La dolce vita! Past Review
By Olya B (Elementary Education, Temple University) - abroad from 08/28/2012 to 12/15/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Rome, Italy
Definitely a worthwhile experience, and I encourage everybody to do it. You will have a bad time if you don't put yourself out there and attempt to embrace yourself in the culture and meet people. But if you do, you really do learn a lot about yourself and others, as well as get more of an open mind. Definitely recommended, Rome is extremely beautiful and we never got bored! If I could do it all over again, I would pick the same program, location, and people!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes weren't really that hard, they required work (as all classes do) but they are pretty fun! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Phenomenal staff, so friendly and are always ready to answer your questions and help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Awesome apartment, shared with 7 other girls. One of my roommates and I managed to get our own single rooms. Newly renovated and just awesome! |
| * Food: |
It's Italy, come on. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Mostly hung out with people from the program, but we did talk to locals here and there, especially when we were out and about! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Always felt really safe, the neighborhood was very nice. Once you figure out public transportation, you should be confident. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Just budget your money, on an excel or something on the computer so you don't lose too track on how much money you spend on everything (including travel plans). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 70euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Excel sheet, track your money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
They encouraged you to use the language, but it was really up to you whether you wanted to or not. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Knew zero Italian. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try to speak with the locals, it's really the best way to learn. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew not to pack so much, packing for home was 10x worse than packing for Italy because I had souvenirs and such. No one ever listens to that advice, but it is so annoyingly true. Also- live everyday to the fullest while abroad, it really goes by in a flash and is over before you know it. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
