When in Rome; definitely do as the Romans do! Past Review
By Betsabe R (IRG, The University of Texas at Austin) for
AIFS: Rome - Richmond in Rome and Internship Program
I learned many things with AIFS Rome. I learned that to really know about someone you have to give them the chance to show you their life and culture. You must live as they do in order to understand their views on life. By immersing yourself in the culutre of a country is how your knowledge of things grows, when you get out of home your awareness of the magnitude of your future changes, because now you have new insights academic and cultural on the way things in the world work. Studying abroad was the best experience I have had so far.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was very managable as long as you gave your assignments and test the time they deserved. Grades were given according to the effort put forth by the students. Teachers were very understanding and willing to work with students and give them their time if and when needed. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This program I believe had superb leadership and faculty. Everyone was always so ready to help and make sure that nothing was wrong. They did their best to accomodate students request and needs. The program size was just right to bring about the perfect learning environment, it was more like being in a large family where everyone put there part so that things may fun smoothly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment I was in was fully furnished and very well located in a safe and clean part of the city in which I was in. There was not a very high need to buy extra items, only toiletries and such things. |
| * Food: |
This program gave certain accomidation to those who had specific dietary needs. Some places that were great and situated at a conviniet location, were the Hot Bun also called CO2,L'Insalata, or Pizza Rustica. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The best way I can explain how awesome non-academic aspects of the program turned out to be, is that the program gave students the oppourtunity to attend a soccer match, imagine a soccer match in Europe a country who lives around that, it is an amazing experience! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The program gave special memos for students to follow so that safety was always first and life in the host country could be at minimal risk of danger. There were also speakers to teach on preventive measures that could be taken to avoid a risk situation. List of local doctors and emergency numbers were always at hand an available. No vaccines or health safety issues were needed or present during the program duration. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would advice people to create a budget before hand, and spend a certain amount per month equally. Expenses on travel and departamental shopping were unanticipated. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I could practice the langauge with the staff, teachers, students, and other locals that I encountered in my everyday commute to and from school. Most people spoke the host countries language. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | As that famous saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover", to discover the beauty within you must learn to read. Give others a chance, by learning about different people you learn about yourself as well. This program is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in another culture and learn as much as they can about other people. This experience will open your eyes to other views about the world. |
