AIFS Abroad Internships in London, England

Hi everyone!
For those of you reading this, I was in the GE London program in the summer of 2019. I spent my internship at a Drug and Alcohol Addiction Wellbeing Service and the professional experience I earned has been invaluable to my professional development. However, I want to make this review about the social climate found in the GE program, since the social aspects of my time here have been just as impactful.
A misconstrued idea I would like to dismiss would be that these programs tend to favour extroverts due to extroverts tending to have an easier time meeting large groups for the first time. This was not the case at GE. Not only was there actually a great balance of those who socialize easily and those who don't engage as easily, but the quality of the people in this program has been absolutely amazing; from the GE participants to the staff. Every participant that I've met has exposed me to a myriad of new ideas, constantly expanding and, more importantly, challenging some of my views. This leads to a stimulating environment where everyone has a mutual genuine interest in the other participants. A sort of cultural and experiential cocktail, if you will.
If I had to say there is one common thread that GE nails with their participants, it's that they find young adults with the desire to learn and feeling fine with being uncomfortable. This leads to friends that don't back down from growing and taking chances.
Looking back at my time here, I can't help but smile thinking about the amazing life-long companions I've met and the memories that we'll one day refer to as "the good ol' days". To end this, I wanted to mention a quote from one of my closest friends on the trip. I had asked her if she was going to miss London and she simply said, "You know, I think that when we expand our circles in life, we always end up missing some part of it. Instead of constantly missing the parts we're not in, I just recognize it's a testament to the amazing times we've had here and the people we've met. That is enough for me."
Whether you're a parent deciding to send your child on this program or a prospective GE intern, this program is an amazing choice. The people you meet and eventually build lasting relationships with will help to build you up as a global citizen, which is something very few people can bring to the table.

I got placed into a great company for my internship. My expectations were matched and even more because I really loved where I worked. I am happy to have gone with Global Experiences since they really matched me well with a company that would challenge me and engage me in work related to my field of study. Besides work, I had a great time with the planned events, and made a lot of great friends. London has a great nightlife for anything. There are museums that stay open late, as well as free admission, and the clubs/pubs are always fun to go during the weekends. Even just popping in for pint after work with friends was a blast. There are great parks to lounge at during the day and cute cafes to hang around. I always had support for any issues that came up, and felt completely happy with my summer.

I have absolutly loved my internship and I am so satisfied with how much it has taught me about entrepreneurship! Having an intimate look into how a small startup company is built and run has been extremely valuable. I watch my boss make cold calls to the biggest companies in the UK, warm calls to potential clients and attend I meetings with him to meet companies and media owners we have relationships with. The CEO runs most of the internal company functions and shows me how he makes his financial models and how he pitches to investors. Many of my friends back home are stuck in the corner in a cubicle working on something that will never be used in any relevant context. The sales research and outreach I do at work have tangible benefits for my company and the feeling of productivity is something I have been able to take pride in.

I have also been able to travel so much this summer! I had seven free weekends this summer. I stayed in the UK for three and traveled internationally for four. I took weekend trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, and Berlin! On the three weekends I stayed in the UK, the first I went to the Royal Ascot horse race, the second I attended Wimbledon, and the third I did the GE trip to the White Cliffs of Dover! I love to always be moving so I never wanted free weekends and made sure that when I stayed in London I was making the most of it. Traveling on the weekends meant most of the time I spent exploring London was on the weekdays, where I attended lots of concerts! I have felt like I have integrated as a member of this city and cannot wait to come back to London.

The GE staff are helpful and friendly (especially the treasure that is Carmen), the process of getting here was streamlined and easy to understand and the GE hosted events were always a fun time. The GE events/trips were a great way to see more of London/the UK while keeping your wallet happy. The only downside in my experience was the housing. For the price we paid I would have expected more. There was no AC so every night was like sleeping in a sauna, I bought a fan to help make my room cooler (which I definitely recommend you do on day 1) but it was still uncomfortably hot. The bathroom also could've been better, I'm not a tall person (5'7) and I had to hunch over to fit inside the shower. Then there was the kitchen, when we arrived we had plate, cup and bowl. Singular. We only had one set of everything for five people. Despite all of that the program was still fantastic in every other respect. If GE could get their interns a better housing situation the entire program would receive a 10 out of 10 but for now I'm giving it an 8.

Moving in general for school or for a job is exciting, but also can make you nervous. Most of us know what that feels like as we have just begun the process of moving for college, or we have finished and are trying to figure out where our next home is going to be. So, as you can imagine, moving abroad to London makes you feel the same way, but the GE Team, similar to family or friends, makes that transition a bit easier and makes you feel a bit more comfortable. Our London GE Representative, Carmen Chamorro, welcomed our cohort with open arms and was readily available to answer any of our questions throughout the entire program. She also was willing to discuss with your strengths, ultimately preparing you for your work placement. Thank you Carmen!

I came into this program with the hope of finding a permanent job in the UK and live there for a while. Within the first few weeks, I was trying my best to impress my employers, and I was putting all I had into my work. The shock was after the first month has passed, and I started feeling like the corporate world is not for me and I do not ever want to be trapped in an office. Luckily, Carmen, our GE counselor, was by my side all along, providing me with guidance and valuable insights. I was extremely concerned with the way I felt about not wanting to have a one full-time job sucking the life out of me. We have had continuously long conversations on the train every time we go on one of the incredible trips she’s planned. She’s also arranged a coaching session one in person and the other one on the phone right before my big meeting with my host company to discuss future collaboration with them on a project I have been working on during the last two months of my internship. The company was impressed with the research I have provided and wanted to hire me as their representative in the Middle East and North Africa. I will forever be grateful for all the help and guidance I have received from Carmen throughout my internship. Now I can live anywhere I want and do exactly what I love!!

I am so grateful to GE for helping me take part in this incredible internship experience. It was the perfect segue from collegiate life to the professional world and I feel incredibly prepared for the future now. London specifically was a great place to work in and was just enough culture shock without being overwhelming. There is more to do than you could possibly imagine. With the tube running through every part of the city, it is incredibly easy to get around and see everything. There is so much history to take in and truly shows you just how young the United States is. Not to mention there is incredible food every step of the way. The cheap chicken shops are perfect for a quick snack, but should never be the goal. Highly recommend this amazing experience for anyone thinking about going abroad!

I am so glad I chose GE to do this experience with. I wouldn’t have been able to work abroad without their help! Carmen, our on site counselor, came up with such fun events and it was a pleasure meeting the entire group of GE students. As with most large cities, housing isn’t always great. But GE found a great student accommodation for us that was private, clean, and safe. GE matched me with the perfect internship for my career goals and I am so thankful for the experience to work in finance in London. St. Paul’s was definitely a fantastic area to work in with many restaurants and pubs around. If you are considering London with GE - it will definitely be worth it. Be sure to ask any questions you may have to your GE advisor as they are always willing to help.