Italy Culinary Students Learn Their Thesis

The student should also develop a checklist and a timeline. This is akin to the process a chef would use to run a kitchen -- planning, prepping, cooking and serving a banquet for example is a similar process.

One program that directly offers an internship is the culinary arts program at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland (De Sanctis, 2006). This school offers a 10-week internship course on Italian culture and cuisine. There are other programs as well, suitable for students at other culinary institutes. A Minneapolis-based company called World Endeavors runs a culinary internship in Florence that is suitable not only for Italian-speakers but can be taken by non-speakers as well (World Endeavors, n.d.). Also in Florence, the APICIUS Culinary Institute offers internships around Italy, which offers a different route. An American studying cuisine in Italy can then take internships to other parts of Italy, for a total Italian culinary experience.

There are other options beyond these programs as well.

Whichever option you choose, however, it is important to remember that the process of setting up an internship is difficult and time-consuming. Preparation and patience are essential, not unlike working in a kitchen. There are many challenges that must be overcome, from the logistical to the emotional to the intellectual. The rewards, however, are worth it. An internship overseas in Italy will deliver an education on Italian culture and cuisine that simply cannot be matched anywhere else. The access to ingredients, techniques and centuries of knowledge will be invaluable when the student returns stateside.Having such experience on one's resume is an amazing asset that will assist in building a top-flight culinary career. The experience itself will help the student grow and mature into a top kitchen talent and well-rounded person at a much faster rate than will be experienced by students who do not undertake such an internship.

Works Cited:

No author. (2010). How will an overseas internship boost your career prospects? I-to-I.com. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from http://www.i-to-i.com/overseas-internship-career.html

No author. (2010). Student visa requirements. Consulate General of Italy in New York. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/NR/exeres/F0D76BEA-86F8-407C-BD42-4487C2B86C78,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published

Curran, S. (2009). Career advantages of studying abroad. Going Global. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from http://old.goinglobal.com/hot_topics/general_curran_abroad.asp

De Sanctis, D. (2009). Italian culinary internship is one of a kind. Italian America. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1040934801.html

World Endeavors. (no date). Culinary internship in Italy. World Endeavors. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from http://www.internabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/26615/cnID/43.....