By Sydnie Kremidas, Uconn

Internships abroad can be both the most rewarding and, at times, the most embarrassing experiences of your life. My internship with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in Florence, for example, could easily fall under this category. When I learned that they had chosen me for the internship, I was absolutely thrilled, but also a little nervous. I was so excited to finally be a part of something bigger than myself. Working for an international human rights organization has always been a dream of mine and it was finally coming true. The work that they do to help train future activists and scholars in human rights is truly inspiring. Plus, the exhibitions that they have regarding various human rights issues around the world are fascinating. However, there is nothing more embarrassing than walking into an office of native Italian speakers and staring at them blankly as they speak to you in Italian. Thankfully, my co-workers quickly started to speak to me in English, which I was truly grateful for. They even went a step further, and agreed to help me improve my Italian. Though my Italian still needs a lot of work, I can’t thank them enough for their help.