Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Interning in the Italian Workplace Past Review

By (Photojournalism., Providence College) for

Fairfield University: Florence - Semester or Year in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a lot of independence an cultural awareness.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I thought the workload was perfect.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very helpful when I needed to adjust some of my courses.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Google has great lists for vegetarian restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We went to the leaning tower of Pisa.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe here. There were no vaccines to worry about.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I wish I had known about the incredibly high lab fees for art courses.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The opportunity to intern.
* What could be improved?
  • The add drop period for classes should be extended.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I believe almost anyone would benefit from this program. I found it particularly helpful for people who were interested in interning abroad. My internships improved my ability to speak and understand Italian. However, it also improved my confidence level and independence. I have no doubt that I can function in any foreign environment after this experience. It is truly life-changing.