Study Abroad in Italy: Don't Miss Out on this Opportunity!!! Past Review
By Melanie A (Supply Chain Management, University of Kansas) for
CIMBA: Paderno del Grappa - Undergraduate Program
It definitely was!!! Not only did I have the opportunity to make new friends, I also learned alot about the Italian culture, and had the chance to travel and see more of Europe. I love the European food, their architecure and lifestyle, and cannot wait to go back!!!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I knew that it was going to be tough to learn the material of a whole semester in only 4 weeks, but I totally underestimated the workload (homework, reading, studying, etc.) and experienced many nights with only a few hours of sleep. I really appreciated it, however, that most instructors scheduled exams and due homeworks for Tuesdays instead for Mondays, so that everyone could enjoy the weekends without having to worry about studying while traveling. Also, I really enjoyed the opportunity to go on fieldtrips with both of my classes and learn more about the Italian culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I love the Italian food!!! The Pizzaria Al Sole in Paderno, and the Pizzeria Al Buranello in Crespano were my favorites :) Also, I really enjoyed going to the Pasticceria Alpina before class, or in the afternoons to have a cup of cappuccino and a pastry :) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It is extremely helpful to know at least some basic phrases in Italian since not everyone speaks English. The program usually offers a free 1.5 hour "Surviving Italy" course on campus which I can only recommend. It helped me more than a few times. Plus, the Italians appreciate it if you at least try to speak their language and are more than welcome to help you out. Most of the classes included one field trip during an afternoon session, so I was able to visit a nearby Italian chemical company and the Villa Sandi vineyard. Furthermore, there were plenty of free afternoon and evening trips offered to nearby cities, Mt. Grappa, etc. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students that are open-minded, like to travel, and are interested in learning about different cultures are most likely to benefit from this program. |
