AIFS Abroad Reviews

The three months I spent in Barcelona will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most invaluable experiences of my life. I left a city I fell in love with with a new perspective on my own professional aspirations, the world in general, and my place within it. Through guidance and continual support, Global Experiences helped me grow as a person, exposed me to a new culture, and pushed me to be the best young professional that I can be. So, if you’re on the fence, or are scared of the uncertainty, DON’T BE! You’re signing up for an adventure of a lifetime. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

All aspects of this program was amazing. From the moment we landed in Barcelona the staff was always there to help regardless of the situation. The staff made the transition very easy and smooth. The program offers a wide variety of excursions to immerse yourself in the culture and make you feel like a local. I would definitely recommend participating in the optional weekend excursions, these were some of my favorite moments. I know I will never forget paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland, riding camels in Morocco and eating tapas in Seville, Spain.
What you learn both inside and outside of the classroom will have long term impacts after you return from this amazing experience. Everyone will return with new skills, life long memories, and life long friends.

Interning abroad is definitely a once and a lifetime experience that I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested. Working within Italy definitely gave me incredible life and professional skills that I’ll take with me for the rest of my life! Italy is such an incredible country with an incredibly rich culture making the past three months unforgettable. My internship definitely gave me more professional skills I was looking to gain and the work atmosphere was perfect for my personality!

Synonyms of amazing: awesome, marvelous, incredible, wonderful. As I'm typing this review, none of these words seem to justify my semester abroad in Viña Del Mar, Chile. From the moment I looked at the AIFS website, I felt a strong sense of care and compassion. It was more than just trying to get me to commit to their program-everyone from AIFS from my financial aid officer to my admissions officer, really cared about me and my goals. Everyone was kind, energetic and prompt, especially with questions and concerns. Before I left, AIFS provided very detailed departure information, even calling me the day before I left to answer any questions. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by my Residence Director in Chile, who was so eager to show me around the city and introduce me to my host family. My host family genuinely represented all that is hospitality and love. I grew such a strong connection to my host family, more than I ever could of expected. My host mom cooked 3 meals a day every day, and we always ate together for dinner, really making me feel as though I was a part of their family. Even now, having been home for 5 months, I talk to my host mom on WhatsApp every day. AIFS had so much included within the price, including a weekend excursion to Púcon, a city in the south of Chile. My Residence Director, Valeria, was so knowledgeable about all of the processes in Chile, and everything I needed to do. She was also so socialable, and loved getting to know all of the students. AIFS also gave me the opportunity to meet so many Chilean students, by taking classes directly with Chilean students. The professors at the university were so knowledgeable, sharing their unique experiences of traveling and working abroad. Overall, I met my best friends from my AIFS program in Chile, who are from all over the country, but who I've seen 4 times since we've been back. AIFS gives students the tools to make long-lasting friendships, while gaining cultural competence and a deep understanding and respect for other cultures, all in a comfortable setting. I highly recommend any AIFS program, but especially Chile. Please email me w15maye@siena.edu with any questions!

My time in Florence was amazing! I met so many people that I immediately connected with because we were all in it together. There were social events provided by GE that helped us get to know each other and a chance to travel. This was exactly what I was looking for!

The Global Experiences staff was incredibly helpful and supportive along the way. :) I would recommend this experience to anybody looking for growth in their major and personally. I'm incredibly grateful that I was given this opportunity!

This program allows you to jump start your career and truly be independent. Working in a whole new city much less a whole new country can be very overwhelming. But the people at Global Experience really help you to put your best foot forward and really immerse yourself in the new culture! They were super helpful and reliable from start to finish. I am so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity. I was left with life long memories, friends and added work experience.
I learned to make a classic mojito at the Bacardi house, explored Girona, indulged in churros con chocolate and walked the beautiful Sitges beach. I also got to work with an amazing company called Social Coin alongside brilliant and talented individuals from multiple backgrounds. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything!

If you are hesitant on deciding if you should join the program then I'm here to tell you that you should do it.

I wasn't sure at first, but this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The company i worked with was very reputable and let me dive right into my field of studies and helped me learn how to apply my knowledge from the classroom to the work place. Also there isn't a better city for fashion than milan. All of my coworkers were so friendly and I didn't need to know italian to get around the city (plus they were more than happy to help me out).

I enjoyed every minute of my internship with global experiences. Though this experience I have not only learned my about my career path but also myself. I have made such great friends though this program, and have had a ton of memorable adventures. I am eager to see what door are opened up in my career due to this amazing internship and hope that I get the opportunity to do it again, with global experiences.

When I first arrived in Florence I felt like I was in a Medieval Disney World. As I walked along the cobblestones in the city center I was greeted by breathtaking architecture, world-famous statues, and a violin's serenade. This city is truly special as it has all the attractions of a large city while being completely walkable and safe.

Like the city of Florence itself, Global Experiences is also unique. Most of the Americans in Florence are studying aboard with other people from their University and, as a result, the vast majority only hang out with other Americans. However, because Global Experiences partners with a language school that has people from all over the world and places you in real Italian work environments you will inevitably meet and talk with people who are not American. I believe that this is extremely important because the whole point of going abroad is to go outside of your comfort zone.

The internship that Global Experiences placed me with was perfect. I wanted an internship within the field of Journalism. I was paired up with Florence News, a publication for American students and tourists in Florence. While I thought I would just help edit, I actually got to write articles! I learned about what makes a good lead, how to write hard news stories, and the ins and outs of AP Style. While I was not enrolled in a University class while here, I believe that the experience I gained from my internship has taught me more than any journalism class would.

All in all, because of this program I have become friends with people from completely different cultures, tasted wine properly, eaten my weight in gelato, overcome language barriers, and developed into a more self-sufficient and globally aware person.

If you are considering this program, I would suggest that you stop thinking and apply for the program today.

As an Art Education intern for Global Experiences, I could not have chosen a more appropriate location. Florence, Italy has been amazing to say the least. Combining the artistic location with friends and a great work environment, I have had the experience of a lifetime over these past three months. Throughout my internship I have grown immensely as an individual and gained a diverse set of skills. This program encouraged me to not only explore other countries and make new friends but allowed my education and career to grow along with it. What I will be able to take away from this experience I will be able to use for the rest of my life. And the memories I have made here could never be forgotten. This internship has paved the way for my future, and I could not be more eager to see what it holds.