Sicily: The Most Beautiful Place on Earth Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was well balanced and i really enjoyed the classes that were taught. My teachers were interesting and extremely knowledgable. I feel like i learned a lot in the classroom, but also had time to learn about Sicilian culture outside of the classroom as well.

On-site administration of your program

The SAI program had monthly coffee meetings where we discussed our feelings about study abroad. The SAI coordinator had an office in the school so I always knew i could ask for help if i needed it. I would have preferred that the program size would have been larger. There were only 3 other students besides myself in the program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved being able to live in an apartment. It made me feel like I was apart of the neighorbood. I had sicilian neighbors and I loved hanging my laundry outside to dry and seeing my neighbors on the other balcony hearing them tell me a friendly "ciao".

I loved meeting up with people and eating at Castillo Fiorentina (I'm pretty sure that was its name). I am shocked that I didn't gain 100 lbs. The food in Sicily is delicious! My dietary advice would be that eating a canolo might be the best feeling in the world, but a person shouldn't eat it everyday. It couldn't possibly be healthy. It tastes too beautiful. I miss it.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was especially frustrating to get sick in Sicily because it was not as easy to get medicine. I am use to getting cold-medicine from a convinient store if I feel sick. That is not how things are done there. You have to go to a doctor and get medicine from a pharmacy. I suggest that someone should bring simple medications like advil or allergy medicine with them because they wont be available (or easily accessible) over seas. As for safety, I felt equvalenty safe walking home at night in Ortigia as I do when walking in West Campus in Austin. Use practical precautions and be careful of the men that will try to harass you (if you are a girl).

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Most locals did not speak english (at least not very well) so it was necessary to speak Italian in everday interactions such as grocery shopping or ordering coffee. These interactions were when I learned the most Italian. There were about 30 other Americans I studied with so it was easy to fall back on speaking english when we were around each other. I liked that there were other Americans at my school, but I know that I would have learned way more Italian if I had at least lived with a host family.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans