Bellissima Italia! Past Review

By Rachel W (Marketing., University of New Hampshire) for

API (Academic Programs International): Rome - John Cabot University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I wish I could have gone abroad every semester in college! It has deepened my interest in travel and experiencing other cultures. I learned that I am completely capable of getting the most out of my travels while on a budget!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The workload was a bit less intense than at my home university. My American professors abroad had a similar teaching style and grading system but my Italian professors were a bit more lenient. Participation and attendance were still important in order to do well in class.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	While I was in Italy I had the most amazing on-site directors. They were well educated and experienced on both American and Italian culture which enabled them to relate to their students. They were always available for us and would even stop by our apartment complex to make sure things were going well. There was one situation while I was abroad where they went above and beyond what was expected of them and made everyone involved in the situation feel relaxed and comfortable.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The neighborhood that I lived in was a little bit farther from the city center than other apartment buildings. Although it was a bit farther away, I enjoyed living in this area. The walk to class or the city center was easy and beautiful but there was also a tram that we could catch right outside our apartment if we didnt want to walk.
* Food:	I had friends that were vegetarians that had a big of difficulty in Italy but they quickly learned a few key words to look for on the menus that made things easier for them. Take advantage of the food while in Italy-its delicious!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Our program directors took us to a aperitivo, a pre-meal snack and drink, gave us the chance to live how the locals lived and we were able to try an amazing selection of italian cuisine! All of our cultural trips led by the program directors were fun and fascinating. They took us to cities that we probably would not have traveled to on our own!
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Our program orientation leaders always stressed the importance of safety and being aware of your belongings while in Italy and traveling to other countries. I had no issues with safety while living in Italy and felt completely safe walking to and from class.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
Language acquisition improvement?	My italian course professor always made herself available for extra help after school or during her office hours. In Italy i could use as much Italian or as little as I was comfortable with. If I tried to speak italian to vendors or locals they would usually correct my mistakes which helped me learn even more! Most italians love practicing their english with you once they find out you're American.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Living in Italy gave me a greater understanding of culture and the differences between people outside of the United States. When abroad, be sure to take advantage of everything that your host country has to offer, whether it be the food, geography, people, or anything! Make sure to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to guarantee that you grow, mature, and learn the most about yourself. Try new foods, new languages, and new adventures!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	International Marketing
Course Department:
Instructor:	Signorini
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was taught by a professor who was extremely experienced in this subject. He had traveled to many different countries and conducted businesses between these different cultures. With this experience he was able to relate his course lectures to his real world situations. This enabled a fun, discussion based learning environment that was much more beneficial than monotonous lecture based teaching.
Credit Transfer Issues:	All credits taken abroad were accepted. I had them previously reviewed by faculty at my home university and kept on file to make sure that I would receive the correct credit hours when returning home.