Firenze: La Bella Vita Past Review
By Lena P (Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management., SUNY Purchase) for
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
So far, best experience of my life. I would have never had the chance to travel as much as I did if I didn't go abroad.
Personal Information
| 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. |
There was more work but it was definitely worth it since I feel that I learned a lot, possibly even more than back home.The biggest and best difference between my abroad learning experience and back at Purchase was the class size. The lectures were very individualized and the teacher always wanted to hear your voice. You definitely couldn't slack off in these classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The teachers and staff were very passionate about their jobs and at the same time were relaxed because they're Italian (of course!). The library was such a let down. I took for granted how easy it was to simply go to the library and print out anything. Abroad I had to go through a middle man and walk to several places to get a paper printed. Also, you had to pay a 20 euro deposit to take out books. The reading room was always noisy and there was no "cozy" place to study. Bummer. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Roommates were at times different to live with (I lived with seven other girls). Some of the appliances fell apart towards the end of our stay. No screens in the windows so bugs were a HUGE problem in the warmer months. |
| * Food: |
ITALY= Best food ever. Try your best to go to local places and avoid touristy restaurants. They are a waste of money and time. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The field trips were amazing. You got to learn a lot about tradition. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Keep an eye on your purse. Don't get too out of control. Always have a buddy with you. Be careful of foreign men. |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my peers and the locals. Most people spoke English though. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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