La Dolce Vita a Roma! Past Review
By Kelly W (International Business and Classical Studies, Trinity University) for
IES Abroad: Study Rome - Language & Area Studies
Definitely.
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. |
I had great professors that were fun and engaging and loved that almost all of my classes did "field studies" where we actually got to go to the Coliseum for class or other areas around Rome to explore. The class days were set up well, not having class on Fridays was wonderful and allows you to get out and travel or keep looking around Rome. The grading was easier, but the classes still demanded a good balance of work. I felt comfortable taking more hours abroad than at home, but it definitely wasn't a joke like most people assume study abroad is, which I appreciated. I felt like I learned a lot with IES. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES really had things done and taken care of. I felt safe and like I could go to anyone in the center and be helped out with whatever I needed. They were wonderful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was in a great location that was really close to the IES center and in a really nice area of Rome. I lived with an older host mom and one roommate, which was really nice to have so that we could both share the experience and help each other out. My host mom was amazing and a great cook, but did not speak any English or chose not to and that definitely helped me try to speak it more. We did not eat together, she made us food and let our roommate and I eat together, but I was hoping that I would have that experience with my host mom. I feel like if my roommate and I had spoken more Italian it would have helped a lot, so I do not feel that I got as close to my host mom as I could have or would have liked to because of that language barrier. But the apartment was great and I am so happy I chose a host family to stay with. My walk to school was also incredible and it was so nice to be so close compared to other students who lived in apartments and had quite a journey on the bus every morning! |
| * Food: |
Very helpful! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
INCREDIBLE! Travel. Explore. Have fun and hang out with as many different people in your program that you can because it is the best part of the entire experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Rome and my home stay was in a good area so I felt comfortable walking back and forth between the center and my apartment. Of course in any big city you have to be careful, especially at night, but IES did a good job of adressing what to look out for and be aware of. The biggest concern was more pettty crimes like pick pockets. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | My home stay saved me a lot of money! Though for lunch I spent about 3-4 euros for the most amazing sandwiches every day. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Traveling is very expensive, although it is so much easier and cheaper to get places than in America, there are so many places that you want to go that the little in between train fares and public transportation in other areas adds up quickly! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had a homestay mom that really helped me improve my Italian and forced me to use it even when I wasn't quite comfortable speaking it yet. With my classmates I spoke English, but I definitely had a lot of opportunities to speak Italian at lunch or on the bus, etc. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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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? | Be outgoing, explore your city, travel, and enjoy every minute. It goes by fast! |
