Global Experiences Internships in Florence, Italy

Overall, my time abroad was an amazing experience! I made a lot of new friends and experienced an entirely new work culture I had never been exposed to.

The only criticism I have was the communication and organization between my employer and the program prior to the start of my internship. Since I was doing an architecture internship, I was working with a lot of software and computer programs on my private computer. One specific program was not on my resume and was not mentioned in the interview. My employer and I struggled to share drawings because of this, and not having it risked ending my internship early. Luckily I was able to solve the problem and find an educational license for the software.

The use of my private computer also prevented me from finishing the project we were working on. The softwares I had to download made it shut down permanently near the end of my internship. My advisors did what they could to help me, but in the end, I did not feel like I was set up for success. For internships that require a significant amount of software (and *very* expensive software at that), there needs to be better communication as to what the employer is providing the intern (computer, software, etc.) and what the intern needs to come prepared with. There was a lot of potential for me to walk away with more experience than I did, but due to the above circumstances, that was not the case. This program is not cheap, so if you are thinking about enrolling, ask more questions and make it clear with your early advisor what your capabilities and expectations are.

Aside from my internship, the program did a great job of immersing us into Italian culture. By the end of my time there, I was very comfortable with Florence and traveling to other cities/countries in Europe. I will always be influenced by my time there and can’t wait to return in the future!

Going into this program abroad I didn’t really know what to expect being so inexperienced with something like this. There were times I felt out of my comfort zone, but thanks to other interns, my internship supervisor, and the program coordinators I felt super supported there. The people I was surrounded with would always make me feel so much better to know I am not alone! I am so thankful for the guidance and help from the coordinators Erica and Anna. When I had challenging moments they were great with checking in. I can’t express enough how absolutely incredible Anna Gomez was for the way she showed up for me! Her kindness, dedication and determination goes unnoticed. I’m so glad I chose to take on this adventure that made me learn and grow so much!!

Having an internship in Florence, Italy was an amazing and unique opportunity. I got very lucky with my internship placement at a travel company; it was a great fit for me and I became close friends with my coworkers and boss. I also made friends with the other Global Experiences interns that I was living with. We all lived in the same complex, which had all the amenities we needed, including AC, heat, and laundry. The apartments were in a great area close to the city center.
The Florence location coordinators, Erica and Anna, are great! They were prompt at responding even outside of work hours, and helped with everything from internship questions to suggestions on the best clothing tailor in the city. They provided each intern with hands-on attention and advice.
Overall, I would recommend this program. Global Experiences is a great program to do in your college or post-college years because it helps give you a better idea of what your future goals and plans are.

It was such a great experience! I was able to really dive into the culture and make friends with locals. My internship was so much fun and i was so fortunate for my boss. She was like my Italian mother and was so kind and caring. I absolutely loved working at her clothing boutique. My advice would be to say yes to any opportunity that arises; you’ll grow so much if you do. I learned so much about my wants and needs by coming here. I made friends for a lifetime and made connections around Europe as well.

Through my 3 month experience in Florence Italy, I was able to build my resume while simultaneously creating the best memories and friendships possible. As a psychology major, I was able to work first-hand with a psychotherapist who taught me a lot about the occupational field, as well as a lot about myself. My boss was a therapist who primarily worked with young adults. Because I am a young adult myself, this was very beneficial to me. I was able to take lessons from his clients and apply it to myself, which was very enlightening. I also had never been able to observe this particular realm of the psychological field, so I learned a lot from that aspect as well. Overall, the individualistic attention from my work experience only benefit my resume, as well as my understanding of the work realm.
In terms of the social life, I was far from bored. Although I came to Florence primarily for the work experience, I also created many friendships and memories that I will never forget. I spent a lot of time with the other individuals in the program, and we all eventually became very close. Time spent together ranged from shopping, getting dinner, exploring, or even just watching Halloween movies together on Netflix! On top of all of the excitement Florence has to offer, we were also able to travel outside of Florence to get the full Italian experience. From wine tastings, to day trips to surrounding cities, there were always activities available to participate in (regardless of the location). I am forever thankful to Global Experiences for the amazing opportunity and memories that will last forever!

This abroad internship was an experience of a lifetime! It helped me learn more about myself as a person and a working professional. It also helped me experience life abroad and working among locals without having to commit to a full time job. This program helped me prepare for the future in my career and I am excited to see where I go from here. I have also learned more about my likes and dislikes when it comes to what i seek on a professional level. I am happy to have completed this program as well!

I had an amazing experience here in Florence. If I can do it all over again, I really would. I’ve learned so much since being here and I’m so happy I did. I’ve definitely grown so much since getting here and I’m so grateful for all this experience has given me! I would recommend this program to students looking for a change, while also wanting to gain work experience in their major. It’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone, see new places, learn new things about yourself and about your career field.

I highly recommend taking the leap and interning or studying abroad. It sounds scary. Not every moment is going to be amazing (people forget to tell you that) but you learn from overcoming these challenges and grow as a person. I was really lucky with my experience. I fell in love with Florence. I thought it was a perfect sized city. I figured Rome and Milan would be too big for me and I think I was right. I recommend Global Experiences. My location coordinators, Anna and Erica were nothing but helpful, supportive, and kind. I know that if I needed anything, they would be right there to help. My internship placement was also perfect. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in marketing, and told GE that my interests were in the fitness industry and they placed me at a member's club, fitness and yoga studio. I got to do social media marketing for them and I learned so much, not to mention my coworkers were so welcoming and kind. I felt that the work I did for them was really contributing to the company's needs. Long story short - if you have any interest in studying or interning abroad, you should do it. You won't regret it.