AIFS Abroad: Study Abroad in Italy

This was easily the greatest decision I️ have made in all 23 years of my life. Through this program I️ have made the greatest friends and discovered the most beautiful city in the world. My internship with the film company was so enjoyable and educational, I️t granted me with the opportunity to come back and help shoot a film in the spring which has always been my dream. I️ was never sure that working in film was all I️ wanted to do until this internship and know I️ know I️t is perfect for me. Global experiences not only have me an experience for a lifetime but I️t has also helped guide me in figuring out exactly what I️ want to do with my life. I️ wouldn’t trade this experience for anything !

Milan is a beautiful place to live, explore, and cherish, but what makes it an even better experience is attending the program through Global Experiences. I had a fashion internship while abroad and GE worked to their greatest extent to place me in an environment that catered to my specifications. I learned, grew, and was challenged throughout the summer and ultimately gained new insight on the industry and the detailed components of running your own company.

The city itself is the perfect place to get to know in a few months. A larger city with a small city feel. Anything you would think of wanting for a place to temporarily call home, Milan has it. From shopping, AMAZING food, deep culture and history, lovely museums, sites, and parks, and so much more.

One of the perks of joining GE is the fact that the program is offered to students all over the country as opposed to enrolling through your school (if they have a program like this). I got the chance to make friends with some awesome people from so many different places and backgrounds and cherished the connection with them as we all figured out how to navigate a new setting and blossom in the workplace. You also get the chance to participate in pre-planned excursions outside of Milan. We spent a day in Venice, visited Lake Como which led to a night's stay and trip to Switzerland the next day. Just a few opportunities made possible through the GE.

Join this program and have the time of your life in Milan. It will grow you, work you, and open up your eyes to all the amazing possibilities that lie ahead. I promise you won't regret a single bit.

A semester in Rome with AIFS Study Abroad was more than I could have ever asked for or expected in an experience. I am currently a senior at St. John Fisher College, majoring in Human Resources Management. I never thought I would be able to see so much of the world being from such a small area myself. When abroad AIFS gave me the opportunity to go to 7 countries and 28 cities.
The resident staff at the school truly made the program for me. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us and that we were all assimilating well. The classes at Richmond were very interesting and challenging. The professors made sure to keep class engaging by bringing you to an onsite location almost every meeting. I mean, how many people can say they learned about Caravaggio paintings and then got to walk 2 minutes and see his breath taking work live and in person.
I would not trade my study abroad experience for anything in world. AIFS is an all inclusive program (meaning the flights, food, and housing is all planned out and included in the price) so it took almost all the stress out of planning for me!

My summer in Florence was my second experience with GE, and I cannot recommend them enough. From my first contact with the team in the US, to the on-location support from Rachel in Florence, they are so friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic about helping people live and intern abroad. I studied in Florence my junior year, and came back for my internship after graduating from university. Interning here has been such a great experience, and I feel like it gave me an even more authentic Italian experience than when I studied here.

The social events here (including wine tastings and cooking classes) were a great way to meet other likeminded people, and it was so much fun getting to explore Italy together in our free time. I cannot think of anywhere back in the US where I would've had these kinds of opportunities (professional or personal), which is why if you're thinking of interning in Italy--DO IT.

This summer have been amazing in so many ways, from the beginning to the end... I had the opportunity of getting to know new people with the same interest as me, as well as living the great experience of working as an interior designer in a company with international recognition and works in countries like China and the USA, in which I had the possibility to watch my career from a new perspective, that will allow me be a better designer now that I start my professional career coming home.
This program allowed me to fall in love all over again with Florence and a culture that fascinated me since the first time I studied them in college, I mean the feeling of being in front of buildings that I had only seen in book was amazing!!!
Also I take with me new friendships and work relationships, since the company offered me a long distance job to keep working with them from my country. I've been travelling since I was pretty young but this time it was more than just a vacation, it was a whole new learning experience not just because of the work but also because it is so different to be living in another country even if is just for two months, than just spend a week looking around.

It was so much fun!!! everyone should go for it without hesitation.

Im so glad I did this program and I highly recommend it.

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. I always felt safe in the city, and if I ever had a problem I knew my program advisor would be there to help me. This was the chance of a lifetime and it was exactly what I was looking for!

This international internship experience through Global Experiences has been better than I could have ever imagined.

I aspire to work in the consulting field and getting on the job experience while crucial to securing a job, is not very easy to find. The staff at Global was incredibly honest with me during my application process. They told me they might not be able to place me at a job in the consulting industry, especially since I had chosen Italy as my desired location. However, they advise I apply to the Milan location (due to it being the business center of Italy) rather than Florence, which was the initial site I had listed for placement. I listed other areas of business as my backup option, but somehow they found me a position with a local consulting company in Milan! I was beyond ecstatic when I found out I had secured the position with the such an organization. The experience I gained through working with this company was irreplaceable; I feel much more confident going into my job search now. I have learned skills that will not only assist me in my professional career but also just help regarding living life in our ever increasingly globalized society.

The staff at Global are always there for any questions you may have along the way as well. From my parents and Grandma requiring me to ask a million and one questions during the application process, to when you are on the ground in the city, the staff members I talked to were always kind, patient, and quick to answer any questions I had. They made calling another country home for two months not only manageable but incredibly enjoyable as well!

The other interns in the program also made the experience great. It was so great to get to meet so many funny, kind, and caring people from all over the world!

If you are contemplating participating in an experience like this, I highly encourage you to take the leap of faith and go! It's a decision I know I will look back on and smile at for the rest of my life. Thank you Global!

I definitely enjoyed my time with my Global Experiences internship, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique 'study abroad' experience!

I was an intern in Milan, Italy for a PR and marketing agency. At first, I was nervous about this, as I had preffed a retail marketing and/or merchandising experience so I thought I would want to work in a showroom there. However, I decided to just go with it because the company seemed great to work for, and it was just a more general example of what my marketing major could teach me. This brings me to my first piece of GE advice: Be open to whatever opportunities may come to you. Maybe it’s not exactly what you had in mind, but being open to more experiences can introduce you to new passions or even further reassure you that the career path you’re on is the right one for you.

After my decision, I can honestly say that I was not disappointed at all once I began my internship. I could not have asked for a better placement after working at this agency. My co-workers were all so caring and immediately made me feel welcome, which eased another worry of mine. I showed enthusiasm everyday for the work given and they responded to that by giving me meaningful work to showcase what I could really do for them. My second piece of GE advice: I would encourage anyone thinking about going through the program to do the same and show enthusiasm as it really does pay off. You won't enjoy your work 100% of the time, but I think that definitely helps you grow and realize that this fact follows you everywhere. It's best to make the most of it! Because of this, I was able to later handle blogger collaboration negotiations, potential client presentations, website development for the agency, help with photoshoots, attend a fashion week event as a guest, and even celebrate my boss’ birthday with my co-workers on a weekend vacation to Tuscany. All of these things helped me realize that I really, and surprisingly, enjoy this line of work.

As far as the accommodations from GE go, I was very pleased with the location of my housing, my roommates, and the socials that the program had planned for us. They definitely made it easier to connect with others, and there is absolutely no need to be worried about not finding a great group of people to spend your free time with. My third piece of GE advice: I would highly recommend getting everyday advice from your co-workers and your program coordinators. They are more than likely willing to help if you just ask, and since they live in your internship location, they can definitely tell you how the locals live which can make your time adjusting much easier! Even if they don’t know the answer right away, your program coordinators will do their best to help you- that’s what they’re there for.

Overall, I had an unforgettable summer of learning and growth with Global Experiences. I made great connections, saw some beautiful sights, and discovered new professional strengths and passions. You might be nervous to be away from home for so long or about the internship in general, but I really don’t think that should stop you from joining this program. It is different and it will take some adjusting, but I promise you that it is so so worth it. Go GE!