Florence, Italy: Study Abroad Past Review
By Ashley W (Business Marketing, Towson University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Florence, Italy
YES!!! because of this experience I want to look into work opportunities either with the government or in businesses that are based in foreign countries.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a lot in my classes but the best education experience I received was just by going out and speaking with people of different backgrounds and cultures from them I learned so much more about life than I could in any classroom setting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was a good size, They were always available to help answer questions or to just talk about anything and they scheduled a lot of great trips for us to go on. There really wasn't anything I thought they could have done better. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I don't have any dietary restrictions but as far as places to eat everywhere had amazing food some of my favorites were Gusta Pizza, Pino's Salami Verde, Gelateria di Neri. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The first trip to Cinque Terre was amazing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It was extremely safe. I go to school in Baltimore, MD back at home and compared to that I had absolutely no fears when walking around my host city. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Come up with a budget and stick to it! If you do that you will definitely have more money to spend at the end of your trip to eat at all the best restaurants and buy those little things you want to take back with you. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | Definitely take advantage of this opportunity because it truly is a once in a lifetime experience and go into it with an open mind and be excited to try things you have never done before because you will truly come out of this experience so much more enriched and happy than you did when you started. |
