a lot of people on the program chose to stay in Aussie after there program ended as well! If you are hesitating just go

Interning abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far. From the beginning of the process, Global Experiences went above and beyond to make sure that I was going to get the best placement possible. At my internship in Barcelona, I learned so much and was very grateful to be a part of an incredible team. I cannot put into words how rewarding my experience was and how easy GE made it for me. I was given a platform to grow personally and professionally. On top of that, my site coordinators were amazing! They were always keeping up with us and even planned fun group outings as to stay in touch! We went to a winery, did a bike tour, and day trip to a local beach town on top of many more. GE made this experience so worth my while and one that I will never forget!

Sydney is such a beautiful city, amazing views, great culture, and very diverse. I worked in the central business district which was the best area I could have been placed for my internship field. My program coordinator was always so helpful and truly cared about me having a great experience through her support, recommendations, and advise. Weekend trips were a constant for my roommates and I which was amazing because you can go so many places through where I was living in Sydney that was placed by the program. I also could not have asked for better program mates who have turned into my family and my actual roommate who was placed perfectly through the roommate survey. 10/10 for the program overall, it was everything I expected and more for the effort everyone has put in.

I just recently got back from a 3 month long internship in Milan. My internship was in fashion business. I had an amazing time and was very satisfied with my experience with GE. I worked in a showroom and got to work with buying, social media, and learn more about the fashion industry. I was there during fashion week and I was even lucky enough to get to experience shows and events during fashion week.
I got a lot of work experience at my internship and useful thing to take forward with me. The placement fit well for me and I enjoyed where I worked. I lived relatively near my work and the commute was easy. GE location coordinators always checked up on us and was very helpful throughout the time there. I really enjoyed my internship and time in Milan.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to experience a new culture and city. I interned in Florence, Italy as a tour guide for the Florence Duomo and had the opportunity to learn so much about art history and the Italian Renaissance through my job. I also met people from all over the world every day, which was so fun and rewarding. Global Experiences does a great job with career coaching and preparing you to work in a new culture and environment. GE also provides social activities that help you get to know the city and your fellow interns a lot better. I actually left Florence with three lifelong friends, which for me was probably the most amazing part of the program! Thanks to GE, I was able to both work in a field that I love and explore a new city and culture that I will forever cherish.