Abroad in Milan Past Review
By Josh T (Santa Clara University) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/18/2014 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned a lot about myself and how to interact with different cultures. Absolutely worthwhile. I was tested and challenged but I came out a better and more well rounded person.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Good classes. Learned more than I thought I would from actual school work especially italian. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great staff. Always available to offer help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Awesome apartment, close to city center, main street, close to metro. |
| * Food: |
It's Italy, what do you expect?? |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Program helped me get an internship and introduce me to Italians. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
My apartment door had like 100 locks on it. |
| 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) |
Italy is expensive but I saved a lot of money by cooking for myself etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100-130 euro not including weekend travel |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | cook yourself, spend less in the week and go big on the weekends. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
All the time. Staff was very encouraging |
| 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? | Italian 2 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak and listen as much as you can. Work for an Italian company abroad. |
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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| 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 wasn't going to ever want to leave |
