Leave Tourist Italy Behind and Become a Local Past Review
By A student (International Relations and Affairs., Drake University) - abroad from 01/22/2014 to 05/02/2014 with
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
The SHC Italy Center was extremely worthwhile. I was able to make great lifetime friends, learn a culture and language, discover new skills that I learned, and gave me new perspectives on what I would like to do in the future. They also allowed me to have an internship that gave me professional skills that I'll use in the future.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The SHC Italy Center was well prepared. They worked with me one-on-one to make sure I got the most out of my experience. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with native students made me practice my language skills and make new friends all over the world. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like the SHC Italy Center really integrated me into the city of Bologna, and I felt at the end like a local. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The program had an American doctor that worked with the students if they had an issue. |
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| 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) |
Europe is more expensive, but Bologna was manageable. You can save money/get student discounts on many things. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 30-40 EUR |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get an ESN Erasmus card! It only costs €5 and it saves you a lot at clubs, gelato shops, restaurants, and more |
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 |
I was using Italian everyday to talk to friends, teachers, and locals. I also was enrolled in a speaking partner program where I was paired up with an Italian student and I talked to them in English and them to myself in Italian. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 052 |
| 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 every day! It's as easy as talking to locals and other students. Make friends that go to the University of Bologna and only use Italian. |
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? | Physically where I was going to have an internship and classes. I thought that I'd be in classes with other Italian students but it was with other Americans. It was good though because I was able to participate more in classes. |
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.' |
