Life Changing Past Review

By (Benedictine College) - abroad from 01/23/2017 to 04/12/2017 with

Benedictine College: Florence - Semester Program in Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained friends, knowledge, experience, confidence, I grew in my faith. It was definitely worth wild.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I almost found the classes so difficult to the point where I did not feel like I could explore Florence as much because I was doing homework

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The amount I paid for the food did not reflect the quality food I was served, in mu opinion.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Semi interstated. I feel as if I would feel more integrated if I had been able to explore more.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had an issue where I needed to get a medication and I was able to do so within a day.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program helped me to get to know other people from my college who I otherwise would not have meet. It gave me an experience of so many other cultures that I otherwise wouldn't have had. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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)

Aside from big trips and traveling it was easy to live in a student budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I don't recal
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save! I personally saved for quite some time before.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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 taken two semesters of high school 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? Practice speaking the language

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
* What could be improved?
  • The food
  • Possibly the diffuculty of classes. They don't need to be easy but I wish I would have been able to go into Florence more.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing in particular I feel like I was very well prepared going into the program.