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

I had the opportunity to intern with the Fianna Fail party in Dublin, Ireland for the spring semester of my sophomore year of college. At first, I was nervous being so far away from home and leaving everything I had known behind to start new for three months, but honestly it was the best decision of my life. I wish I could go back and tell myself to not get nervous and to get excited for the best three months of your life. Even if you are the slightest bit hesitant about GE just take the jump and do it. I am so grateful and glad that I had this opportunity and went for it and could not recommend this program enough. Everything about this program was perfect: our housing was amazing, my internship was perfect, and the city of Dublin Ireland was fantastic. I truly will remember this trip for a lifetime and would not be where I am without them that is for sure.

Participating in this program was the best decision I have made in my academic career. Getting real work experience while exploring a new country (plus a few others on weekends) was an experience I could not pass up. The internship that Global Experiences placed me with was a great fit and I feel it has solidified the career path that I wish to take. The trips that were planned for us through GE were so much fun and they housing accommodation they placed us in was wonderful! The Global Experiences staff, specifically Sara, Lara, and Peter, were so helpful from the very first step of application all the way through the end of my internship. My fellow GE interns have become my second family, and the great city of Dublin has become my second home and I highly encourage anyone considering this program to go for it!

My three months in Dublin with Global Experiences were some of the best of my life. This internship gave me the chance to learn so much more about myself and be able to grow and be so much more independent. Working in a foreign country gives you an experience truly unlike any other and has the chance to open up so many opportunities for you. I loved learning all about Dublin and Ireland and seeing all it had to offer while also getting the chance to develop new professional skills and learn about a future career path for myself. It was a one of a kind experience and I'm so glad I got to experience it. Global Experiences made everything so easy and problem free and Lara is awesome about being there for the interns just enough where you still feel independent but have a friend if you need one. I am so grateful for my time in Dublin and with Global Experiences.

My semester in Limerick, Ireland was better than I could have ever imagined. I felt comfortable with no language barrier, but also was able to experience a culture completely different from my own. Throughout the semester, I learned so much about myself and how I handle situations different than ones that I have been in before. I learned a lot about my awareness (of my surroundings, culture, and myself) that I hope will make me a more valuable employee after my approaching graduation. Being a business major, I am setting myself apart when I say that I took economics and IT classes in Ireland. I wouldn't change my experience for anything and I wouldn't want to go through any other provider either. AIFS really seemed to value the idea of support when abroad. Whether that support be for me as a student, or for my family at home, who were so far away from me for the entire semester. I never felt alone and everyone question I had was answered with the help of the on-site director who was like our mom away from home. They also planned amazing excursions that helped us see more of the culture and helped us bond as a group. Living on campus with students was another huge plus for me on this program, since I do not know how comfortable I would be in a host family situation. I really did have an adventure of a lifetime!

My semester in Limerick, Ireland was better than I could have ever imagined. I felt comfortable with no language barrier, but also was able to experience a culture completely different from my own. Throughout the semester, I learned so much about myself and how I handle situations different than ones that I have been in before. I learned a lot about my awareness (of my surroundings, culture, and myself) that I hope will make me a more valuable employee after my approaching graduation. Being a business major, I am setting myself apart when I say that I took economics and IT classes in Ireland. I wouldn't change my experience for anything and I wouldn't want to go through any other provider either. AIFS really seemed to value the idea of support when abroad. Whether that support be for me as a student, or for my family at home, who were so far away from me for the entire semester. I never felt alone and everyone question I had was answered with the help of the on-site director who was like our mom away from home. They also planned amazing excursions that helped us see more of the culture and helped us bond as a group. Living on campus with students was another huge plus for me on this program, since I do not know how comfortable I would be in a host family situation. I really did have an adventure of a lifetime!

My experience was very unique and surprising for me. I got to work for an organization assisting the lives of a disadvantaged ethnitcy I had no awareness of. The cultural experience was probably intensified for me because I got an insight on so much more history with my placement. Being immersed in a different culture was already enough to contribute to my professional and personal growth but being exposed to this type of internship allowed me to always think on my toes and assess my strengths and weaknesses. The social activities provided by GE was probably one of my greatest highlights however, from the scenery to the social events I felt like I made a new home in Dublin. The location coordinator was always there when and if I needed her and she always made the events fun and included some extras that pertained to our interests. I even considered living abroad for a longer period and she directed me to the ways how. I felt completely safe in this program but not like I had a baby sitter. Would definitely recommend this program to anyone and even considering it again for myself.

This has been one of the best experiences of my life. The amount of valuable job experience I gained from my host company is more than I would have ever imagined. The company that I was matched with was exactly what I was looking for. My co-workers were great and I was given real responsibility within the company not just typical "intern tasks". I enjoyed going to work each day and then getting to explore the most amazing places every weekend. Ireland is full of beautiful scenery and living in Dublin was ideal as we were close to great restaurants, bars, and shopping. We received just the right amount of support from GE as I always felt supported but never babysat. They also did an incredible job on roommate matching! my roommate and I were always together and had a blast the whole time. This has seriously been the opportunity and adventure of a lifetime and I would recommend it to anybody and everybody!

I had a wonderful time in Dublin, the GE staff did an amazing job and placing me in the exact internship that I was looking for, and the staff was great at helping us all settle into life in Ireland. It was great to have the staff so accessible, and they had a bunch of fun events to help us enjoy Ireland. Dublin is a very lively city, and it was fun to just walk around and pop into different restaurants, and shops and exploring the city. This experience was one that I will take with me the rest of my life, and that is largely because the staff was able to give me great internship placement, as well as matching me up with others in the housing that I could get along with. The friends I made there I feel are people I will keep in contact with, and have fun with for years to come. It was truly and experience unlike anything I have ever gone through before. I would recommend the study abroad program from GE to anyone that is looking for some great learning experiences as well as a lot of fun.