Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Italy is great when you don't have COVID October 10, 2022

By (Literature, Berea College) - abroad from 05/26/2022 to 06/23/2022 with

KIIS: Italy - Experience Italy, Summer Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Any travel is worth while especially internationally because you gain a new perspective of the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Berea Staff were amazing like always, however the other university's staff were troublesome.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

This was difficult when in quarantine

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There is only so much integration you can be exposed to when studying in a group.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

After contacting Covid, I expected the program director to be more prepared especially after they reassured us they had countless meetings on the issue. I disagree with their preparedness.

* Safety:

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

I would like to visit Italy again, but I did not enjoy traveling in such a large group and because of Covid, I had some issues with the KIIS professors. (not including Berea's staff who were great)

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)

Having won the Gilman I was okay financially

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? roughly 100-140. That's if eating only lunch or only dinner.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* 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?
  • Feeling of Safety
  • Not having to plan the fine details
* What could be improved?
  • Staff preparedness for emergencies
  • Community engagement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not sure, maybe that I have a low tolerance anymore for disrespect from authority.

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 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.