An Unforgettable Adventure Past Review
By Sally Olmstead (St. Olaf College) - abroad from 01/14/2019 to 05/10/2019 with
IES Abroad Milan - Music: Voice, Composition & Instrumental
I gained so much independence, knowledge about a new culture, and appreciation for diversity.
Review Photos
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My experience at the IES Milan - Music: Voice, Composition, and Instrumental program was life-changing, filled with amazing opportunities to learn about Italian music, language, culture, and social issues. I studied opera there and received the finest instruction from music professors like Patrizia Zanardi, Anna Fre, and Stefano Pintor. I was able to apply what I had learned in recitals and one-act operas that my fellow students and I presented at IES. Not only that, but I was also able to learn about opera by attending five La Scala opera productions, four of which were paid for by IES. My Staging Italian Opera class also got to observe a rehearsal at La Scala for Mozart's Idomeneo and tour the opera house's workshops. These opportunities shaped my abroad experience, and I am very grateful to IES for having provided them. Not only was my music education wonderful, but my other classes were stellar also, especially my Service Learning course. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I found all of the staff at IES Milan to be extremely helpful. Whenever I had a question about anything, whether it involved an upcoming IES-sponsored trip or a personal health concern, they always answered my questions and showed that they cared about me. I felt that I was in very good hands for the entire semester. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a homestay with a very kind and loving Milanese family, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, as it was so fun to have younger Italian siblings and to truly immerse myself in the Italian language. My homestay became my home away from home, and in difficult moments I was so grateful to have Italian parents to give me homemade gelato. And the food was incomparable, of course! Nothing in this world is better than a home-cooked Italian meal. |
* Food: |
If you like Italian food and if you choose to live in a homestay, you will be in heaven! |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved living in Milan, and IES provided students with many opportunities to engage with the local culture. It definitely helped that I came in at an advanced level of Italian, although often the locals would speak English to me because I don't look Italian at all. That was frustrating sometimes, but I understood why they did it. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I injured my foot while I was abroad, and the IES Staff were so helpful in getting me the care I needed. They scheduled all of my appointments for me and helped me fill out the reimbursement forms for the insurance. The healthcare seemed overall pretty similar to what I am used to in the United States. |
* Safety: |
I felt very safe in Milan. I could make the 10-minute walk from my metro stop to my homestay after 1 AM without any danger. I never experienced any safety issues. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Milan can be pretty expensive, especially if you are shopping for clothing, so be prepared! Food is very reasonably priced, though. |
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 |
I was in the Advanced Italian course, and it was very helpful to me in expanding my vocabulary and grammar. We did have a pledge to only speak in Italian for each class period, but students would often break it and speak English, which was frustrating to me. The professor never reprimanded them. |
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced Beginning Italian |
How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | The best way to learn is through immersion! It's so hard, but if you can do your best not to rely on English to get by, you won't regret the knowledge you've gained. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
* What did you like most about the program? |
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* What could be improved? |
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* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that the Milanese dress for the SEASON, not the WEATHER. If you are going to this program in the springtime, know that most people won't shed their winter coats until late April! |
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! |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
Service Learning |
Course Department: | Service Learning |
Instructor: | Elyse Resnick |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | In Service Learning, I gained insight into the European migration crisis through a very thought-provoking seminar course. By volunteering at the Municipality of Milan's immigration office, I was able to put the skills I was learning in the seminar (and in my advanced Italian class) to action. As a class, we took a field trip to see a CAS center, where migrants seeking political asylum and humanitarian protection can live while completing the application process. Our professor was excellent and helped our class have meaningful conversations. All of the assigned reading was eye-opening and fascinating; I was always eager to do my homework! Students were assessed through papers, presentations, and weekly journals. While it was a lot of writing, the workload was manageable. |
Credit Transfer Issues: | I had no issues. I was able to get a writing credit for this course. |