BEST experience of my life, learned SO MUCH!!! Past Review
By study abroad student (Old Dominion University) - abroad from 01/12/2016 to 05/07/2016 with
CIEE: Ferrara - Language + Culture
Too much to even explain in this little box, I have taken away so many great lessons from this experience. Through traveling alone a few times I've learned how to not let a few things that go wrong ruin a day, also how to rely on myself and feel completely comfortable and happy alone sometimes. Through traveling with friends I've made some of my favorite memories and have learned how to rely on others and work with others, making decisions, and planning things. In the classroom I've learned so many things about the world around me politically and culturally. Through program excursions and activities I've learned so much about the culture of Italy and Ferrara. Overall I have learned how to live and live fully, which is something I see in myself everyday.
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. |
at times I found the workload to be heavy, but my professors were great and very knowledgeable! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program directors were AMAZING and really did their best to help us with anything we needed! when I had to see a doctor the directors were always there for me with my appointments and helping me file my insurance claims |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The program does a fantastic job with homestay pairings. My host family and my friends host families were absolutely wonderful and fit our personalities. My family was always there for me and were so kind!!! |
| * Food: |
In Ferrara the food was FANTASTIC! There aren't really any "tourist trap" restaurants or "fake Italian restaurants" like you may see in some of the larger cities to appeal to foreigners. Ferrara has its own specialty dishes particular to the city which were awesome to try. the program always fed us big meals at amazing restaurants when we had an event which was nice. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
when I had to see a doctor the program directors would right away try to get me to the doctors and when I needed an in house doctor on one of the excursions they called for one immediately. There was always a director with me at my visits and they helped me get my medication and even helped me to know how to file my insurance claims. they made sure I felt like a priority to them. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in the city in comparison to cities I've been to in the U.S. the only thing I personally was a little uncomfortable with was riding my bike alongside cars on the road |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
No regrets in program choice, I couldn't even picture my experience elsewhere |
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent less than 3,000 total while I was there |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | try spending less on accommodations for trips and buses are the way to go! (there is a Flixbus station in Ferrara) I once spent one euro on a bus ride to Rome |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 100 in Italian. 200 in another language |
| 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? | You'll use it with your host family, at Italian lesson 3 times a week and around Ferrara (at stores, cafe's, bars, restaurants, etc. ), also whenever you interact with locals. (some students took courses in Italian) |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | SAVE as much as you can before coming! I had to miss out on things with friends because of that. But I did not let that take away from what a truly amazing experience I got to have |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
