Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Italy: The Experience that Changed My Life Past Review

By (HISTORY., Saint Anselm College) for

Benedictine College: Florence - Semester Program in Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The Catholic identity of this program helped my grow in my faith, as did visting all the major early Christian sites in Rome and around Italy. It was intersting to have a history class from the perspective of Italians/Europeans instead the sometimes distant view that Americans can have; this helped me come closer to the history I was/ am studying. I am now considering a career that would allow me to live an work in Europe.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was light easy because they wanted us to spend time out exploring instead of cooped-up in the library.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The resident director is Italian so he can help with whatever the students need about life in Italy. There is always an American faculty member so he/she can the students as well. The program is capped at forty students which is a good size, any larger would be to large.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was in a Bed and Breakfast outside the city. All classes were held in the B&B as well.

* Food:

Each meal consists of two courses: the first with either pastsa or rice, and the second with meat. There is a small restuarant just up the street from the campus which provides resonable rates for take-out pizza for students should they get a craving.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program also has a week in Rome where we tour the ruins and the Vatican. The most memorial part of that week for me was the Papal Audience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The city and the town that the campus is in very safe. We never felt uncomfortable, even late at night. I never had any health issues except for a cold. I went to the store and bought cough drops just like at home.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Only two meals per week were not provided by the program but depending on how long one traveled for over the weekends one would have to spend more on food and other expenses. To keep travel expenes down some students only travled for one night or took only day-trips. Some students also shopped at the supermarket instead of eating at restaurants. By staying in Florence and shopping at the supermarket for a weekend instead of traveling it would be possibe to spend no more than 10 euros on expenes a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would have to say don't be so obsessed with your budget that you make decisions that you will regret later on; such as not taking a trip or not eating in a "real" restuarant.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I practiced with other students, the faculty and the staff. I did not need Italian in everyday interactions since everyone spoke some degree of Italian.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

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  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The friendliness of the faculty and staff
  • The group size
  • The campus setting
* What could be improved?
  • Have a more concrete schedule instead of so many last minute changes
  • It was too short!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? This program is a better match for those who want a Catholic expierence and who don't mind spending most of their time with fellow American students instead of being immerssed with students form the host country.