AIFS Abroad: Study, Intern, or Study & Intern in France

I knew I wanted to study abroad after meeting foreign exchange students from high school. It was not until Fall 2018 that I got the opportunity to study abroad in Grenoble, France with AIFS. I recommend AIFS to anyone who is looking for a study abroad provider for many reasons. AIFS helps students through the whole study abroad process from obtaining a visa to booking the flight. The resident director in Grenoble, Miranda, is wonderful. She helps students with pretty much everything and always there when the students needed. She really does care about all the students and want each and every one of them to get the best out of their experience abroad. Going to a new country that has a different culture and language from the ones I know was nerve-wracking, however, thanks to AIFS I was able to overcome my fear and had such an amazing experience abroad.

My time is Paris was such an amazing personal growing experience for me. I met some amazing people and made some of the best experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life. My internship gave me a better idea of what specific field I want to venture into within my major. It also helped to improve my communication skills with people from different countries, as we regularly had customers from everywhere around the world. There are some minor things that I would change about the program, but overall it was an amazing experience and my program manager was a huge help in preparing me for the time abroad. This program is an excellent conversation starter and really builds up your resume to make it more interesting to employers. Highly recommend.

At my internship this summer with Kilometre Paris I have learned so much and have made new life long friends. I have learned the business of Fashion from a start-up company perspective and have learned about the amount of synergy that is required to make a company function. While here in Paris I was able to travel to London, Amsterdam, Milan, Santorini, Morrocco, and Athens all places as a first-generation student I thought would never be possible. As a student in fashion, it is vital to explore and learn about different cultures around you I have fully submerged myself into a foreign environment and learned things about myself and about what I want for my future. I cannot wait to bring what I have learned back home to become better in my field of work!

Thank you Global Experiences

My overall experience interning with a start-up fashion brand was beyond what I expected! With the help from the Global Experience staff, I was easily able to transition into the French culture and the working environment. I have learned a tremendous amount of skills from working at a French fashion brand in Paris. The level of responsibility I was given on a daily basis has truly pushed me to be my best self! I could not have found this internship contact if it was not for the Global Experiences program and its attentive team members! The Global Experiences team helped from everything to onsite issues, to internship placements, to scheduling local groups events! The were endless opportunities to stay involved and immerse yourself in the French culture. My favorite group activity was the Seine River Sunset cruise because it was a magical moment seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle while in our little boat, cruising along the river! This internship experience is one that I will cherish forever!

I am so thankful to GE for their help in placing me with my internship this summer!
I could tell that the people at GE really cared about getting me in a position that would help me grow personally and professionally.
I've formed some incredible relationships with others in the program, and I loved going on the excursions that GE planned for us on evenings and weekends.
They checked some boxes on my personal travel list that I didn't even know I wanted to experience.
The accomodation in La Défense was perfect for young professionals, and a convenient distance from the center of the city without being on top of the chaos.
If you're looking to get the best of both worlds with work experience and international travel, GE is a great place to find exactly that!

Global Experience made my 3 month internship in Paris a success in a way that I would not be able to do myself or with anyone else. The staff in particular are always patient and very willing to help you or sort out any problems you may encounter before or during your time overseas. The transport card they provide and the on-the-ground support with an incredible location coordinator made me immediately feel at home. At least twice a month, my LC would meet up with me and check that everything was good as well as take me to places outside of Paris that I'd never been.

While Paris can be challenging and stressful at times, it is a great place to learn and grow as a person and within your chosen field and there is no one better to help you do this than Global!

I had a really great time in Paris for 2 months Interning through Global Experiences. The experience taught me so much about myself professionally and personally and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! My favorite memory was when France won the World Cup. Being in the capital of the country that was world champions was an incredible experience that is so rare as well since the World Cup is only every 4 years, AND to be in the country that had just won. My internship was a great learning experience and although some parts were rocky these were the times where I learned the most and how I grew more as a professional. I was also very fortunate to be placed in a wonderful home stay and connect with my family. I was nervous before going that I would have troubles with my French not being very good, however when I communicated this with Global Experiences they were very pro active with finding me a family and internship that did not require French. I left the program with so many fun memories and a sense of home now for Paris.

I got to intern in Paris through Global Experience this summer; the internship was pretty tough at the moment, especially having to work long hours unpaid. However, as I think back, it was definitely worth it and had improved my personal skills and experiences. Though I have heard complaints from other people in the program about their housing, my home stay experience was pleasant. Even though I didn't know anyone from the program before going, definitely go the the events because you could make great connections and friends here.