Florence, Italy: Better than I ever expected...Paradise Past Review
By Mary M (Elementary Education, Grove City College) for
API (Academic Programs International): Florence - Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute (LDM)
I learned a lot about myself and the kind of goals and directions I want to go in life. I am now looking to teach abroad in either international schools or mission-oriented schools. I absolutely love learning new cultures and cannot wait to go for it.
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. |
I spent maybe 3-4 hours on homework per week in Florence, Italy as opposed to over 2-3 hours per day at my home college in Pennsylvania. I really enjoyed the classes as well. Most of my classes were small enough to warrant more discussion and informal learning in Italy. The grading, also, was reasonable and not at all a source of stress. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They had many cultural and traveling experiences included in the cost of the program. We took weekend and day trips to Venice, Rome, Lucca, Siena, Perguia, and many other cultural activities such as wine-tasting, oil-tasting, and operas. Within a 10-minute walk, the central office was easily accessible and some one was always there to help. They were all from the surrounding area, so they had thorough knowledge of the host country. My expectations were definitely met. The program went above and beyond my expectations. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment, right off of the Ponte Vecchio, was in a very safe location, as were most of the apartments chosen by the program. It was approximately a 8-10 minute walk to classes. I could not have asked for a more aesthetically pleasing environment. |
| * Food: |
I fixed my own food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I absolutely loved being in Venice during Carnival. It was crowded but so exciting! No one can compare any experience to that. In addition, the cultural experiences and extra-curriculars the program offered were more than adequate. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt in danger, but it was always smart to walk with atleast one other person when you're out late at night. Always look before crossing a street too because some drivers are very fast, though they are great drivers. No vaccines were needed for this program that were not already necessary for college in the U.S. There were no prevalent health issues otherwise. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
It was not necessary to use the host country language, but it was part of the cultural experience. I was able to speak with store clerks and produce clerks and anyone else. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | Any student would benefit from this program. Though I was taking some general writing and history classes, it would greatly benefit Art and History majors to be here in this historical city. It is such a great cultural experience for anyone though. |
