My Amazing Cultural Experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed going to school while being abroad. The workload was appropriate and did require outside work at home and kept me occupied while in class. The teaching methods were relatively the same in the classroom with the use of lecture however they also incorporated lessons outside the classroom where we observed directly. They also allowed us to have off on Fridays which was the most beneficial since we were able to travel easier. This may be seen as more play, however we were given the opportunity to view other cultures and customs and gain knowledge in that aspect.

On-site administration of your program

Support services were always accessible and whenever you needed help someone was always there. When they did help they usually went beyond expectations which was beneficial. They had "my education" programs throughout the semester which connected us to our host country. I did expect to go to a big school but there were only 75 other students in my program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very pleased with my housing arragement. I lived in an apartment with three other girls and we all got along very well. I did not need to buy any items to settle in, everything was provided for us, and we lived in a safe neighborhood about 20 minutes walking distance to class and nightlife. There was also a bus that took us to the center that took about 7 minutes.

One of my roommates had a soy allergy and was accomodated for and had no issues. The food was amazing there and there are way too many places to name that I suggest. My favorite pizza though was Gusta Pizza by the Ponte Vecchio. Otherwise anywhere you go you will be satisfied.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were off every Friday which meant everyone was able to travel easily. There were many companies that had deals for cool trips in Florence which helped planning. I went to the Swiss Alps and was able to canyon jump and taste the best chocolate in the world. I went to Madrid where I went on an informative walking tour that was free and learned so much about the culture. I went to Amsterdam and experienced Dutch culture and ate the best fries and pancakes. For spring break I went to the Canary Islands for the week and experienced the black sand beaches and had a blast. I also traveled all over Italy to Rome, Venice, Amalfi Coast, and our school included a trip to Siena and San Gimignano. Going to all these amazing places and learning all these cultures was a very important part of my trip and I am grateful I was allowed to experience it all.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city was safe and no one had problems. Just beware of the gypsys and pick pocketers. If you were sick we were given a handbook at the beginning of our program with locations of English speaking doctors. No vaccines were need specifically for the program.

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

I was able to practice the language in my class, however when I tried to speak outside of class most Italians could tell I was American and spoke to me in English which worked against me.

Select all that apply

• Apartment
• Hotel
• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Americans