How to Intern Abroad in Italy The irony in this is that if you intern abroad in Italy, you will be doing the opposite of nothing! With its rich and extensive culture, Italy has sights to be seen for months on end. Even in the smallest towns, pieces of history will take your breath away.
Rome has some of the most famous historical monuments in the world … yet they catch you so off guard because there, they are just part of everyday life. You get off the metro Colosseo stop from line B and bam! Right in front of your face is the Colosseum! Living in Italy is like living in a real-life museum; everywhere you go and everything you see is rooted in history.
Interning In Italy: Where Work Meets Play. There is a lot to be learned from the Italian point of view on work. When it’s time for work, it’s time to focus and get busy with the tasks at hand. But when Italians are home, with their friends, or on break — it is strictly time to relax! In Italy, enjoying a vacation or free time away from work points to a happy and balanced life. There’s a reason that Italy has produced some of the world’s greatest minds, such as DaVinci and Galileo — the mind is most open when it is most at peace.
Interning in Italy is not just a great way to gain real-life experience in the workplace, but it’s a great place to develop a healthy philosophy about work. You’ll understand how to appreciate your time away from work, so that you can delve into it more enthusiastically when you return to it. This in turn can make you a more successful and happy person throughout life. The amazing food, rich culture, and beautiful people are just an added bonus to this eye-opening learning experience.
Mangia, Mangia, Mangia! Exploring your new city and all throughout Italy means that you can count on one thing for certain: food, food, glorious food! No matter how far north or how far south you travel, Italy has some of the greatest foods you can possibly find. From fresh fish and flaky pastries to stuffed shells and aged cheese, Italian cuisine includes something for every traveler’s palate. Before you go to a new city or town, look into what that region’s specialty is, and make absolutely sure you indulge in it while there. (Pro tip: if you ever find yourself in the Trastevere area of Rome, make sure you make time for Dar Poeta, the best pizza in Rome.)
Dive Into Italy. Exploring the side streets and tiny local restaurants will allow you to connect with native Italians during your internship abroad. In Italy, people are quick to involve you in their culture, so do not be afraid to jump right in. If you only speak a few words of Italian, go ahead and speak them! Locals love to teach you their language and their customs, so don’t be shy. And what better way to practice your Italian than by conversing with fluent Italians?
Being open to new experiences and new friends will be the best way for you to know the true Italia. The friendliness in Italian culture is probably one of the top reasons why you will enjoy spending time there.
Living and working — even temporarily — in a new country with new people, new customs, and a different language, is extremely daunting. But because people in Italy are so welcoming, it makes the transition so much easier. Feeling like people genuinely want you to be part of their community is a fantastic feeling, especially in a work environment where you’re surrounded by locals.