The Experience of a Lifetime! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Teaching style wise, I honestly didn’t notice too much of a difference from the U.S., besides the fact that classes seemed to be more writing heavy (prepare to write lots of papers!) than here in America, and that they obviously incorporated more on-site learning. Richmond, The American International University based in London, is the school associated with the AIFS Italy programs, and they oversee all classes, approve grades, etc., so that's something to keep in mind. Also, compared to other study abroad programs, AIFS is one of the most academically rigorous--classes are NOT a breeze (which you’d typically expect with a study abroad program). My professors were strict, and they meant business. I pride myself on being a good student, but I really had to study for my classes, and the professors didn’t joke around with grading, which caught me a bit off guard at first. Classes are, however, still more laid back than in America, because they DO want you to have time to experience Italy and its culture. And, it is called STUDY abroad, after all, and sipping an espresso while staring at the Duomo definitely isn’t the worst way to study for a test. :)

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in a spacious, lovely apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living room and a full kitchen, with three roommates from my program. I spent very little money on household items, because my apartment was more than fully equipped —previous study abroad students had left us hairdryers and straighteners, an iron, clothes hangers, mop, broom, and our landlords provided silverware, cups/bowls/plates/pots/pans, kitchen appliances, bed sheets, and pretty much everything you could ever dream of needing. The apartment was furnished so beautifully (and in my exact tastes, which was an added bonus), and our landlords were like our little Italian grandparents--they were adorable and more than welcoming!

The meal plan that AIFS offers is a really great way to experience the food culture of Italy without breaking the bank…with my breakfast/lunch and dinner cards, I was able to dine at fancy restaurants I wouldn’t have been able to afford off plan, grab a quick panini or pizza to go, buy fresh produce at the local fruit stand, go to aperitivo (kind of like the Italian version of happy hour but a hundred times better), go grocery shopping, and even buy cocktails at local bars. I mean, my friends and I went out to dinner at great restaurants almost every night…you can’t beat that!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Almost daily AIFS gave us the option of signing up for cultural immersion activities like soccer games, gelato tours, cooking and dessert making classes, wine tastings, seeing the opera and ballet, and excursions to various destinations throughout Italy (with the Florence program, you’ll have trips to Venice and Rome included in your program fee, and other day trips will be offered at an additional charge (usually around 10 or 15 euro, which is super inexpensive, so that's great as well) that you pay once you’re in Florence). With the help of these activities, I truly felt that in four short months, I was able to come away with an excellent understanding of Italian culture and daily Florentine life.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to reach out to the AIFS staff when I caught a bad case of strep throat about three weeks into the program, and they were excellent—they made an appointment for me with the English-speaking doctor in Florence the very day I came in sick, and gave me his information and a map of where his office was located so I wouldn’t have trouble finding it. It was fantastic, and I was grateful that I didn’t have to go through the trouble of figuring the doctor situation out on my own while I was incredibly sick. Overall, it was nice to know that I had such a great support system to fall back on.

Petty crime is indeed more prevalent in Europe than it is in the U.S., but in general, I discovered that as long as you’re smart and aware of your surroundings, it’s easy not to be a target. Americans tend to stick out of the crowd in Europe, and pick-pockets know a foreigner when they see one. But as long as you keep an eye and a hand on your purse/pockets at all times, and walk through the streets confidently enough so as not to catch their eye, they’re likely to leave you alone.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Meal plan
• Daily activities/ excursions
• Flight package

• AIFS front desk staff-professor relationships (communication was lacking)

The Academic or Linguist