Gelato, pasta, art, and amazing people. AKA The best three months of my life. Past Review
By katie.francom.1 (English Teaching, Brigham Young University) - abroad from 08/28/2012 to 11/20/2012 with
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
What didn't I gain? I gained a greater sense of independence and confidence. I learned to love Italian culture so much. I also gained a great appreciation of art. I also learned how much more important quality is than quantity. For me the biggest thing was learning to appreciate the little things. In Italy you really slow down and enjoy things. You learn to savor every flavor note in a dish of pasta. You learn to admire the cobblestones as you walk over them. You learn to look at the view of the countryside. You learn to savor your relationships with people, even if they are small. I could go on and on. My time in Italy was incredible. It was truly something that will shape my life. 100% worthwhile. Go!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were actually very intense. There wasn't too much work, but the grading was very difficult. However, I did learn a lot about art and Italian. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host parents were absolutely fantastic. I came to genuinely love them. They were so kind and always willing to help. |
| * Food: |
Beyond belief. Every meal was knock out. I gained 20 pounds. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I went to a lot of cultural events and was really able to get a good feel of the community. However, I did not have many personal friends within community that were not members of my study abroad group. In retrospect I should have socialized more with the locals. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Siena is one of the safest cities in Italy. I felt totally safe. I walked home with my roommate past midnight several times and there was always still plenty of people around. The only safety concern was pick pocketing and even that was at a minimum. |
| 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) |
My weekly living costs were very minimal. It was easy to eat cheaply and the school provided a bus pass. The only other cost was laundry and that only cost 5 euros every few weeks. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30. That doesn't include spending money for clothes and souvenirs. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop at the grocery store for lunch. Either the Conad or the Consorzio. They have cheap food and it's pretty good. You don't need luxury lunches when your host family is making the most incredible dinners. |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Italian 202 |
| 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? | Speak to your roommate and friends in Italian. I only ever spoke to Italians in Italian, but I think my language skills would have improved more if I had spoken with my friends. |
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 would have known how fast it would go. I should have made sure that I did something interesting everyday. I should have traveled around more. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
