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

This program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only did I foster new skills in an internship, but I experienced a country to its fullest. The administrators work so hard to make sure that I got a good placement. They are very kind and understanding and are willing to listen to any questions or concerns you might have. My internship put me in a new environment, and I learned valuable skills and expanded my professional network across the globe. I made so many memories and made new friends, and it's all thanks to this program. I have so many good things to say about this program and I'm so thankful I got this opportunity.

I had little to no expectations for Ireland and my internship placement going in. I was excited, but I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Turns out, I was getting myself into the best two months of my life. I have never been more challenged and more happy. I fell in love with the country and the people. I was able to grow as a professional and an individual. I learned a lot about myself in a professional setting that has taught me a lot about my strengths and how I want to spend the rest of my life. I learned a lot about myself as an individual in which my independence and curiosity for people and the world has thrived. I developed relationships I will cherish for a lifetime, because I know they will last a lifetime. Global Experiences has become the single best decision I have made and would highly recommend this opportunity to others.

Global Experiences has been extremely helpful and amazing from the start. The way in which their program sets you with an advisor along the way to finding your internship is extremely personable. Everyone in GE has gotten to know me on an individual level and has been so helpful to finding me an internship that was fitting towards my needs. I am leaving Dublin with life long friends and can absolutely thank our advisor, Brian, for setting me up with the perfect roommates. As far as my location, Dublin, I have fell in love with this city and country as a whole. Living in Dublin you get to experience the atmosphere and culture of a city while also being just minutes away from the beautiful country of Ireland. This experience has left me in awe day after day, thank you GE!

I began working with Global Experiences in October of 2015 to become a part of their 2016 summer internship program in Dublin, Ireland. The resources that Global Experiences has to make sure that you get the most out of an internship are excellent. Their staff was extremely helpful about answering any questions I had, and I really appreciated their advice on crafting my resume and cover letter. The webinars that are also available to watch and participate in before you travel abroad are great. For my internship I was placed in the National Museum of Ireland Decorative Arts and History branch in the registration department. I helped to make sure that every object in the museum's collection had a location number and was entered in our online database. I worked at the museum Monday thru Friday from 10:00-4:00 and had the weekends off. With this schedule I experienced the real working environment of the museum and yet had time to explore Dublin and Ireland.
In addition to securing my internship, Global Experiences also planned excursions for us so we would be able to experience the sights and culture of Ireland. These excursions included day trips to Belfast and the Cliffs of Moher, a cooking night, and a musical pub crawl. With providing housing, excursions, and great staff support while I was in Dublin, Global Experiences provided the whole package. One of the best parts about doing this internship was that there was also flexibility. The excursions are not mandatory, so if you want to plan a weekend in London you can do that. I know several of the interns in my program traveled on their own or in groups. They went to places like Scotland, London, Venice, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. Your internship is your first priority, but if you have the free time you can fill up that time anyway you want to.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my internship experience and would do it all again in a heartbeat. I worked with some amazing people who I hope to stay in contact with for a long time to come. If you are planning on doing an internship abroad I would say go for it. However, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to prepare. You will still need to take care of yourself while you are abroad in terms of making sure you have food to eat and transportation funds. Along with being prepared also be ready to adapt. Plan A is not going to work out every time so having a willingness to go to plan B or plan C is essential. Look at it as an adventure. It will be unforgettable and you won't regret it.

My four weeks abroad in Maynooth, Ireland was full of craic. Ireland is the most peaceful and serene country I have ever had the pleasure of visiting thanks to AIFS. My trip took place during the summer of 2014, which was the first year of this program. Despite the lack of experience, the staff did an excellent job of accommodating students and making sure that everyone was enjoying themselves. Every week, there were different cultural excursions that allowed students to integrate themselves into this country's way of life. Some of my favorites included hurling and Irish dancing lessons, and taking a trip to a Riverdance show. Every weekend, there were optional excursions to different parts of the country, which was probably my favorite part of the trip because it was an organized way to see so many areas that tourists are not familiar with while also getting to popular tourist attractions.
At first, I was a little nervous to go abroad by myself, but now I could not be happier with the fact that I went outside of my comfort zone because I made lasting friendships with people all over the world. Studying abroad is such a unique experience that the bonds you develop with others is special which makes it last. I still keep in touch with my friends from my trip!

The best experience I had while in Ireland was joining the University of Limerick's Skydiving Club. It was there that I met some of my best friends. I still am in contact with many of them and could not imagine my experience without them. Not only was joining a club great for socializing, but I also made three solo jumps. I never would have thought I would jump out of a plane in Ireland, but it was three of the best moments of my life. Studying abroad is all about trying something new and finding things you love. My new loves are Ireland, travelling, and skydiving.

I had an absolute blast interning in Ireland this past fall. I felt that the staff at Global Experiences really took the time to find the right placement for me and to help make the transition from living and working in the United States to becoming an intern in a foreign country as easy as possible. They were there for me every step of the way and I learned SO much. I would, without a doubt, return to complete another internship with this program. I could not have asked for a better experience.

The AIFS program at the University of Limerick was the best study abroad experience I could have asked for. The AIFS staff and the staff at the University were extremely welcoming and helpful in my adjustment to the country. The campus is beautiful and right on the banks of the River Shannon and it's about a fifteen minute bus ride from the city center, with two bus stops right on campus. It's also really easy to get around Ireland from Limerick and most bus routes stop right on campus. Limerick isn't as tourist-heavy of a city as say, Dublin, which made it much easier to really feel at home. It's a very student friendly location, and a lot of the restaurants and stores were very affordable for students on a budget. My favorite thing about Limerick was the Milk Market, an open-air farmers' market/craft fair that's open on the weekends. It was a great place to go to walk around and chat with the different vendors while stocking up on some of the best cheese I've ever eaten!
Without a doubt, I would study abroad on this program again if I could. The location was great for traveling around Ireland and the rest of Europe, and the staff at the University of Limerick were truly exceptional. I learned a lot both in my classes and by living in the culture. It was a very friendly atmosphere and I felt completely comfortable at the University and in the city. I'm so grateful to AIFS for taking care of the details like housing, meals, and flights, letting me really focus on enjoying my experience and making the most of my time abroad.