Rome is the Experience of a Lifetime! Past Review

By Allison R (English, Theology, Ohio Dominican University) for

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Rome, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained a better sense of the world around me, and learned how to be more independent. I was farther from home than I have ever been in my life, and I had to learn to rely on myself more, instead of leaning on friends or family for support.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The workload and grading system were about the same, but the on-site classes were new to me. It was an odd adjustment to make, as some of the courses were not as structered as the classes at Ohio Dominican have been.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	CEA Global Education gave me the best study abroad experience I could ask for while studying abroad, and I felt completely safe and taken care of while I was with them, as the staff was completely knowledgeable in all the right subjects, and the trips they took us on were amazing!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	It was very nice to be in an apartment so close to the CEA campus--a ten minute walk! It was also close to two Metro stops, which made it easy to travel. Other than food, there were no supplies I needed to buy to settle in, as everything else had been supplied.
* Food:	The food was good, and I didn't eat out much, preferring to buy groceries for the week and eat in instead. Suprisingly good and decently priced food can be found at the restaurants in Termini train station, and it was refreshing not to see so many fast food places.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The trip to Pompeii and Capri was phenomenal, and the day trip to Florence was lovely. I had a fantastic time on all the side trips we went on.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I was never ill while I was here, so I did not have any need to experience Rome's health care. I've had no safety related incidences, and other than the general warning to keep an eye out for pickpockets, there was nothing to complain about.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?
Language acquisition improvement?	A few people spoke English, and usually asking them to repeat themselves could help me understand what was being said. I practiced my language with the other students, and of course when I visited the local businesses around the area in which I lived, I had to speak Italian, as they spoke little to no English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	It was a fulfilling and interesting experience, and I feel that I have become a more well-rounded person because of my experiences here. Italian food!
* What could be improved?	Nothing

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	New Testament in the Eternal City
Course Department:
Instructor:	Dana Dillon
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was challenging, but not for the right reasons. I was familiar with most of the course material, but the professor was not. There were very little notes, and most of the class felt unprepared. It was too much to ask a class to cover the entire New Testament over the course of the semester, with many of the students have little to no prior knowledge of the subject material.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Independent Study Project
Course Department:
Instructor:	Paul Gwynne
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Very easy, and very interesting. Wrote my paper to substitue for a literature course back at Ohio Dominican University. Dr. Gwynne was extremely helpful in assisting me construct my paper, and his crtiques helped me to better my writing and strengthened my knowledge in the particular subject area of ancient Rome and the Roman poets.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Italian I
Course Department:
Instructor:	Mario
Instruction Language:	Italian/English
Comments:	This course introduced me to the Italian language, and ensured that I was not going to be completely lost in my temporary home. This class gave me the ability to be more independent outside of the class, to explore the city with some confidence, and should I get lost, I would at least have the language skills to ask for directions!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Renaissance and Baroque Art in Rome
Course Department:
Instructor:	Alexandra Massini
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	A survey course on the most famous artists and their well-known works between the fifteenth and seventeeth centuries, focusing on the Renaissance and the Baroque Age. Dr. Massini knew her material, and the class was full of interesting little side notes on the history of each piece, as well as the patron and artist, and kept my interest. The onsite classes to the gallery allowed me to view the art as it was meant to be seen, not only in pictures taken from the Internet. A very interesting and entertaining course.
Credit Transfer Issues: