Jacqueline during her internship in New York, the USA

Internship type:

Fashion PR/Marketing

What did you think of the city?

The city was exactly as it’s always described: a city that never sleeps! It’s a place where there’s always something to do, you never get bored, and people will just start a conversation with you. The neighborhoods are quite different, and you can gather a lot of inspiration just by taking a walk. Even though it was my first time in New York, it brought back a lot of memories. Many neighborhoods, buildings, and stories I recognized from movies, TV shows, and books from back in the day.

What did you think of the internship?

My internship experience was very pleasant and fun. We were a great team of 11 interns. The office was actually too small for all of us, so we were often sent out to visit a museum, check out a newly opened clothing store, or deliver a package from the company to another business. I really enjoyed this because I was able to enjoy the city and visit places I might not have gone to otherwise. The designer I interned for was a very kind lady. One tip she gave us all was to do a lot of research and gain knowledge, especially of historical pieces. My tasks during the internship included organizing and maintaining the showroom, keeping the social media sites up-to-date, and conducting research. It was very varied, and I even had to help in the sewing room by attaching labels.

What is the most special experience you had?

The entire experience and the journey to get there was already special! As a 12-year-old girl, I dreamed of going to New York. I was really obsessed with the city, and I had to go there someday. I also had a long list of places, buildings, and neighborhoods I wanted to see when the day came that I could finally go. The first week, I had to get used to the busy New York with the rude New Yorkers who don’t apologize when they bump into you and don’t want to step aside for you. But I quickly felt at home. It's a city where you don't get lost easily. With the street numbers, avenues, and knowing whether you're on the west or east side, you quickly find your way.

The most special thing I experienced during my internship was when the team went to a margarita party. One of the employees was invited to a sort of networking event for two companies collaborating. It was in a huge building on the 40th floor with a view of downtown New York. When we arrived, we got badges with our names on them, and we were allowed to network and enjoy free margaritas all afternoon and evening!

Do you have tips for students?

Don't let anything stop you from going! Start arranging everything early because a lot is involved. If you can't go abroad for an internship during your studies, try doing it after your studies. That’s what I did. During my studies, it wasn't possible for me to do an internship abroad, so I was really happy I found Abroad Internships, and they helped me find a placement abroad, even though I wasn’t a student anymore. One tip I have is: download the NYC subway app. It's a super handy app and helped me a lot to get to the places I needed to go.

Also, start saving early because New York isn’t exactly the cheapest city, and if you like shopping, make sure to save up a lot. Don’t bring too many things if you plan on doing a lot of shopping. I had the problem of bringing too many things back. In the end, my suitcase was too heavy, and I had to take half of it out and arrange a cardboard box to send it!

What rating would you give your experience?

A solid 10!! I will definitely be going back soon.