Eye opening adventure Past Review
By Morgan Seawright (West Texas A&M University) - abroad from 01/02/2017 to 01/21/2017 with
ISA Study Abroad in Florence, Italy
Learned to be open and willing to learn. It was worth while because it made me appreciate a lot back home being in an unfamiliar place as well as make me want to travel again.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
ISA and FUA were very friendly and helpful |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved it except for loud neighbors |
| * Food: |
Easy to access grocery store and other restaurants |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
At times I felt like I fit in but others I didn't. Needed better language studies |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got really sick my last week and nothing at the drug store seemed to help until my last day. Make sure you read up on drug information to know what to get for which symptoms. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe pretty often, make sure you always lock your doors and make sure they're shut |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes and no. I would choose somewhere without a huge language barrier. But I met great friends and learned a lot and I would encourage anyone to go if they can. |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
I was good on some days and others were more expensive when traveling. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 200$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat at home more it's way cheaper, also prepare to have cash at all times. |
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 |
Use the language as much as possible. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | High school Spanish (3years) |
| 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 it in your every day life. |
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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| 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 knew general things such as norms and ways to blend in. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
