Bologna Became Home June 10, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Coursework in both the internal and Unibo courses was for the most part underwhelming and far less rigorous than at my home institution, but evaluated from the perspective of language learning and immersion the academics were sufficient and at the expected intensity level for a study abroad program. The ECCO faculty were very accommodating and passionate about their fields, and while I personally had good experiences with my Unibo professors, I heard from others that it could be a mixed bag re: antiquated, unengaging teaching styles and a lack of flexibility. The intensive Italian course in January was appropriately challenging, geared toward improving speaking, and adjusted to meet each student's proficiency level. Unibo courses were very different from those at an American liberal arts college and were about the opposite of the 'flipped classroom' approach, with the professor typically lecturing without pause for two hours and students expected to follow their own timetables for coursework, exam preparation, etc. Would not recommend the program to anyone looking for a semester of advanced studies in anything other than Italian language and culture because, in my experience, the semester was far more enriching in an 'experiential' than in an 'academic' sense.

On-site administration of your program

Program was generally well organized and the staff very friendly and a good resource for advice on places to visit, where to eat, things to do in Bologna, etc.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very fortunate to be placed in a 5-person apartment (three Italians and two Americans) in a studentato that had been recently renovated with a spacious kitchen and 1.5 bathrooms. I lived in a double room with an Italian roommate and, judging from others' experiences, was also very lucky to have roommates that got along well and never had any major disagreements regarding the living situation.

Would absolutely give a higher rating if I could because food (whether cooked or from a restaurant) was consistently exceptional in and around Bologna! Had some of the best pasta, pizza, and gelato in my life in Bologna and other parts of Italy, but on top of the amazing quality and relative cheapness the food was also a great way to learn more about Italian culture given all the regional variations in cuisine and cultural particularities regarding mealtimes and the highly social aspect of eating in Italy.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very comfortable being in Italy after a couple of months, but did not end up making a lot of close Italian friends and hung out mostly with other international students (of which there is a huge community in Bologna). I think this was not only due to the language barrier but also major cultural contrasts, like the differences in how Italian students tend to associate and socialize (often keeping to a circle of friends from the same region or hometown as opposed to making friends through classes or extracurricular activities at university). The interactions I had with Italians stayed mostly surface-level even as I felt more comfortable with the language, especially since the culture and social life in Bologna is quite transitory and fast-moving and people typically don't socialize with the aim to build deeper relationships. However, Bologna has tons to offer for international students in terms of organizations and social events, so I felt very at home with the more cosmopolitan Bolognese culture even if I didn't necessarily feel that I integrated into Italian culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There were definitely health risks that came with studying abroad during a pandemic, and even though much of our program (myself included) ended up catching COVID, ECCO was very helpful in accommodating my needs in a situation out of its control and navigating the complex landscape of Italian policies re: testing and quarantine. We tested twice a month at a local pharmacy. COVID was unfortunately very widespread and quite easy to catch in Bologna, especially in the first few months of the semester.

I never personally felt unsafe walking alone at night, but you should still be vigilant of your surroundings.

This was the perfect program for me because I arrived with no explicit goals other than to learn Italian. So many other incredible experiences, none of which I could have foreseen, ended up enriching my time here and teaching me how to live more independently and spontaneously than I would have ever done at Wellesley. Bologna is without a doubt the best Italian city for study abroad because of its simultaneously international and distinctly Italian character. It was an experience that immersed me in the complex problems and peculiarities of Italy which might have been more disguised in a more tourism-centered city.

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

Thanks to a major adjustment in the food stipend (which only came through the advocacy of a student in the program), we were given 560 euros/month or about 20 euros/day which was definitely sufficient to buy groceries and go out to eat often. The vast majority of my other expenses was for traveling, which was still pretty budget-friendly compared to in the US thanks to cheaper train tickets and hotels.

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

Speaking Italian all the time was not an enforced rule but it was highly encouraged, as was taking all courses in Italian

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• Dorm
• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Local Students
• International Students

• The history, youthful culture, and nightlife of Bologna
• Mix of internal and Unibo courses
• Relatively unstructured coursework and program agenda in general

• More events and activities involving all ECCO students
• More opportunities for ECCO students to meet and socialize with Unibo students and more advising on how to participate in university organizations
• This is not feedback for the program specifically, but just a warning that Italy is quite a racist and xenophobic country (depending on where you go, of course)