Go to Rome Past Review
By lavinrac (Literature, University of Iowa) - abroad from 01/10/2013 to 05/03/2013 with
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I wish I had gone to a school that integrated students into the community, instead of giving them America-in-Italy. Very few students getting their bachelors at JCU are Italian, so there isn't much opportunity to befriend locals. There are other, much better organized schools in Rome to study at. Pick a different one.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes are oriented for the study abroad kids. They are not at all intensive, and require little outside work. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The faculty and staff were disinterested at best and outright rude at worst. No one was very helpful, and the local staff was rude to those of us who were from overseas. It was clear that the study abroad students were not members of the JCU community. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The viale Trastevere apartments are a half-hour walk from campus, which I didn't mind. The rules are extremely lax, and the RAs never ask any questions. Apparently this is not the case in the residence closer to campus. |
| * Food: |
The food in the cafeteria is horrific. You'd think that in Italy, they could at least get the food together, but you would be wrong. I highly encourage skipping the meal plan and buying your own food. It's cheaper and infinitely better. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You pick up on things quickly. JCU doesn't work with students on integration and culture shock, that's your job. It's not that hard to find your way around, but it can be difficult the first week or two. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health problems, and getting a physical (required for any on-campus sports and activities) cost 20e but the doctor was brought onto campus. They didn't tell us anything about hospitals, but gave us the emergency phone number and told us to tell the school if we got into trouble. |
| * Safety: |
People (ie: men) aren't as abrasive as the news would like us to think they are. If you're out drunk, you'll get hassled, but I've never felt in danger walking around. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Rome is relatively expensive, but if you play things right and shop cheaply, you'll be fine. I traveled out of rome half the weekends, so I saved during the week to travel more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 175e |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There are cheap grocery stores, but the open-air markets are cheap too. Have fun making your own food - the cafeteria food is horrible, but the local produce is amazing. I could easily cook myself a really nice dinner for 15e and still have food for leftovers. |
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 |
Italian was optional, and I optioned out. All classes are in English, and no one asks you to speak any italian on campus, ever. I recommend picking up a guidebook and teaching yourself down phrases. The locals in town are helpful and patient. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Elementary Italian |
| 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? | Take a class at your home school, but don't worry too much about it at JCU. Again, you don't have to know any italian, and usually the language classes are Tueaday/Thursday, but there are no Friday classes, so don't take a language class and have a four-day weekend! |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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 had known how little value study abroad students hold to JCU. We're there to pay tuition, not to get an education about Rome or anything else. |
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.' |
