Milan, you're wonderful! Past Review
By Emma M (Film and Media Studies; Psychology, University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
Living in a city abroad is so different from simply visiting a place on a vacation; when you live in a city, you really get immersed in the culture and customs of everyday life in that place. The changes in lifestyle that I experienced when I first arrived in Milan took a little time to get used to (i.e. the later dinner time, the more laid-back attitude, etc.) However, once I started to get into the swing of the Italian lifestyle, my semester abroad was extremely enjoyable! Spending a semester abroad allows you to become more independent and confident in yourself. When you get back to the U.S., you will notice things about yourself that have changed, for the better, thanks to spending time abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES Milan has a great staff that make sure that the students are always comfortable and accommodated for, whether you have a complaint about your living situation or you need to go to see a doctor. They make sure that you are happy with your courses and that everything is going smoothly from the start of the program to the end of it. The staff is great at finding the balance between being supportive of the students on this new life adventure, while still giving you the freedom to discover things on your own. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I chose to live with a homestay family while in Milan. My family was great! They really helped me learn about their culture and they helped make my time in Milan even more enjoyable! I highly recommend choosing the homestay option for this program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I actually broke my foot while in Milan. The IES Milan staff was so helpful! They set up all of my appointments, made sure I had someone to take me (to help with the language barrier), and helped with every step of my treatment. |
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| 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) |
It's a little tricky to balance all of the traveling you want to do with what you can afford, but if you try and pay attention to your spending, you'll be able to spend the right amount of time traveling elsewhere and living in your home city. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 430-50 euro |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had never taken Italian before my trip |
| 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? | Don't be afraid to use the native language when you're going throughout the city on a day-to-day basis. People will (almost always) be encouraging and helpful. I found that people really loved to help me with my Italian, as long as I was willing to use it! |
Other Program Information
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* 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? | Going abroad for the first time will be scary, but don't let your fear run how you'll live your life on your semester abroad! Be adventurous and outgoing and try new things! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
