Milano, Una Città D'Oro Past Review
By Lindsay Hexter (Emory University) - abroad from 08/30/2016 to 12/16/2016 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I'd never realized my eyes were closed until I opened them to the world of study abroad, in Milan. My home university is a bubble, a safe haven; studying abroad opens you to the world, allowing you to absorb history and culture simply by living. I believe I learned more studying abroad than I had in a lifetime, considering my improved language skills, my understanding of Italian culture, and my progress towards a global citizenship with my increased worldly awareness.
Review Photos
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. |
I loved my classes at IES, but I do wish they were more clear about the academic opportunities at other universities, before students arrived (e.g. it was actually impossible to take a course at a nearby university other than Cattolica or Bocconi). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff at IES was amazing- they were always telling us about opportunities in Milan, organizing "bucket list" activities, and planning trips to other places in Italy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an Italian dorm, called Collegio di Milano. I HIGHLY recommend living here, especially if you want to improve your Italian. I believe it is the best way to meet other Italian students, which can give you more perspective on the Italian lifestyle and culture. |
| * Food: |
The only bad thing about living in the dorm was the meal plan; of course, all the food I bought for myself in Milan was incredible, but the food I got from my dorm meal plan was not very good. This is one advantage of living in an apartment or homestay, since you can buy and cook your own food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The best way I was able to assimilate into local culture was to practice Italian every day (even if someone spoke back in English), explore new areas of Milan (especially on the first Sunday of every month, since museums are free!), and make Italian friends at my dorm. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We had a doctor's check at my dorm, but otherwise I didn't experience the Italian healthcare system. |
| * Safety: |
Milan is a very safe city; as long as you keep an eye out for your purse or bag, you'll be fine! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Although I didn't receive credit for either of my majors, I would still choose IES Milan because I had so many opportunities to learn about Italian culture and practice the language. Studying abroad is not about getting credits for my majors back at home, and I realized this after I saw that learning about Italian culture and history in my IES classes helped shape my understanding of Milan and Italy. I loved living in the Italian dorm, exploring new places in Milan, and enjoying the Milanese tradition of aperitivo. |
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) |
Since I had a meal plan, most of my spending went to lunches and extra expenses (such as weekend travel, going for an apertitivo, etc.). Milan is not an expensive city, especially if you compare it to cities in the US like NYC or LA! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan out your budget- I probably would've saved a lot of money if I'd done that! However, it is a once in a lifetime experience, so it is okay to splurge (how many times can you say, "Oh, I decided to visit Venice for the weekend!"). |
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 |
IES had Italian community assistants, language partners, and classes taught in Italian. They always encouraged us to practice our Italian! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300-level Italian |
| 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? | Practice everywhere you go!! Be persistent, even if someone replies in English. |
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? | I wish I had realized how important it was just to learn while I was there- not to stress about my credits at my home university, but simply to take in the experience of studying abroad in Milan. |
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! |
