The Best Decision of My Life! Past Review
By Erin R. (Ohio University) - abroad from 01/17/2016 to 05/06/2016 with
AIFS: Florence - Richmond in Florence and Internship Program
I gained confidence in myself. I learned to be my own person (I'm a twin and this was our first time apart) and I discovered a new passion of mine, traveling. It was definitely worthwhile and I will definitely be going back to Florence to visit in the next year.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were difficult but the professors made it worth it. They all were so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subjects and would not hesitate to help a student if asked. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was incredible! They took care of our needs, always checking in with us to make sure we were okay and happy, and provided us with countless cultural immersion activities. The program would not be half as good without them! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was amazing! My apartment, which was in a Florentine apartment building, that I shared with three other girls from my program was in the heart of Florence. It had so much Italian charm and I really felt like I was living like a local. Our landlords were also very sweet! I could not ask for a better housing experience! |
| * Food: |
Hands down the best part of the program! The best advice I can give is get the meal plan, you won't regret it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The staff makes sure you have multiple weekly cultural immersion activities to choose from and you also have the opportunity to volunteer in the community with locals. I volunteered at a cathedral with Italian locales and it make my experience abroad even more special and enriching. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I chose this program for a couple of reasons: the flight package, the meal plan, the option to volunteer, and the location. It somehow exceeded my expectations and was truly the perfect experience for me! |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Because of the meal plan, it was very easy. All I really spent money on was souvenirs (artwork and pottery) and travelling on the weekends. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 175 a week on average on travel (included a 5 country spring break trip in the average) but did not spend almost anything on the rest. About 10-15 Euro a week on food and about 150 Euro total on souvenirs (mostly for my family). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | When traveling, go with a tour company. It is a lot safer and you can get it for a deal if you use promo codes and get it during their flash sales. Also, get souvenirs that will last but limit it to what you can actually pack. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We had weekly apperativos where we talked to Italian high school students as well as went to the markets to use the language. I also used some in my volunteer placement. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had Intermediate French |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Volunteer and make friends with the locales. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't worry about making friends and finding people to travel with, you'll find them! Also, catching the travel bug is a real thing! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
