Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

CAPA Florence Provides the Best Abroad Experience Possible Past Review

By (George Mason University) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 04/21/2016 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained self discovery which I believe is the best gift I could have ever been given. When I first arrived I had no plan, I didn't know what I wanted or what to do. But once I really immersed myself in the culture it became the best experience of my life. I traveled to 7 different countries in 4 months and nothing in my life compares to the life experiences that I learned along the way.

Review Photos

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Florence, Italy Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very good educational program I learned a lot about Italian culture and film

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Great hosts! The welcome events were amazing, the staff was very pleasant and very helpful. Well organized success!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was IN LOVE with my apartment in Florence. Amazing views, great location, beautiful setting

* Food:

The best food in the world! CAPA took us on a food tour and I found all the inexpensive yet amazing places to eat there with a guide to help out, it was great!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was hard at first but once I gained the courage to speak more Italian I had a great experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There were pharmacies throughout Florence that provided easy access to healthcare. As students we got insurance, but I never had a health related issue.

* Safety:

I felt very safe walking the streets alone at night. Florence is relatively safe and I never felt very uncomfortable.

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

CAPA was very helpful. The staff all spoke English and anytime I needed advice on local restaurants or help with Italian they were readily available to me.

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)

It was easy except for the fact that shopping there is so cheap and I wanted to buy a whole new wardrobe of Italian clothing. But otherwise, Florence is an inexpensive host city and you can get a decent meal for 5 euro so an overall good experience!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably around $100 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? SAVE SAVE SAVE. You will need it. Especially for buying gifts.

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

They told us to use it as much as possible for the full experience, and they were right!

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? Intermediate Italian
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? Connect with locals and make connections. They will introduce you to more people and from there you can practice the language without any judgement!

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?
  • My amazing apartment and it's location to the center of the city
  • The best food that I've ever eaten in my life
  • The chance to learn Italian culture from Italian professors
* What could be improved?
  • Transportation was all on foot
  • Getting an Italian residency permit
  • Knowledge on external learning resources
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much it changed my life for the better. I wish I knew just how many opportunities that I would be given so that I could take advantage of all of them and more!

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.