This past summer (2011) I traveled to Florence, Italy to pursue intensive language studies and participate in a fashion internship! It proved to be an invaluable experience! Each morning I attended Italian classes and each afternoon I worked at my fashion internship, a clothing distribution company located on the outskirts of Florence. I helped unpack clothing, check in inventory, price the items, and then set up appealing showroom displays for prospective buyers. My co-workers did not speak English. This presented a huge challenge that also proved to be a huge blessing because it forced me to speak Italian on a daily basis. I kept a dictionary with me at all times, listened intently to every social exchange and business transaction, and spoke Italian every time I could, even if it wasn’t quite perfect.
By the end of the nine weeks, I was talking with buyers about our collections and assisting them with their orders, in addition to laughing and socializing with my co-workers! Returning to Italy and involving myself in the community allowed me to become more proficient in the language, more knowledgeable about the culture, provided me with a different living experience, and it also enabled me to connect with new people. Although I am currently a student in my senior year at the University of Redlands, this entire experience confirmed my desire to work in the international fashion industry and it built my confidence that I have something valuable to offer. The more international experience and facility with foreign languages people have, the more they can offer a prospective employer in a global marketplace, notwithstanding the more enriched our own lives are!
Global Experiences connects employers around the world with students, graduates, and young professionals who are looking to take the next step in bettering their lives. 
