La Bella Vita Past Review
By Kevin Shue (Pennsylvania State University - University Park / Penn State) - abroad from 01/10/2017 to 05/12/2017 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I always thought that living and working abroad could be in my future and my time in Milan only confirmed that. I am even looking at moving Europe after graduation for my first job. Living abroad forces you interact with people that hold beliefs that differ from your own. I always tried to make friends with people from different backgrounds and my time abroad has only made me do more of that.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was not as rigorous as classes at home, but I think that's what everyone wants. I was able to take courses in subjects areas that I found interesting and would not have been able to take at my home university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was incredible. They were always there if you needed help and did a great job of creating a community among the students, but also helped immerse us in the local culture. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I set my expectations very low and prepared for the worst. I ended up living in a very spacious and modern apartment in a great neighborhood and was only a 5-10 minute walk from the heart of Milan, the Duomo. |
| * Food: |
Italian food made by real Italians, it can't get any better than that! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Like I said, the administration did a great job of introducing us to the local culture. I also held an internship while I was there which helped me further immerse myself into the culture of Milan. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not personally need any healthcare while I was there, but I heard that the administration was very helpful with getting students the care they needed. I brought medication with me like Advil, Allegra, DayQuil and NyQuil to make things easier because Italians are skeptical of all the pills that Americans take. |
| * Safety: |
I felt like Milan was very safe. Like every major city, there are bad parts, but I never went there or had to. Every Thursday the program administration would provide us with updates from the US Embassy in Rome about protests or other events that posed security threats throughout Europe and North Africa, especially to Americans. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
My time in Milan with IES was the best four months of my life. It all started with great organization and dedication from the IES staff in Milan. Their main concern was ensuring that everyone had an unforgettable time and their safety. If any problems arose, the staff was ready to address it immediately. My apartment and living situation was great. I was preparing myself for the worst, but it was a large, modern apartment right in the heart of Milan. The selection of classes allowed me to learn about things that I would have not otherwise had the chance to back at my home school. I did not know any Italian before I arrived, but the program required us to take Italian and for that I am grateful. It was a tremendous help at restaurants, asking for directions, and talking to my coworkers at the internship IES organized for me. Many students are drawn to Italy when thinking about where to study abroad because of the food, culture, history, fashion, and climate. However, most choose to study further south in Florence or Rome, but I think Milan is the perfect place. It is a city similar to the other ones in Western Europe and the United States and because of that it is easier to get acclimated. It is also very easy to travel to the rest of Italy in the south and the rest of continental Europe to the north. There is always something to do in Milan, day and night, with green parks, amazing restaurants, and countless bars, pubs, and clubs. When I first chose Milan, everybody always asked me, "Why Milan?" and my answer was because it was the financial capital of Italy and the fashion capital of the world. I discovered the Milan is so much more than that and I cannot imagine getting to call any other place home for five months. Part of me will always be there, and that's thanks to the amazing staff at IES that run this program. |
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) |
I could have lived more economically during my time in Milan, but I am fortunate enough to not have to worry about money. I used the money I earned from previous jobs to enjoy all Milan and Europe had to offer by going out at night during the week and traveling on the weekends. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $3,000 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Spend your money on experiences, trips, events, nights out. Don't spend it on clothes or other material things that you can buy at home. Try to plan your trips in advance so tickets are cheaper. |
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 taken AP Spanish in high school and tested out of it in college. While it wasn't Italian, the five years of Spanish definitely helped me learn 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, practice, practice! Use it with your roommates and friends and try to use it at restaurants and other places in your host city. Get Rosetta Stone if you can or another language learning aid. |
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? | Ideally, everyone should know Italian to make the most of their time, but it is by no means a requirement. Like I said, I did not know any Italian before I got there and still had an amazing time. I wish I knew how hard it would be to go back to "normal life" after exploring Italy and Europe for five months. I would have gone to that extra soccer game or that other night club instead of studying. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
