Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura che la diritta via era smarrita Past Review
By Anthony S (Art History, San Jose State University) for
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Yes, yes, and yes. It made me a better person and showed me just how subjective reality, truth, and the universe is.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universita' degli Studi di Firenze |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Italians retain information for more than a semester, and are expected to understand on a day to day basis. Work at CSU Firenze was average, but work at the Universita' was serious. Oral exam. You and the teacher. No banal multiple choice tests, no subjective essays. Just you and what you know. Courage. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Humble, welcoming, compassionate people that will never get enough recognition for the hard jobs they work each and every day. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loud neighborhood right in the center of the city, luckily our windows were thick. I was rarely home, as the city and country have a lot to offer. Slept well, prepared meals, and mostly used the bathroom. |
| * Food: |
2 free meals a week via a very informal language exchange. Past is 39 euro cents. A kilo. Boil some water and you can eat for a week. Fresh food at the market, veggies, I lost 25 pounds in 9 months eating and walking all that I could. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
6 globes. It's something that should be experienced, not explained. If you haven't been abroad yet, you're in the wrong profession. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
One of the safest city's in Europe with free health care. I had no problems. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
It's up to the students to be motivated. Teachers can help, but they don't have the final say. Unfortunately Americans in Firenze live up to the stereotype year after year: loud, drunk, obnoxious, ignorant, arrogant, selfish college students. If we're going to start somewhere, let's start first at home. With education. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Every and all. It's easier than you think. Buy a one-way ticket and come back when you're ready. |
