I would do it all over again

Overall, my experience was great! The Italian language course was a good start to the program. Don't expect to be proficient but you'll learn a lot of the basics. Although the class was only about 3-4 weeks long, I made incredible friends that I continued to spend time with throughout my stay in Florence. All of us "GE kids" (the nickname given to us from our classmates/friends) got along well and became good friends. And the trips we took together as part of the GE program were always fun. Do not miss out on those trips! As far as my internship placement goes, personally I had a few ups and downs in the beginning. My first placement did not work out so well (language barrier). So I switched and my new placement turned out to be better and I enjoyed it far more. But don't let that scare you, it is rare to switch placements!!!! There's more to the story for why I switched so don't hesitate about joining GE. They were helpful in setting me up at my new placement. I interned at a printmaking studio/gallery that related to my college degree and I enjoyed the working environment. I learned a lot of new techniques with the printmaking medium and it was enriching. In the end, any new experience is what you make of it!