LDM: Florence - Time of my life! Past Review
By Kristina E (FCS Education, Illinois State University) for
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
Amazing! I learned so much about different cultures and broadened my views of the world.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Workload was manageable and beneficial to my success abroad. It was never busy-work, which was great. I felt that the papers I would write at home really were important to the class. The grading system was of high standards and it helped to push myself because I know the bar was set high. Differences in educational systems were the opportunities for class trips to museums that schools in America just don't have. Take a spur the moment trip around Florence to go to the market for a foods class is definitely unique. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Great program. Very helpful in every way. All of the counselors at LDM are extremely helpful with anything. My expectations were exceeded! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Apartment came fully furnished with everything you could/would need. Wonderful. Clean, newly renovated, and in the city center. |
| * Food: |
Grocery stores were everywhere, as well as markets. Quality/quantity food on every corner. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Two weekend field trips arranged by ISU through LDM. Wonderful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe. No experience with healthcare but I had friends and they said it was easy. LDM was very helpful. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 300 euro - i traveled every weekend to different countries |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Remember you pay for books, BRING school supplies, paying for the permit of stay, lab fees (foods lab was 110 euro and others were 50 or so) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
My Italian class helped me to better understand the language. I found that while in Florence, whenever I tried to speak Italian someone would speak English right back. This made it difficult to learn to speak it but I found to understand a lot. All LDM faculty spoke English, so that helped a lot. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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 did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't hold back and do NOT be stressed about money. Travel, travel, travel. If you are freaked out if you are on student loans, don't be (I was on them too). Always have in the back of your mind, "what is the next time I will get to do this?" and say, "fine, I'll go to Paris for the weekend for 200 euro!" Because in the scheme of things, 200 euro for a trip like that is unbeatable. |
