Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

la bella vita in ROME. Past Review

By (Journalism, University of Northern Colorado) for

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Rome, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I definitely gained a new awareness for other cultures- that people all over the world have different customs and cultural expectations, some of which can be frustrating and some of which just make sense. Studying abroad has given me a passion for seeing the world and a love of new experiences!

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.

One of my favorite parts about CEA classes was that almost all of them are on-site- which means that when my art history professor is lecturing about the Colosseum and Roman Forum, we're actually standing in the Colosseum!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Rome staff was always helpful and available.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Neighborhood was safe and within walking distance of CEA campus. Some things we did have to purchase ourselves- like bathmats, kitchen towels, oven mitts, etc.

* Food:

Advice: If you're gluten intolerant, DON'T study in Italy. Pasta and carbs make up 75 percent of the diet!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Awesome day trips, overnight trips and activities within Rome were all included- definitely one of the best parts of the program!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Biggest 'safety' risk is pick-pocketing.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Find the budget grocery store in your area- Tuodi was a life saver! Also, be aware that you'll probably spend a lot of money the first couple weeks as you get settled in!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
Language acquisition improvement?

Most students in the program were American, which made it harder to learn Italian, but everyday interactions- like grocery shopping, getting coffee, etc- helped a lot.

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?
  • All the out-of-class experiences- like pasta making, day trips to other Italian towns, etc.
  • Every class that CEA offered was relevant to Italian culture, which was awesome!
  • Staff was always available to help students- whether with academic issues or with questions about weekend trips!
* What could be improved?
  • It was frustrating that attendance was so directly tied to letter grades, and that professors had no discretion with this- most of the time it is understandable, but sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances (getting lost, being sick) and I don't think students should be punished for those.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Students considering study abroad should definitely pick CEA if they're looking for a hands-on cultural experience in whatever city they choose.