mercoledì 17 giugno 2015

Internship in Acting - Patricia Rovere de Santi

Hi Patricia, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am from Brazil, and I just graduated from university where I studied economy and international relations. I'm also an actress. I wanted to come to Firenze to do an internship so that I could learn, visit another country, and just do something I've never done before. I'm thinking of doing a master's degree in economy and I want to continue studying acting at a specialized acting school.

So you studied economy, but it seems that your true passion is acting. How did this passion start?

I don't really know, I guess it started when I was little. My mother brought me to an acting school because I was really shy and she thought it would make me loosen up, make me more confident. I started doing it and loved it. I then joined a different acting group when I went to high school. I never thought I could make a career out of it because I was so shy, and I didn't think it was for people like me. But after a couple of years I realized that what made me happy was acting. My parents supported my passion, but it's good to have another diploma, and that's why I studied economy. I'm really glad I did because it opened my eyes to social issues that I hadn't known about before.

Why did you decide to intern in Italy?

I was in school, and an agent from Istituto came into my class talking about the possibility to do an internship in economy or acting in Firenze, and that's where I got the Idea. Then it all worked out and here I am!

Tell us a little bit about your internship. What kind of projects are you working on?

I just finished the first part of my internship, in acting. And I was just invited by the same acting group to be a part of another play. I'm going to figure out if I can, if its possible for me to stay and everything. Now that I'm finished, I'm going to visit London for a couple weeks, but when I come back I want to get an internship in international relations because I really want to experience it all.

So in my acting internship, I worked with a company and did a play based on a novel. The company had already been working on the play for about four months before I came, so I had to talk with the director and see how I could fit in. It worked out and I'm really glad that I could participate in the play.

Did you like the Italian course?

Yes I really liked it. Especially because, in the first month the class was really crowded, but in the second month, it was just me and a couple other students and we became really close friends. It was comfortable coming to school because I really liked these people and I'm going to miss them so much.

What do you like the most about Italy and about Florence?

I really like that I can just walk around everywhere. In Brazil, because my house is so far away from everything, I have to drive all the time. But here I can just walk everywhere in the city center. It's more peaceful, it's good for me. You feel safe walking around, and you can see all the beautiful things. I really like the proportions of Florence. It's not too big, and after a couple of weeks you become familiar with the city and it's easy to get around without getting lost.

Overall, what did you think of your internship experience?

I loved it, I recommend it to everyone. It was a wonderful experience, especially in acting. It challenged me because I had to speak in another language. My teacher and the theater director were great though and really helped me a lot.

giovedì 4 giugno 2015

The Ultimate Internship in Florence: Laura Tressel

Laura enjoying Italy's cuisine and sunshine. 
I’ve dreamed of Italy since a young age, when my parents first gave me a book filled with wonderful images and descriptions of the country. My college, University of San Diego, offers some of the best study abroad progams in the country, and when the time came to choose one, it was a very easy decision. Last fall I had the amazing opportunity to study here in Florence. I became infatuated with everything about the city: its culture that mixes modernity with ancient history, its people who come from different cities and countries all over the world to lend their talents to the diversity, and the feeling it gave me every morning when I awoke to the roar of vespas and the smell of leather and freshly baked bread. By the end of my time abroad, I had already made up my mind to return.
That’s when I discovered Istituto Europeo. I am currently studying English, Business, and Communications, and have special interests in journalism and editing, as well as marketing. Istituto Europeo offered me this internship for the summer, which has given me the opportunity to return to my beloved city, and also to gain experience in blogging and marketing, which will greatly attribute to my educational and professional growth. Someday I would like to work in the publishing industry and for now I am happy to any and all opportunities available to me.

During my second stay in Florence, I want to dig deeper into the secrets of the city. I want to visit the museums that are sometimes overlooked and discover restaraunts that deserve more attention. I want to experience the many festivals that take place in and around Florence during the summer. I hope I will get to see this city in a new light, and grow in my understanding of its culture and everyday lifestyle. I’m extremely grateful for my internship here at Istituto Europeo and all the opportunities it gives me to expand my knowledge of Florence.