Jorge’s Examine + Internship Program in Florence

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Curious what it’s like to review and intern overseas in Italy? We lately spoke with Jorge, an AIFS Overseas scholarship recipient from Dominican College, who participated in a Examine + Internship program in Florence in the course of the fall semester. 

Uncover how Jorge’s fall semester in Florence helped him construct skilled expertise and benefit from the world-famous Italian tradition. 

Selecting a Examine Overseas Vacation spot & Time period 

Whereas many college students select to research or intern overseas in a vacation spot they’ve by no means been to, others really feel known as again to a spot they’ve already visited and wish to be taught extra about. After volunteering in Italy beforehand, Jorge knew he had to return: 

“I did a volunteer overseas [program] in Italy a 12 months in the past. I cherished it a lot that I wished to return to Italy. My college provided the Florence program, and it was solely pure for me to intern. It’s been a pleasing expertise. Florence is gorgeous and storied. I might advocate anybody seeking to research overseas to decide on Florence.” 

For Jorge, selecting the fall semester was simply as intentional. He was wanting to expertise Italy throughout autumn and wished to verify his final 12 months in faculty was actually one to recollect: 

“I selected fall as a result of I like fall climate. I did wish to see Italy within the fall, and being in Florence hasn’t disillusioned me. The opposite cause is that I’m in my final 12 months of faculty. I wished to have not less than a semester overseas and a semester within the U.S.” 

College Overseas 

AIFS Overseas has 4 World Schooling Facilities (GECs) situated throughout Europe, together with one in Florence. These worldwide educational hubs supply site-oriented curricula and center-based help for research overseas (and Examine + Internship) college students. Positioned simply steps from the famed Ponte Vecchio, the Florence GEC applies class materials to the metropolis’s wealthy historical past—one thing Jorge appreciated instantly. As he famous, “It’s in a historic constructing, and I’ve loved it lots.” 

By his Examine + Internship program, Jorge balanced coursework with skilled expertise. His lessons aligned intently with each his majors in worldwide relations and diplomacy and Italianlanguage; he particularly loved making use of what he realized at school to his each day life in Florence: 

“[My courses cover] enterprise within the European Union, Italian, [and] Italian tradition/custom. I actually like [the] Italian [language course] as a result of I’m studying so many extra issues and utilizing themoutside [class].” 

Internship Expertise 

Finishing an internship was a commencement requirement for Jorge, and he knew he wished that have to take him overseas. For him, interning overseas meant gaining skilled expertise whereas additionally rising culturally and personally: 

“I would like an internship to graduate from my college. However I wished to do my internship overseas. Internships are precious since you get expertise earlier than [your] precise job. An internship overseas…additionally permits you to [gain] expertise dwelling in a distinct nation [and] tradition.” 

As an English schooling intern, Jorge was positioned in a college that taught the native kids English: 

“I used to be positioned at an English educating college for youngsters.  A few of my obligations are to assist the full-time trainer and converse to the kids in English.” 

Whereas dwelling and interning in Florence, Jorge found the work-life steadiness in Italy to be fairly completely different from the U.S. Hear Jorge describe his take on the Italian work tradition: 

“I really feel like within the U.S., you reside to work, whereas right here in Italy, you’re employed to reside. The roles aren’t as disturbing, and folks get pleasure from their leisure time extra.” 

Language Studying 

Though language studying isn’t required for a lot of AIFS Overseas applications, finding out and interning overseas provides an unimaginable alternative to construct confidence in one other language. Jorge had already been finding out Italian since his freshman 12 months, and his time in Florence helped him develop extra snug utilizing it each day: 

“I’ve been studying Italian since my freshman 12 months of faculty. That is my second time in Italy. So, I’m snug talking the language. However one phrase of recommendation is: don’t be scared to talk the language. If you’re too scared to talk then you can’t enhance within the language.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas applications—and each our internship and research overseas applications have received awards for our housing! Jorge lived in a shared house with different American college students and appreciated the familiarity and independence it supplied: 

“I reside in a shared house with different People. It’s been an excellent expertise. All of us have a point of expertise dwelling with different faculty college students.” 

Cultural Appreciation 

Dwelling overseas typically brings new routines and views. For Jorge, one of many most necessary modifications was Florence’s walkability: 

“I actually love the walkability of Florence. You do need to take a automotive or public transportation to sure locations, however I’m strolling much more. I hope after I get again [home, I will] stroll extra. Strolling is like a type of remedy for me. It’s calm, and I get to see issues that I normally don’t.” 

Journeys and Excursions 

AIFS Overseas applications embrace journeys and excursions exterior your host metropolis, permitting faculty college students and current grads to discover extra of their program vacation spot whereas bonding with fellow individuals. Of the numerous excursions included in Jorge’s program, the journey to Italy’s capital—the place college students visited historic landmarks just like the Colosseum and the Pantheon and wandered by Piazza Navona—was his favourite: 

“My favourite one was our tour to Rome. It was actually enjoyable as a result of we acquired to go to completely different locations and I spoke to folks that I normally don’t get to.” 

Able to take the subsequent step and go overseas like Jorge did in Florence? We’d love that will help you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students and up to date graduates research and intern overseas. Our applications present tons of superior inclusions (which actually take the stress out of planning!), together with housing, cultural and social actions, journeys and excursions, profession readiness programming, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site workers, and extra. Our applications allow you to go overseas with confidence—realizing you’ll have help wherever you go.