BITTERSWEET! Past Review
By Kelsey K (Studio Art: Glass, Illinois State University) - abroad from 08/27/2012 to 12/15/2012 with
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
The more i traveled, the more i realized how different America is from Europe....it's so uptight and everything has to be planned out and we're in a huge rush. Europeans take time to smell the beautiful flowers and embrace the one-day-at-a-time lifestyle and just live/work to enjoy life. SO worthwhile, and definitely one of the best decisions i've made. i learned a lot about the world and a lot about myself, i've grown in a way that wouldn't be possible if i stayed in the US. i tried my best to live like a local, and i think i did a pretty darn good job of it too! i became more responsible and independent. i also got closer to my mom and dad via skype...the first few times were hilarious because we were both trying to figure out how to work it for the entire call, i communicated with them more than i did when i was in the same state as them! I am a lot closer to my family, and ive shared experiences with new friends that i would trade for anything. my experience was priceless and one of a kind, and i know i will see more of the world as soon as i am able to. I'm addicted to traveling and I refuse to find a cure.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My classes were great! I learned a lot of interesting stuff and I enjoyed the different environment, it was definitely a change of pace. The only thing I didn't like was how the professors prepared for exams, the format was different, and sometimes it was difficult to fully understand what we needed to know because they look at school differently that Americans do (obviously), but I found myself studying the wrong material and focusing on topics that weren't on the exam. So just try your best to completely understand what your professor is expecting and wants you to know. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I LOVED my apartment! and I loved all the furniture that wan't from IKEA haha. We had an amazing view of the Florence cathedral and baptistry and we lived above this fantastic restaurant with very friendly waiters. my apartment was definitely one of my favorite parts of studying abroad and it was so convienent for ISU to take care of all of that. I talked to some people who had to find a place to live once they got here!! that would have been a pain in the behind! |
| * Food: |
Fantastico!!! io ho mangiato il buon cibo sempre!!! (i always ate good food) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Florence is pretty touristy, but that doesn't mean that i could go a day without seeing something completely different from what I was used to seeing. Usually funny, crazy, strange, or interesting...only a few times did I experience their culture in a negative way. Such as the way that customer service is not always their priority or the fact that smiling back to a stranger means you want to not be strangers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
When I was in a large group, I never felt threatened, however, when i was out alone, whether it was walking to a friends apartment or going for a run, i tended to feel a little nervous because of the fact that I was in a completely different culture on a continent that was on the other side of the globe! |
| 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) |
Ehhh....it depends on the kind of person you are and how much self control you have. I bought presents for a lot of people and tried to go on a lot of trips to see other parts of Europe. Trips cost a lot, but the most expensive part is your plane ticket to Europe...so i took advantage of already being near the other countries i wanted to visit, and i DO NOT regret the money i spent on that. I would have gone into debt to visit one more place...but i decided i should have some self control....i regret that ;) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ROUGH ESTIMATE: spent between 50-100/week on food. and an average of 1500 on weekend trips and 1000 altogether on my fall break trip |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | PLAN YOUR EXPENSES!!!! Don't be silly!!! The Euro may look like monopoly money, but *newsflash* IT ISN'T! sometimes i found myself spending money carelessly b/c i felt like i was on vacation and in lala land! If you figure out how much money you can spend each month/week/day, then your life will be much easier and less stressful. And you won't screw yourself over in the end. Make sure you have CASH to take a cab to the airport!! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Highly encouraged...you're silly if you don't try! |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 2 years and 3 weeks of French |
| 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? | Throw yourself into situations where you HAVE to speak the language. listen to podcats, watch movies, rosetta stone if you're baller enough to afford it. check out stuff at the library-i rented a bunch of movies FOR FREE. i wish i would have practiced more before i left the US, it would have benefitted me a lot...just a little each day can make a huge difference! |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | mosquitos are hardcore there, bring bug spray!!!! tampons are about $7 for a box of 20...either budget that or bring your own!! camouflage is highly fashionable there...not sure why...but it is. i wish i would have planned trips before i left, in order to get cheaper flights and whatnot-i thought it would be better to wait for other people to plan trips, but i would have travelled alone w/o a problem if i had to, people can always tag along, but it's convenient to have everything all planned out. not a whole lot of nature in Florence...it was kind of upsetting to me because i love being surrounded by trees, bushes, flowers, grass...any plant life really. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
