EF Stories: Carla from Mexico at EF Rome

I still remember the moment I was told that I would be an EF Global Intern in Rome. I was so excited, I felt the adrenaline rush through my body and I couldn't believe the incredible experience I was about to live. Nothing could have prepared me for the reality, Rome exceeded all my expectations.

From the moment I got off the plane, there was a transfer waiting to take me from the airport to my new home so, although the nerves of being in Italy for the first time were killing me, I knew I was completely safe. It was from that moment on that I met people from EF, on the way there I spoke to a Japanese student who was also arriving in Rome and would be staying in the same residence as me. I absolutely loved the experience of living in a residence with people from so many different countries, I already have plans to visit some of the friends I made!

As a Global Intern one of my responsibilities was to work as a counsellor in the residence, so I had to help the EF students staying there. Living there definitely helped me to understand the students better, interact with them and be able to support them better. Another one of my tasks was to make the students feel at home when they arrived at the weekend, accompany them to school on Monday morning, and if we had any activities during the weekend, I made sure they arrived at the meeting point on time. In general, I made sure they felt supported and comfortable during their stay.

What I enjoyed most was getting to know the area around the residence so well that I could recommend restaurants and gelaterias to the students to have a good time after class. Not everything was easy, of course, I helped several students with their doctor's appointments and making them feel comfortable in their accommodation.

At school, it was a bit different. On Monday mornings I would greet our new students by giving them a tour of our school and its surroundings, answering their questions during the welcome presentation and escorting them to their classes. In addition, I helped the school's academic director with the speaking tests by making sure all the students were at the correct level.

What I loved about Rome is that most of the activities are free. The whole city is a living museum, walking through its streets is walking in history and art. Some other activities were focused on food or for students to enjoy the city's nightlife.

Although being at school was the central part of being a Global Intern, I was also able to enjoy the perks of living in a new city so I had time to explore and get to know Rome. During my 2 months in Rome I sampled Roman pastas from different restaurants on a personal mission to find the best in the city. I did the same with gelatos, but it was impossible to find the best ones because they all tasted so good - although I did try some amazing ones that blew me away. In addition, I visited the best tourist sites (and some secret places in Rome) with the friends I made from all over the world.

My friends need their own mention. Some say it's not the place, but the people you meet but in my case it was both the people and the city that made this experience the best. This combination made every single memory even more special. Making friends of different nationalities definitely helps you practice the languages you know and opens your mind to things you probably hadn't considered before.

I also learned that Mexican sweets are not for everyone - hahaha! But most of all, I gained a family to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, visit museums, have picnics or just relax and listen to music with. All the memories I made with them will stay forever in my heart and I know we will see each other again, even if they live on the other side of the world.

They also say that actions speak louder than words, and if there is still any doubt about how magical my experience at EF Rome as a Global Intern was, I will only say that saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I have ever done. So, if you are planning to visit a city to learn about the culture, the food, the art, and of course, a new language, EF Rome should be your first choice. I know all EF schools are amazing, trust me, you won't regret it. Every day felt like a dream, and every day I woke up with a huge smile because of the opportunity EF gave me as a Global Intern.