Promoting the training and development of all our team members is part of Modelyzr’s DNA. We are convinced that employees who can develop freely and fully deliver the best results and innovative ideas. One example of this is Noah Weiler, who works for us as a student trainee specializing in analytics and reports on his semester abroad in Florence in this article.
A semester abroad during their studies is the dream of many students. However, it is important to check the general conditions first. Does the stay abroad fit into my curriculum, will I find a suitable destination and do I have the necessary freedom both privately and professionally? If it fails on the last point in particular, this is very annoying. That’s why I was all the more pleased that my employer not only made my semester abroad possible, but also supported me in every way.
When I decided to complete my studies abroad in January 2022, I informed my employer. I was quickly promised full support and after just one or two conversations, we decided that I could easily do my working student position from my “home office” abroad.
Certainly not a matter of course, considering that my master’s thesis was also to be written during my work at Modelyzr GmbH. It’s a privilege to have the support you need for such an important piece of work in your academic career. However, to also experience this support abroad shows all the more how the values of trust and teamwork are filled with life at Modelyzr.
Next stop: Florence
With the certainty of being able to do an ERASMUS semester, I had to find a destination. As I had always been interested in Italy and had studied Italian for three years during my A-levels, I quickly decided on the country.
When the opportunity arose to go to the heart of Tuscany to Florence, the city of the Medici and Uffizi, it was not a difficult choice. In addition to the cultural and scenic advantages that the city has to offer, the excellent educational opportunities were decisive for my decision. I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to study at the Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI), one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Italy.
After arriving in Florence by train, the first thing to do was to arrive metaphorically. With two weeks of vacation at the beginning, I was able to make a lot of new friends and get an idea of everyday university life. Even the first stumbling blocks with the housing situation couldn’t dampen my anticipation for the coming semester. With three extra days off, this problem was also solved in the end.
When the familiarization phase was over, I slowly settled into everyday life in Italy. This looked like this: Twice a week I worked remotely from my apartment in Santa Croce and the rest of the week I went to university or wrote my Master’s thesis. Of course, the odd aperitivo or espresso in the sun was not to be missed.
So I was already living my everyday life in an extraordinary atmosphere. Excursions gave me the opportunity to explore some of Italy’s cities and regions worth seeing. These included Milan, Pisa and the Chianti region. However, I particularly remember Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast with their surreal views, beaches and colorful houses.
An unforgettable time
Finally, after around five months, it was time for me to say goodbye. From a city that became my home, from fellow students who became my friends and from Italian food, which is simply not the same outside of Italy. I would also like to thank Modelyzr for giving me the opportunity to have this experience. It was a wonderful time that I can only recommend to everyone.