Frolicking in Siena November 10, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Small class sizes and extremely caring, knowledgeable, and accommodating professors. I learned a lot whilst experiencing minimal academic stress, which is ideal for an abroad experience.

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration was so unbelievably supportive. Individual check-ins with the program lead were had in the first two weeks to ensure everyone was doing well. Throughout the semester, all the on-site staff were so kind, caring, and accommodating. They thoughtfully planned program-wide activities every single week (which were so successful that nearly everyone participated each week).

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed with a wonderful host family. My host mom in particular was such a kind soul who worked so hard to take care of me. We shared dinner each night and spoke about our days. Each member was born and raised in Siena so they were able to teach me so much about Sienese life and culture.

Italian food is world-famous and my experience in Siena lived up to it. My host mom introduced me to so many new foods (which I have since tried to recreate at home) and Italian eating practices (such as the concept of always having a "primo" -- first course -- and "secondo" -- second course). There are also some phenomenal restaurants in Siena, that are also pretty cost-effective. Every day for lunch I would go to the Consorzio di Siena, which had a freshly-made food hot bar made from local ingredients. The options often were rich in vegetables and perfect for lunch. It was by weight, and most days I would pay between 5 and 7 euros for a filling and healthy meal. In this same store, there is a pizza and pastry counter that had the best pizza I've had in all of Italy.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Italian roommates helped me feel connected to the local culture – they introduced us to their friends and we would all be able to hang out together. I also participated in Erasmus Student Network events planned by Italian students attending the University of Siena, which allowed me to make some lifelong Italian friends. Also, my host family allowed me to feel pretty integrated. CET Siena was a pretty tight-knit program and we would spend most of the time together.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not struggle with my health too much during my time abroad, but several of my friends did. Of my friends, one got a concussion, one caught the flu, one sprained their wrist, and one got bronchitis. CET Siena immediately arranged doctor's visits and ensured each student got the medical care they needed. The small size of the program made the care personalized and immediate.

I am a very safety-conscious person and I felt so safe in Siena. The main streets and Piazza del Campo are lit at all times. I brought pepper spray with me just as a precaution but there was not a singular time where I felt even near uneasy enough to think about pulling it out of my bag. It is a very sweet small, medieval city and feels like home. No one in my program reported anything uneasy happening to them or around them.

A thousand times, yes!!! Out of all my friends who went abroad, I really think I had the most positive, immersive, and meaningful experience. I believe that it is largely because of how thoughtfully this program was planned and because of how special Siena is inherently. It is an amazingly conserved medieval city that is and of itself a UNESCO world heritage site. Every direction you look is breathtakingly beautiful. The community CET was able to foster was also so amazing. I miss it.

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

I would say a 4. Especially if you are in a homestay, you could get by on $50/week or less for all your lunches. Breakfast and dinner are provided. I liked to get tea and a pastry every morning, but that only adds $3/day. Most pasta dishes at restaurants are between 10 and 15 euros, so even going out to dinner is very doable on a budget. If staying in an apartment, grocery shopping from Conad, and meal prepping for the week, is probably the most cost-effective option.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We hung out a lot with each other which restricted our use of Italian, but other than that element we were very much encouraged. Our Italian professors were extremely motivating and encouraging and we were even taken out by CET to cafes (or to a chocolate fair that was being held in Piazza del Campo, or to the weekly outdoor market by the Fortezza) to practice ordering in Italian and such.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans

• People
• Setting
• Food

• Struggling to fill these fields in...

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer