Internship in Hong Kong vs Oz/NZ vs Italy

I've graduated almost a year ago with BA in media and haven't had much luck in finding a proper job, did some freelancing and etc, but nothing permanent or close to a proper job, so I've decided to sign up for one of those internship programs, where you choose a country and they help you to find a place to intern for weeks or months.


Since I can't really get a visa for USA (and that was my choice Nr. 1) so I've settled my mind on either Hong Kong, or OZ/NZ or Italy (Florence to be precise).


I've been to HK and Italy before, but of course only for holidays.


And I can't make up my mind which place to choose for internship in media field for 2-3 months.


From what I think Italy would be more relaxed, I might not need to work 9 to 6, would have more free time. It's really close to my home country so only few hours flight. Culture is more close to what I'm used to, I might have a chance to learn Italian (since this program offers language courses), I like the food, the climate, the country sights, opportunity to travel around and etc. But, since I don't speak Italian at the moment I would be placed in an English company and, even though I'm just guessing, it might not provide high perspectives, it'd probably be a small company and the job probably wouldn't be intense...

Though, I'm only guessing.

From what I've found surfing the net, accommodation is not THAT expensive, especially after London, really quite affordable to even have your own studio apartment. Lots of fresh food, veg and fruit markets. Life seems quite simple there (well of course not if you're local without a job or low salary and hate the government).


Hong Kong... even though I've been there before (for a week five years ago) it scares me a little. It's far... A densely populated place where everyone's always rushing.... My head is always bit dizzy at places like this... I've lived in London for three years while studying but this would be a completely different place, despite some similarities - it's China... The culture is completely different and while I did enjoyed exploring it while on holiday, it's not the same as to live and work there for 3 months. One the other hand, from the job perspective, it might be smarter to choose Hong Kong, more opportunities, (probably) better companies to work in, and more work...

Life there seems quite complicated, unfamiliar... I'd probably need to live in a tiny shoe-box sized flat with many people and would never have any privacy or time just for myself... I know it would only be for 3 months and that's really not long, and only for an internship, but still, I want to choose a right place in which afterwards (if something comes up) I might even consider settling in (at least for a bit longer than those 3 months).


As for Australia and New Zealand I find them to be something in between. Don't really know too much of them, and would consider them mostly because of plenty green open areas and relaxed atmosphere.


My father would like me to choose Hong Kong, but of course it's not his decision. He suggest going to OZ and NZ on holiday someday and now settle my mind on HK, since Italy is right here, and explored many times and I can always go there, while HK might experience lots of changes in the future since the all giving back to China thing. My mom wouldn't want me to go to OZ/NZ (don't know really why)....



I'm completely lost and don't know whether to choose a place I feel more familiar with, and would feel safer in or a place that's suppose to have more perspectives and etc....



Sometime in the future I'll be choosing one of the english speaking countries - OZ, NZ, USA or even HK for master studies.... So this might also be a reason not to choose that country now....


Like a month ago I had my mind settled on either NZ or OZ, but I found out that a visa thing is very tricky for people from my country, it takes ages to get one, and big chances are I might not be lucky... So that's a huge minus for those places.

So, afterwards I settled my mind on Italy, and at moments I was happy with this decision but sometimes used to think that it's not right.... Italy is great for holidays, but I'm not so sure about living there for a while.

So I looked once more till I came up a programme that offers internship in Hong Kong....

I guess I'd be happy with this place if not all the scares about the pollution, many many people, tiny living space, not many green areas, a stressful environment and people rushing everywhere....

That's why my first choice was USA, even there it seems to be a bit less stressful and etc.... But of course that's out of the picture in my case...

Hi there,


Let's keep this simple.

Why don't you select perhaps 2 countries you feel like you'd like to settle in or study in, and intern for short periods in each?


Then, think wisely, since you're still in learning mode, and perhaps choose a country you'd wish to learn about language wise?


The USA is nice, so is Italy and all of the countries/regions you mentioned but think strategically, and don't be scared of what's different - learn from it, that's how you'll grow.


I can relate to your situation, I am from a non-English speaking country & went to study & live in an English speaking country. It wasn't a big deal now that I think about it, but at the time I was a kid, and I was scared of the unknown, but I was still ready to achieve my dream/goal (whatever you wanna call it), and I don't regret anything. I gained a lot in return, and this made me the person I am today - although the job market is not great in Europe at the moment, but I am ready to take the next step.


So think strategically, wisely, and think about how & where you see yourself in the next 5 or 10 years, and take the leap, it'll only be beneficial!