A humbling and life changing experience that I'll never forget!! Past Review
By Natasha R (Art, Central Washington University) - abroad from 01/28/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I gained so much confidence in myself and a strong independence that I didn't know that I had. I learned so much about who I am because I had to depend on myself and learn how to navigate in a foreign country. Studying abroad in Italy was worth while because I experienced another culture and made international relationships. It was definitely worthwhile.
Review Photos
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. |
My overall education experience was great!! The institute provided great onsite resources and they the academics were both fun and challenging. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very helpful and provided lists of resources to help us students navigate and live in a new foreign country. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was really satisfied. I shared an apartment with 4 other students and there was plenty of space for privacy and study groups. The apartment had a charming old architecture located downtown. |
| * Food: |
Italian food has no preservatives and it was amazing to try new food from an authentic Italian culture. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Once I felt comfortable speaking Italian I blended in and felt more like a citizen than a tourist. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I quickly realized that some medications are not available in the host country that I stayed in but there were other available options that helped with my situation. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe walking down the main streets of Florence because there was always police patrolling the streets throughout the day. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 100 to 150 euros a week on food or necessities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | A lot of the ATMs in Italy charge fees plus my bank charged international fees everytime i used a "non-banking" ATM, so I would suggest for future students to get a international debit card of some sort or carry cash with you to avoid the high ATM fees. |
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 took an Italian language class and the professor encouraged us to practice speaking Italian on a daily basis with everyone including the people at the stores or at the markets that we went to. |
| 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? | intermediate spanish |
| 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? | I suggest practicing with your study abroad roommates or make a friend while staying in your host country to practice the language, it really helps. |
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 how the train system works in Italy before I went there; i missed the train a few times because it was difficult to understand the system. |
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. |
