Bologna: A REAL italian experience Past Review
By Ali R (Italian Studies and Music, Wellesley College) for
Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program
So worthwhile. Changed my life. I'd never been to Europe and have now been to 8 countries, and lived for an entire year in one of them. I've had a career path opened up that I'm not even sure I'll pursue, but I never want to lose my Italian or my Italian friends now that I've had such an incredible experience. Offered me the chance to develop bilingually, something I'd never done, and now I feel like I have to personalities. Charlemagne said 'to have 2 languages is to possess another soul' and this year allowed me to do that.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Conservatory of Bologna, University of Bologna, Eastern College Consortium |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned so much italian. Just by virtue of the fact that classes were authentically taught in another language and didn't cater to foreigners, i was forced to stretch my ability and learn to understand. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The women at the ECCO office are incredible. no complaints. they deal with everything perfectly, and if anything, they just need help, understanding from the US side of things, and a lot of credit. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with one insane girl and we couldn't have guests which sucked as a foreign student whose friends often wanted to visit. Otherwise, fabulous. |
| * Food: |
Food stipend from the program is amazing. I just didn't know how to cook SO well. I wish i'd known more. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Lots of opportunities to do things in Bologna. SO MUCH STUDENT ACTIVITY it's crazy. Great night life, fun students. Go to bologna |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had no health issues. There was a doctor for american students, although I heard spotty reviews about him. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not that much, probably 200€ max. I saved as much as possible to travel |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cell phone at the beginning of the trip. I spent 60€. You can get them for so much cheaper. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 203 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Don't hang out with americans. You can do that in America. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you like language, and a safe relaxed student life go to Bologna. The university is great, the ECCO program is really well organized, there is a ton of support, you meet other americans from other new england liberal arts schools, and there is so much to do in Bologna. I gained fluency in a year, and can't imagine life without this experience. |
