Disappointed Past Review

By (University of San Francisco) - abroad from 01/13/3018 to 04/26/2018 with

Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I am resilient and even though I wanted to leave/ probably should have for, I didn't and survived! It was not really worthwhile though, would not redo.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Half of my classes were amazing and the other half were an academic waste of time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Dorm style, rooms were ok, but the building in general was uncomfortable. There is an ok gym. The kitchen area was fairly disgusting.

* Food:

The food was terrible (we are in Italy!) and as a vegetarian who is environmentally conscious I could eat almost nothing. It was almost all wrapped in plastic and not fresh, the hot bar section was subpar pastas and overcooked veggies.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

With the program, just a little. The only realy intagration was that I had a speaking partner. But I already spoke some italian and that really helped- otherwise I would have felt very isolated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got seriously injured during one of the school trips and not really any attention from SHC staff. The doctors later said I should have gone to the ER immediately.

* Safety:

No incidents happened to me, though men were very aggressive and I was followed a few times and catcalled everyday on my way to class.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I didnt eat the cafe food at school so I speat about $70 on food.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
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? I had 4 semesters of language.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Greece trip
  • Globalization class
* What could be improved?
  • Dorm location
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The climate of Bologna, credits were less than my home university, shitty food in dorm,

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The 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.