Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Fun times in a lovely city! Past Review

By (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., University of the Pacific) - abroad from 08/29/2012 to 12/14/2012 with

Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
You get out what you put in. If you want to really learn the Italian language and culture, you have to go and find your own ways to do so because the school will only provide so much. Studying abroad really helps you to grow and you can learn so much about yourself and your own culture while being immersed in an entirely different one! Overall, it was an amazing experience!

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.

Compared to my home institution, the classes offered were much easier. However, I found the style of teaching to be very helpful and fitting for the courses because we would go out and see/examine the very things we would learn in class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

My advisor, Sabina, was very helpful and willing to offer advice, suggestions, or just listen whenever I had a question, etc. Overall, I think the administrative staff helped make my study abroad experience flow much more smoothly!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was great and centrally located. But the housing varied from person to person despite each one of us having to pay the same housing fees. I also did not like how late they provided the housing information to us (one week before the semester started). The housing staff also grouped students from the same programs and ethnic backgrounds together, which made it difficult for social and cultural integration.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There was almost no social and cultural integration available through the school for beginning Italian students. There were some events where you could learn more about the Italian culture (food, gelato, etc.) but social integration (conversational exchange) with other Italians was almost nonexistent for beginner Italian students. If you want to integrate with the local culture, most of it have to be done on your own.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

Florence is a very safe city if you have common sense. Some issues with pick-pockets/theft but just don't carry too many valuables with you.

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

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)

Grocery shopping and making my own food made it easier to live on a student's budget. If you like to eat out a lot, it is much harder to live on a student's budget as the cost of food here can be expensive due to the large tourist attractions.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100-$200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy and make your own food. If you enjoy eating out, eat at trattorias rather than restaurants. If you enjoy drinking, go out for aperitivo (5-10 Euros for a drink and free finger foods).

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

You learn a lot in class but outside of class, especially in such a touristy city like Florence, it was difficult to find locals who could practice speaking Italian with me because their English was far better than my Italian.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Become a local at a place and practice ordering foods, etc. in Italian. Join conversational tandems/exchanges or find Erasmus programs and become friends with other Europeans or Italian locals. Full immersion is the best way to learn the language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* 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?
  • People
  • Teaching style
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural integration amongst Italians
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more about the city that I would be studying in. I love Florence but it was difficult to fully immerse myself into the Italian culture because there are so many American students studying abroad here.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!