Curious what it’s like to study and intern abroad in Italy? We recently spoke with Jorge, an AIFS Abroad scholarship recipient from Dominican University, who participated in a Study + Internship program in Florence during the fall semester.
Discover how Jorge’s fall semester in Florence helped him build professional skills and enjoy the world-famous Italian culture.
Choosing a Study Abroad Destination & Term
While many students choose to study or intern abroad in a destination they’ve never been to, others feel called back to a place they’ve already visited and want to learn more about. After volunteering in Italy previously, Jorge knew he had to go back:
“I did a volunteer abroad [program] in Italy a year ago. I loved it so much that I wanted to return to Italy. My school offered the Florence program, and it was only natural for me to intern. It’s been a pleasant experience. Florence is beautiful and storied. I would recommend anyone looking to study abroad to choose Florence.”
For Jorge, choosing the fall semester was just as intentional. He was eager to experience Italy during autumn and wanted to make sure his last year in college was truly one to remember:
“I chose fall because I love fall weather. I did want to see Italy in the fall, and being in Florence hasn’t disappointed me. The other reason is that I am in my last year of college. I wanted to have at least a semester abroad and a semester in the U.S.”
University Abroad
AIFS Abroad has four Global Education Centers (GECs) located across Europe, including one in Florence. These international academic hubs offer site-oriented curricula and center-based support for study abroad (and Study + Internship) students. Located just steps from the famed Ponte Vecchio, the Florence GEC applies class material to the city’s rich history—something Jorge appreciated right away. As he noted, “It’s in a historical building, and I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”
Through his Study + Internship program, Jorge balanced coursework with professional experience. His classes aligned closely with both his majors in international relations and diplomacy and Italianlanguage; he especially enjoyed applying what he learned in class to his daily life in Florence:
“[My courses cover] business in the European Union, Italian, [and] Italian culture/tradition. I really like [the] Italian [language course] because I am learning so many more things and using themoutside [class].”
Internship Experience
Completing an internship was a graduation requirement for Jorge, and he knew he wanted that experience to take him abroad. For him, interning abroad meant gaining professional skills while also growing culturally and personally:
“I need an internship to graduate from my university. But I wanted to do my internship in another country. Internships are valuable because you get experience before [your] actual job. An internship abroad…also allows you to [gain] experience living in a different country [and] culture.”
As an English education intern, Jorge was placed in a school that taught the local children English:
“I was placed at an English teaching school for children. Some of my responsibilities are to help the full-time teacher and speak to the children in English.”
While living and interning in Florence, Jorge discovered the work-life balance in Italy to be quite different from the U.S. Hear Jorge describe his take on the Italian work culture:
“I feel like in the U.S., you live to work, while here in Italy, you work to live. The jobs aren’t as stressful, and people enjoy their leisure time more.”
Language Learning
Although language learning isn’t required for many AIFS Abroad programs, studying and interning abroad offers an incredible opportunity to build confidence in another language. Jorge had already been studying Italian since his freshman year, and his time in Florence helped him grow more comfortable using it daily:
“I’ve been learning Italian since my freshman year of college. This is my second time in Italy. So, I am comfortable speaking the language. But one word of advice is: don’t be scared to speak the language. If you’re too scared to speak then you can’t improve in the language.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs—and both our internship and study abroad programs have won awards for our housing! Jorge lived in a shared apartment with other American students and appreciated the familiarity and independence it provided:
“I live in a shared apartment with other Americans. It’s been a good experience. All of us have some degree of experience living with other college students.”
Cultural Appreciation
Living abroad often brings new routines and perspectives. For Jorge, one of the most important changes was Florence’s walkability:
“I really love the walkability of Florence. You do have to take a car or public transportation to certain places, but I’m walking a lot more. I hope when I get back [home, I will] walk more. Walking is like a form of therapy for me. It’s calm, and I get to see things that I usually don’t.”
Trips and Excursions
AIFS Abroad programs include trips and excursions outside your host city, allowing college students and recent grads to explore more of their program destination while bonding with fellow participants. Of the many excursions included in Jorge’s program, the trip to Italy’s capital—where students visited historic landmarks like the Colosseum and the Pantheon and wandered through Piazza Navona—was his favorite:
“My favorite one was our excursion to Rome. It was really fun because we got to go to different places and I spoke to people that I usually don’t get to.”
Ready to take the next step and go abroad like Jorge did in Florence? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students and recent graduates study and intern abroad. Our programs provide tons of awesome inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), including housing, cultural and social activities, trips and excursions, career readiness programming, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more. Our programs let you go abroad with confidence—knowing you’ll have support wherever you go.
