Florence, A Great Place for Anyone Past Review

By Kayla D (Sociology; Communications, Austin College) for

ISA Study Abroad in Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

This study abroad experience brought out the best in me. As corny as that is. It opened my eyes to things I had never chose to focus on. Volunteering abroad also allowed me to be more grateful.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The course load was manageable, however some classes were not a good investment of time. In those I didn't feel like I was learning anything. The grading is very fair. Classes that were solely lectures is not something I was accustomed to. Most professors did want students to do well and enjoy the class.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The staff prior to my departure were very helpful. If the people in Austin (ISA US office) had not worked with me I would not have been able to go abroad. They were the most supportive. Once arriving in Italy I saw right away that the staff were good people. They are patient and try to assist everyone. They were always positive and easier to speak with.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:	The food prepared at home was some of the most delicious food I have every eaten. I did not know what Italian food was until an Italian mother cooked it for me. By being open minded I ate and eventually acquired a taste for things I had never had before.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	All the excursions ISA offered were enjoyable. Siena was my favorite. It had so much history and I was able to take very good photographs.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt safer in Florence than I do at home. The night life is very active. There are many tourist attractions in the center that allow a sense of security when having to travel on your own. Once you know where the Duomo is you can go anywhere.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	I would say no more than 40 Euros. It depended on how frequently I needed to eat out.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	You should look at whatever sum is in front of you and double it. This price is closer to what you are actually spending. This does not mean you should be afraid to spend money. Just be aware that you are paying more than it may seem. Also get as much money as you can at the ATM during to maximize your dollar and cut back on additional fees.

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?	My host mother. Despite our cultural barriers we were able to practice both English and Italian. I don't know what I would have done had she not been there. She was a great help in helping me acquire some confidence in Italian. I practiced every chance I could. Sadly if Italians see you struggle some of them will not be patient enough to let you try.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	People - Host mother, staff. etc. Involvement in community.
* What could be improved?	Communication.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Computer Graphics
Course Department:
Instructor:	Michela Peisih
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The challenging aspect of this course was communicating with the professor. She is a nice woman, but did not always connect with her students. It seemed like must of the students in this class had the same issue. I loved her enthusiasm and interest in the subject (Adobe Illustrator) but I don't feel that she taught me much about the software. We focused on developing a graphic system, which was great idea, however we did not learn much about the software you need to create this system.
Credit Transfer Issues: