Florence: I have always loved you and will be dreaming about you for the rest of my life. Past Review
By steven k (history, secondary education, Towson University) for
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
as a history major it was awesome to have the first half of class talking about history and the second part of class we would go to the place the history actually happened. that alone was worth the trip. but besides that every thing was pretty normal. I also really liked how most of our professors were native florentines and could always tell us little things here and there about italian culture. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
our apartment was kinda small. but i didn't mind it. the good thing i only had a room mate and another single so it was just the three of us so things weren't that hectic. but our apartment was right in the city center. right in between santa croce and piazza della signoria so couldn't really ask for a better location, especially since santa croce is the big bar area in florence. also as a history major i loved how i learned in class i lived on a very historical street of borgo dei greci. the street where all the greeks stayed during the great council of 1439. my only complaint was there was a wide variety of conditions of the apartments. some were alright than some were extremely nice. like my one friend's place was very modern and nicer than any apartment i've been in the u.s. and it over looked a court yard, while my other friends had an apartment where you had to start the stove with a lighter, but to tell the truth i kind of liked the older apartment better. |
| * Food: |
gusta pizza on the other side of the arno, right next to piazza santo spirito has the best pizza I have ever ate! i will have dreams about that pizza for the rest of my life. but gets a little crowded with college students by the end of the semester so make sure to go earlier before the word gets out about it. secret bakery is a good experience. these baker are only open in the early morning hours from like maybe 2:30 to 5 it could be a little earlier or later depending on what night. these a are fresh baked goods that are given to all cafes in florence for that morning. the one i know of is on the other side of red garder, an american bar that is one of the only places to watch the nfl on sundays. trust me you will know about sooner than later when you get there. volpe e gato, the fox and the cat or the other way around is a pretty good restaurant right behind the bargello. rare for florence has really good bread. also makes their own home made balsamic vineger is out of this world. also good deal is the family dinner or buffet i can't remember the name but its really nice. you have 4 course of italian classics you can split with all your friends so its really nice. also as all the guide books tell you always order the house red wine is alwasys very good and cheaper than water. warning you will become a kind of a wino when you get over in italy because its so good and so cheap. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
it opens your eyes to a new world and just how things are a little different in other parts. language was a big thing over in europe since everyone just speaks english in the us. also how everyone dress nice all the time over there. bella figure. also la dolve vita spirit |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
what every you can try not to go to an italian hospital. i've heard some bad stories. you think american doctor bills are bad, just imagine them in euros! but over all i always felt pretty same just be smart when you get over there. o ladies italian guys can be pretty creepy at times |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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? | no to much since i always ate my own pasta. but if you eat out all the time it will definitely put a hurting on ur wallet |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
teacher. class was kinda easy. i could of had a conversation partner if i wanted but when your over there you can get kinda busy trying to experiance everything and i thought i didn't have time for it. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | have an even balance of staying and learning about your host city and traveling to other places. some people seem to do an over load on each side of these areas. learn as much as you can. you can sleep when you get back to the states! also i always having family dinners over someone's apartment assigned for one night of the weeks was also something i will always remember about my experience. don't be afraid to travel in europe by urself if you have to, its pretty fun if you have to. also a majority of ur experience over there is not the places you go, but the people you meet along the way. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Rise and Fall of the Medici |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Romana Preissler |
| Instruction Language: | english |
| Comments: | AS A BIG follower OF Medici history I enjoyed this greatly. the funny thing about this course is the professor was russian so normally i thought it was a little odd at first, but she was very knowledgeable and would try anything to help you with course work or to help you better understand the subject.So i thought she was a good professor. I also took a lot a few other courses that would take you on sight visits around florence, but if it was not for this course I would of never seen or even known about some of the greatest places in florence. Some of the site visits included convent of san marco, basilica of san lorenzo, palazzo medici/medici chapel!, new sacristy/ chapel of princes!, and the vasari corridor ! Also learned a lot of new stuff i would other wise never know about the medici. this was probably my favorite class and a must for any lover of renaissance history. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | this was pass fail for me so not really. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian renaissance: life style and culture |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Marcello Bellini |
| Instruction Language: | english |
| Comments: | no denying the professor makes this course. the best way to learn renaissance history is with marcello. the man patriotically knows everything there is to know about this subject because he has been surrounded by it his whole life and is probably one of the funniest people you will ever meet. for an older italian man he never ceases to relate to his young mostly american audience. every other lecture tries to relate something to lady gaga. most of the site visits are pretty cool stopping by most of the essential parts of florence and every step of the way marcello has another story for you. on the way he can tell you more info than the book every could since he has lived in florence all his life. no joke one time coming out of the church of santa trinita. he shook some strangers hand and afterwards he was like, " o yeah guys by the way that was the formal coach of fiorentina". marcello is the man and will probably go down as my favorite professor in college. the only bad thing I have to say about this course is i thought we would look more at a majority of the italian states during the period of the Renaissance, but marcello mostly focuses on florence most of the time and some of the main figures of the renaissance that lived outside of florence. it wasn't until the last class that he took time to talk about other major italian city states including venice and milan. but at least he never tested us on this info since it was so close to the exam. so if you want a very enjoyable course about florence. try every thing you can to sign up with a class with marcello. I don't know if its possible to have a better professor during study abroad than this man! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
