A life changing experience Past Review
By Patrick T (Journalism., Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/12/2013 to 04/20/2013 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Florence, Italy
I became an entirely different person. I matured so much in my four month abroad and see the world through a new lens. I made some of the best friends I have ever had in just a few short months, people I see at my wedding, people who I have already made plans to have a reunion with this fall. It's amazing how quickly your perspective on the world can change and how quickly your life can change. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses were designed to allow you to travel and experience Italy and ran Mon-Thurs. Professors were extremely knowledgeable, diverse, and willing to help you out. Classes include MyEducation activities that exposed me to a lot of Italian culture and experiences I probably would not have gotten without CAPA. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very different from a typical American institution, but admistator are happy to help you when issues arise and put themselves at your disposal should any problems occur. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a great, modern apartment, steps from the Duomo and school, with three strangers who quickly became my best friends, people who I can see at my wedding. Most of my other friends also loved their apartments which were scattered throughout Florence. You got to experience all types of Italian living when visiting friends too. |
| * Food: |
Who could hate Italian food!? My apartment was close to grocery stores and incredibly accessible. I tried so many new things and learned some new flavours to love. Nutella goes with anything. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in an apartment with other Italians I felt very integrated. MyEducation activities also helped show me the local culture and social. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got strep abroad, but CAPA was very helpful in helping me find a doctor and taking my medical situation into consideration with regards to missed classes. |
| * Safety: |
Florence, like any large city does have safety concerns. Basically if you're smart you'll be safe. Be aware of your surroundings, don't drink crazy amounts, and watch out for Gypsies. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
There's always so much going on and so many experiences it's hard to budget. Luckily I saved a bunch of money before my trip and had very supportive parents to help finance my adventures. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $450-$600 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You want to go out every night, but that's extremely expensive. Try to find the cheapest ways to go out. Also take advantage of low fare airlines and travel options. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Italian 4 greatly encouraged and improved my language skills. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Italian 3 or IU M200 |
| 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? | Try speaking to everyday people in Italian. You may stumble, but most people appreciate the effort and will help you out. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Nothing! Going in blind allowed me to have no expectations and get the most out of the experience! |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian 4 |
| Course Department: | Italian |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | Very challenging, but helped my Italian immensely. I learned more Italian in one semester than I thought possible and was able to converse with locals with ease after taking this class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Transfer went incredibly smoothly. |
