You just can't beat CAPA Florence...Best experience ever!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My educational experience at CAPA's Florence program exceeded my expectations in all aspects! The professors were wonderful and excellent teachers, who understood all that abroad students are going through and excited by. The course work was engaging and often very useful to know while living abroad. Anytime I or another student had a questions regarding abroad life or the subject being discussed, my professors were always excited to answer. So many of the classes focus on real-world examples, which certainly make class time more interesting.

On-site administration of your program

During my time abroad, the CAPA staff were extremely encouraging and helpful. These people were the go-to resources for any questions regarding abroad life, travel, or "how would I say this..." inquiries. Often times, during breaks, I loved chatting away with Valentina, who worked the front desk. She was so sweet and caring. Valentina kept students updated on the fun programs CAPA would throw and answered any questions about the Italian language. All of the staff knew Florence extremely well, so that was such a plus with moving to an unfamiliar and big city.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was like a movie! My roommates and I loved our apartment. With just a 3-minute walk to the Ponte Vecchio, our apartment was in an excellent location, with proximity to beautiful sites and 5-star restaurants. We always felt safe in Florence and had a great landlord that took care of any maintenance issues in the apartment (there were only 1 or 2). With the CAPA program’s central location, one never has to walk more than about 10-15 minutes to get to all the major sites in Florence. I loved that this program’s classes were all in one building and not scattered around the city.

The food is simply unbeatable in Florence. No matter where you go to eat, it is bound to be absolutely delicious. My friends and I loved the program family dinners that CAPA would throw at local restaurants throughout the semester. This was an excellent way for us all to get-to-know each other better (including the CAPA staff!).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everyone was super friendly in Florence. There was not one time that I felt unsafe or uncomfortable with the locals. CAPA staff are the best resources for any questions about culture shock or cultural/social integration. CAPA even provided a night program to discuss culture shock and ways we could combat it. That program was very helpful in my cultural integration to Florence!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues while abroad, but my friends that did were very pleased by how CAPA assisted them. At the beginning of our program, each CAPA student was provided with emergency numbers and information for when in a crisis or when sick. The staff was approachable and helpful when needing to know the location of a pharmacy or doctor.

Safety is clearly a top priority for CAPA staff. With the world being such a crazy place, especially outside of the United States, the CAPA program was extremely vigilant of situations abroad and required that students report to the program before leaving town for a trip. This was helpful and definitely put my parents and I at ease.

Before departure, I was really scared about traveling to and living in Europe. I had no idea what to expect or how I would make it through the day-to-day. I was so impressed by the CAPA staff, locals, and program events, that really helped with my integration, both socially and culturally. The local friends that I made are people that I still keep in touch with and hope to see again in the very near future. Although I was only in Florence for four months, the city holds a place in my heart that no other city can obtain.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food is a lot cheaper in Florence than in the United States. My friends and I had no problem budgeting our food, travel, and shopping costs. Again, CAPA staff can recommend what grocery stores and other shops are best to go to from each student's apartment. Even the staff in stores throughout Florence are very kind and helpful to abroad students.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

My Italian class was far and beyond my FAVORITE class. The professors are so nice and make class really fun. Each professor goes over students' daily routines and the necessary vocabulary or phrases for getting around Florence. This class was 3 days a week, which really helped to build my Italian skills.

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• The people
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The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer