Florence, Italy Past Review
By Erin M (Apparel and Textiles., Illinois State University) for
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
I think students who travel abroad gain far more perspective and independence than students who don't.
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. |
The teaching methods are pretty different compared to the U.S., in my opinion. Although the basic structure is the same (i.e. grading scale, scheduling, etc.) the format might be difficult for those who rely on frequent testing and quizzes to aid them. The majority of my classes only had a midterm and a final, and what we retained during those exams was our responsibility to recall. So, this once again relates back to time management skills and organizational aspects in the student's daily life. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I'm generally pleased with administration of my program during my time abroad. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I'm sure many other students feel the same way as I do regarding Internet quality. Don't be surprised if you find that the quality of Wi-fi or any other technological connections in or around your housing is not working properly. It's something I became used to, and found to be of little significance compared to what I could have been doing besides being on the Internet. |
| * Food: |
Don't make it a habit to buy what is conveniently located around where you live. There are markets that are cost effective and very abundant that might seem far away since you're walking, but it's worth it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every trip I went on was a memorable experience that I'm eternally grateful for and cannot say anything but good things about. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
General precaution for any situation should be taken seriously, especially if the student has not lived on his or her's own prior to studying abroad. |
| 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? | Per week, I would try to budget myself to 20-30 euro for food, which might seem expensive, but everything in Italy is expensive. Then again, I bought what was conveniently located around me, which I don't recommend, and others may spend significantly less than I did. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Trips and traveling is the most costly, but if you enjoy going out with friends to pubs and clubs, what have you, most of your money may be going there. I recommend limiting yourself on bar experiences and focusing on traveling experiences instead. Bars will always be there, the opportunity to see other countries will not. |
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. I had only taken 2 years of French in High School. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Students attending LdM were required to take an Italian Language course, and courses were offered at different levels. Classes are taught in English, obviously, but it's absolutely necessary to take an Italian Language course if one plans on being self sufficient in everyday life in Florence. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | It's fine to keep in touch with family and friends back home regularly, but don't make it a habit to consume your everyday life abroad with it. A little detachment will benefit you in the long run. |
