A life changing experience Past Review
By Austin C (COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORT SERVICES., University of Colorado - Boulder) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/14/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Florence, Italy
It was everything I wanted. I learned about different cultures, their way of life, met amazing new friends, learned about myself.
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. |
Although the classes, academically were less rigorous then my home institution, I gained more knowledge through experiencing my education hands on. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very helpful, I had a package stuck in customs with no idea how to communicate with the Italian post office. After talking with the staff, they had the package there the next day. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Amazing, I lived with a host family, in the heart of Florence, they were very open to allowing me to come in late, their food was amazing, and I still talk to them once a week. |
| * Food: |
Its Italy, enough said |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I joined the local gym, field trips allowed me to see florence from a new perspective, and meeting italians out at night also added to the experience. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Personally I didnt have any issues, but they took care of my friend that needed to go to the hospital one night |
| * Safety: |
As a male, I never felt unsafe, but there were multiple times I would have to help my girlfriends getting italian men to leave them alone. |
| 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) |
You can study abroad in many different ways, I wanted to gain as much as I could out of my experience with out allowing financial means get in the way |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100-150 Euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think about what you are buying (clothing, etc.) and do you need it? A lot of purchases were spur of the moment, being in london at the original burberry store, getting free drinks, its easy to get wrapped up in an idea. Spend your money on that meal youll never get in America, or go on that extra day trip to a city you'll never see again. |
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? | Spanish 2 |
| 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? | Talk with the locals |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | nothing, I know a lot now, but everything I learned was from experiencing it by myself. Don't have any expectations, allow everything to happen as it is. |
