An Experience of a Lifetime! Past Review

By (Teachers College, Columbia University) - abroad from 05/22/2017 to 06/24/2017 with

Borromini Institute: Rome - Critical Studies on Food in Italy Food Systems and Sustainability

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
As a person living in the US there is so much to learn from other cultures especially when it pertains to food and health. The past can teach us so much about how we should be eating and living now. This program gave me a taste of what eating a true Mediterranean diet means.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Gustolab did an amazing job of coordinating this program to ensure that my classes met everyday, the field trips and events that I was a part of ran smoothly and the staff was always avaiable 24/7.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Initially I encountered an issue with my housing situation however I immediately notified the staff at Gustolab and they promptly resolved all my issues. They were extremely conscientious and astute about my preferences and worked with me on making my living accommodations that more comfortable. Thank you so much!

* Food:

The food was amazing! I ate fresh food every day thanks to Gustolab and their recommendations. I had the best gastronomic experience of my life!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated and welcome in Rome. Rome is a melting pot and somewhat similar to other major urban cities like New York, etc. It was a pleasant surprise to see people of other cultures living in Rome and speaking Italian.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not use any healthcare facilites however I noticed that Gustolab placed me in a neighborhood that was extremely close to a hospital and a police station. I felt very comfortable in the neighborhood I was placed in.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe. Again my flat was centrally located in a half residential half business area. Restaurants, banks, parks and supermarkets were all within walking distance of my flat. Gustolab chose a beautiful and pleasant neighborhood to reside in during my stay.

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

I learned so much about food and how Italians value eating good food and more importantly eating together. In Italy and in other courntries food is about family and friends and sharing the pleasures of eating healthy nutritious food. Italians are passionate about their food and everyday was literally a culinary experience. I appreciated the love and care that was put into each dish I was served. It was humbling experience. I would choose the same program because of the level of expertise, thought, prepartion and attention to detail that the staff took to make every walking tour, food tour, excursion class presentation so noteworthy and memorable. A lot of work was put into providing a thorough immersion of Italian culture into 5 short weeks.

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? Total for 5 weeks I may have spent 450-500€ this includes miscellaneous items.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Since the program course had us traveling and visiting many restaurants I tried to purchase breakfast meals to prepare in my flat and spent money on lunches and dinners outside of my flat. It worked out as I budgeted myself and the Gustolab staff were phenomenal in helping me pick good and affordable places to eat.

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

Frequently but as I was not taking an Italian class I was able to get around with a small bit of Italian and English. Looking back I wish I had taken an Italian class just to speak a little bit fluently with the citizens of Rome.

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? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? N/A
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Food Tours - learning about the past through food
  • Visiting all the food sustainability organizations in Rome and outside of Rome
  • Having the opportunity to explore the city on my own
* What could be improved?
  • Housing - for me it was getting to know and living with new people
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I was a bit more open minded before my trip. I had these pre-concieved ideas about Italy but I was so pleasantly suprised at my reception and overall warm welcome to a wonderful, historic and romantic city. Gustolab Intstitute made it even more spectacular by helping me assimilate into the norms of the city and venturing out on my own. Thank you for a wonderful experinece, Gustolab!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Food, Nutrition and Culture in Italy

Course Department:
Instructor: Prof. Mauro Serafini Ph.D.
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Overall the course and course work was sufficiently challenging and commensurate with similar graduate level courses at my home university. The field trips and outside classroom excursions allowed me the opportunity to research and find all the information I needed to complete all assignments, class presentations and papers. My professor was extremely well-knowledged in nutrition and food science and is an expert in field research in food biotechnology.
Credit Transfer Issues: My home university easily accepted my transfer credits from Gustolab Institute. A transcript was sent promptly to my home university within 1-2 months after my return home.