Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Best Semester of College! Past Review

By (University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign) - abroad from 09/04/2015 to 12/11/2015 with

Borromini Institute: Rome - Institute for Food Studies Semester and Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This experience was completely worthwhile for me. Not only did I come home with a group of new friends but I also felt like I learned a lot living in a foreign country. I think it's so important for people to get out of their comfort zone and experience a culture different than their own. I learned a lot about myself as well as others.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most people think that when you're abroad you don't have any homework and don't learn much. This wasn't true for our program. I felt like I learned a lot about not only Italian food and culture but also the sustainability and economics of the Italian food system. Our homework load was definitely bearable, as they understood we were there to have experiences outside of class as well.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the people who worked at Gustolab are incredibly friendly and willing to help you with anything you need. They want to make sure you have a great experience all around, not just while you're in class.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had three other roommates and our apartment was amazing! We were in a beautiful and safe neighborhood of Rome where we really felt like we could assimilate with locals. The apartment itself was very spacious as well.

* Food:

The food was AMAZING!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

During our program we took many field trips to local restaurants, hotels, museums, etc. to learn more about Italian culture. This in addition to the people we were able to meet outside of class really led us to feel like we were becoming very integrated into local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

There are certain areas/times of day when you wouldn't want to be wandering around Rome by yourself. We always stayed as a group and we never felt unsafe. You just need to be aware of your surroundings.

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)

Rome is not terribly expensive compared to some cities. During the week we typically cooked at home and just spent money on groceries so that we could save money for weekend trips. While in Rome we didn't spend that much money but traveling on the weekends can add up very quickly.

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

We were definitely encouraged to speak Italian outside of class. It was very helpful to know basic phrases in order to interact with the locals. Many people appreciated even that we were making an effort to speak their 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

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The professors/staff
  • The food!!
  • The field trips
* What could be improved?
  • The organization of the program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I don't feel like there is anything I was unprepared for before going on this program.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.