Italy: The Best and Most Rewarding Experience of My Life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was an appropriate amount of work that was given during my study abroad experience. It was different because each class only occured once a week for three hours rather than split into seperate days with shorter time periods in class.

On-site administration of your program

The program size was relatively small with only 75 students in the program. The school was located on a side street and I expected it to be an actual school. The staff was friendly and I got along well and respected each person. The professors were not as accessible outside of class since they usually only came in one time per week except the professors who taught Italian since you took the language three times per week. The secretaries were very helpful and always there when you had a question or concern.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was arranged for us unless we requested to live with someone. I lived in a very safe neighborhood which was about a 20 minute walk to my school and the center which was where every one went at night. There was also a bus that was very easy to take, which was about a 5 minute ride into the center. I enjoyed the walk very much because of the beautiful scenery. All items were included in our housing and I did not have to purchase any which was beneficial to me since we could not bring that many bags with us from home.

The food in Italy was amazing and the school had plenty of recommendations of where to eat. One of my roommates was allergic and could not eat soy products and she was accommodated nicely as well as the vegetarians of our school.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to experience many different cultures and travel on weekends because our school gave us Fridays off. I went to the Swiss Alps where I canyon jumped 300ft. It was one of the best experiences in my life. I was so nervous looking down but I knew that I needed to do this for myself, and I looked out and flew. I also of course sampled the most delicious Swiss chocolate and was able to bring some home for my family as well. I also traveled to Amsterdam where I explored the dutch culture. There were big street fairs and markets that made the wooden dutch shoes. They also had the best french fries that came in a cone with all different sauces to choose from. I went to the Canary Islands for spring break which is apart of Spain and off the coast of Morocco. The Canary Island were absolutely gorgeous and had the coolest black sand beaches because of the volcano. Also they have the biggest cliffs in Europe called "Los Gigantes" and gorgeous sunsets. Another city I explored was Madrid. It was not one of my favorite spots because our hostel was in a bad location way outside of the center and I also got pick pocketed. You need to be extremely careful when you are out because they are experts at distracting tourists and taking advantage of them. I went on a beautiful walking tour and learned about the city, but I was upset because my things were stolen from me. I also was able to explore Northern and Southern Italy and the vast differences between the two. The North is considered rich and snobby, while the South is more relaxed. Visitng Rome and the Vatican City was one of the most breath-taking moments of my life. It is one of those places you should visit before you die. Words cannot truely explain it, just magical and spiritual. One of my favorite places to see was the Amalfi Coast where I went to Capri, Sorrento, and Poisitano. I had an intense hike in Capri and ended up on a mountain looking over the Mediterranean Sea and up in the clouds. In Sorrento I stayed in bungalows surrounded by orange and lemon trees. Sorrento is famous for its lemons, and it is essential to taste the limoncello which is an after dinner drink. Me and my friends rented vespas and rode from Sorrento to Poisitano along the coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. I never felt so free spirited in my life. Our school organized a day trip to Siena and San Gimignano. I tried the wild boar which is a Tuscan specialty and so delicious. San Gimignano is home of the best gelato in the world, except it was closed when I was there so I was not able to try it. The Tuscan countryside was amazing, and I could definitely see myself living their. Any where I went I made sure to go on a walking tour because those were the most informative about the new areas I was exploring. Studying in Florence is also an advantage compared to other cities because of the large population of American students because there are many companies that organize day trips which include transportation and accommodation which makes planning easy.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My host country did not require any vaccines specifically for the program. I was in a safe city and did not have any problems regarding safety nor did anyone that I studied with. I actually became sick during the program and my school provided us with a packet of any emergency information that we needed. I was able to go to the doctor and the pharmacy and they understood english and were able to help cure me.

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

Most people spoke English because in Florence there is a large population of students. Some of the residents would speak in Italian, while others wouldn't even bother because they knew you were American.

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans