AIFS Abroad: Study Abroad in Italy

This past summer I spent in Florence was one I'll never forget... and one I wish I could go back to every day! I'm bilingual in Italian, so I started the program after the language school portion. I wouldn't say I'm the most outgoing person, so it took me a little to meet all the other interns. However, as soon as I got comfortable, I had the best summer of my life. Not only did I have an awesome internship (yes, I cried when I had to say bye to my co-workers) but I had so much fun exploring Florence and all the other cities Global Experiences takes you to! For my internship, I was in a small showroom in a town right outside downtown Florence. There were only 7 sellers and 2 secretaries who worked the showroom, so I quickly got to know everyone and how everything worked. It was amazing getting to see all the spring/summer collections a whole year before they are released to the public and be able to sit in on client meetings with buyers who came in to purchase merchandise for their stores. I was also lucky enough to be placed with another intern who has become one of my closest friends! In the end, I gained some incredibly valuable experience in fashion business and had an amazing summer while doing it. Plus adding a fashion internship in Italy on my resume doesn't sound too shabby! This was my first internship I've ever had and it is definitely one I will never forget.

My time in Florence Italy was by far one of my most valuable experiences I have ever had. Not only was I given an amazing opportunity to intern in a high-end showroom, I learned more then I could have imagined outside of my internship. The Showroom experience was like none other. I had the best time and was able to gain so much knowledge from my coworkers. They were extremely supportive and gave me responsibilities as if I were a permanent part of their team. Not only was I able to go to the biggest fashion trade show in Italy, I learned how international business works. I did everything from displays to helping them sell. Global Experiences helped me throughout each step of the process, the interview, first day, and anything else I needed along the way. I also was surrounded by the best people and have made life-long friends in the process. Global Experiences had so many activities for us there was no time to be bored.The staff was very supportive and was always there to listen if we had a problem or conflict. We were given the opportunity to travel outside of our internship, as well as spend time with our friends. I used this amazing time abroad to learn about my surroundings as well as myself. I walked away from this experience a well rounded individual and ready to start my career in the fashion industry. Interning abroad has been the best decision I have made regarding my college career!

The internship I did through global experiences was incredibly multidimensional. Not only did I actually get do so some designing for the fashion brand I interned with, but I also got experience in brand development, graphic design, and marketing. I even got the opportunity to go and participate with them in the huge trade show in Florence. Who gets the chance to do all of that in a single summer?? Global Experiences provided me with an internship experience that has, no doubt, shaped my career path as a college graduate. So happy I chose them.

I traveled to Florence a year ago right after graduating college. I wasn't sure what to expect and I was extremely nervous and excited. Thankfully, I was paired up with an awesome roommate and we did a lot of group activities to help everyone get to know each other. The activities that Whitney had planned for us were so much fun! I loved the scavenger hunt around Florence and was even better when my roommate and I won! We went on a weekend wine tasting trip as our prize and it was fabulous!

I was placed with a design studio to study graphic design, textile design, and product design. I was unsure how much I would actually learn as there was a language barrier. My bosses were outstanding, fun, and welcoming, which was a huge relief. I learned a lot from them, the design industry abroad, and most importantly, being able to successfully produce designs even if I couldn't completely communicate with my boss. It was such a rewarding experience!

Also, I really enjoyed finally figuring out where everything is in Florence. I feel like the next time I go back (hopefully soon!) I will know where to go without a map, know where all the best restaurants are, and how to avoid looking like a tourist! :)

Thanks Global Experiences for a memory that will last a lifetime!!

Italy is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever traveled to, and the entire city of Florence is like an outdoor museum. There was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting at a cafe and watch people walk by. The Italians are wonderful people, so strong in character, filled with emotion, and passionate about food. They truly know how to appreciate and enjoy every day that goes by. When I chose to go abroad with Global Experiences I had an idea of where I was headed, but I did not expect to be blown away by such a rich and fascinating culture. The experience began at LinguaViva, where I made friends from all over the world that came to Florence to learn the language and seek a life changing experience like I was. Global Experiences made a wonderful job placing us in homes that were in the heart of the city. My apartment was literally two blocks away from Il Duomo. After a month of intensive Italian lessons, we were placed in an internship. I must say, when I first walked into the design studio I was placed in, I was terrified. It was a firm of two architects and a few interns besides myself. The studio was filled with all kinds of bizarre and funky objects, a collection of Barbie dolls that took up an entire wall, a collection of eccentric canes that one of the architects designed, and it was all cramped up in this small town house. Although I had a shocking first impression, the warmth and kindness of these two wonderful designers made my experience in Florence extremely pleasant. We had very fun projects, and the creativity and skills of my mentors gave me so much to learn from. Apart from assigning great jobs, and a wonderful school, Global Experiences did an awesome job at giving us a glance of Florence and Tuscany with excursions to Lake Garda and Cinque Terra and events like aperitivos on rooftops. Over all, I would not change a single thing about my internship and experience in Florence. It has changed me in all positive ways, and I would be blessed if one day I could call Florence my home.

I had the best experience with Global experiences in Florence. I had studied abroad there and wanted to stay for summer and i'm so glad i did because i definitely picked the right program. They were so helpful in getting me set up earlier than the rest of the ladies because i was already in florence and didn't have to fly over. I got into my new apartment and schooling right away, which was one of the best parts. The school that they use is amazing and taught me so much italian that i didn't already know, and i also got to meet other international students also studying in the school. I was able to make new friends and take field trips with them and the school. The first two weeks we just focused on learning italian which was so incredible and worthwhile. After school i had time to explore the city and hang out with people from schools as well as travel. When everyone arrived we had a dinner to get to know each other which was so much fun, and we continued to have these dinners (apperitivo) throughout the program time which was so great. it was nice to bring everyone together and have something to do with other people. they also had an extensive interview process for internships, so i got placed in one that matched me after meeting with the boss. The internship was a great learning experience however it turned out it wasn't exactly what they said it would be so Global moved me to another one right away that was AMAZING and i couldn't have been happier. I learned so much in such a short amount of time even and it was so worth it. I met amazing people and had the internship and summer of a lifetime!

My experience with the Global experience program in Florence, Italy was rewarding in so many way. I am a senior in college and over the summer I was required to do an internship for school. Most of my classmates interned in NYC and answered phones, copied papers and put data in the computer. My internship was nothing like this because Global experience listened to what I wanted to do and had me working one-on-one with an Italian fashion designer. Every day I took the train to where my boss needed me to meet her and we together worked on her summer 2014 collection. I helped her with buying fabric, designing, research for upcoming trends, cutting out patterns and whatever else she wanted me to do. Every day was something different, which I loved cause it kept me on my toes. Not only was my internship an amazing experience but I also made great friends who I will stay in contact with the rest of my life. Overall I had an amazing experience and would not consider Sara as just my boss but also my friend. I would suggest if you have this opportunity to go abroad, take it.

Studying abroad with AIFS is one of the best decisions I have ever made. AIFS made my study abroad experience as smooth as possible. I felt safe, well fed and happy to attend a wide vary of activities provided for us. I took four classes and was in no shape or form overwhelmed by the work load. However, I learned so much academically. It was such a treat to attend class and then see paintings that I had learned about earlier that day in person. Our professor would take us there and reiterate what we learned in class in front of the masterpieces.

AIFS provided cultural activities for us to attend such as cooking classes and aperativo to name a few. Most of the time these activities didn't even cost us extra. The staff was incredible. If I ever had any questions they were there to help!