Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

La Bellissima Città - Firenze Past Review

By (Computer Information Systems, Bentley University) - abroad from 02/01/2013 to 05/18/2013 with

Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I matured, opened up, and really learned a lot about myself while abroad. Going to a completely different place and culture is shocking, scary, and unpredictable and how you respond, react and learn is an amazing experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very strict regulations for no reason. (cannot make more than one change to schedule, attendance policy RIGID and a bit unfair)

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

homestay was the best decision of my life. Grassellini/Tosi family = THE BEST. Literally acted like my parents and loved me liketheir child

* Food:

.. it's Italy.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Homestay REALLY helps you feel like you are IN the culture... however, many native Italians no longer live IN Florence because of the tourism, but teachers are really nice and teach you about the culture and you can explore the outskirts to get more of a feel for local Italian cuture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

didn't have any experience.

* Safety:

never felt threatened and I lived a 15 minute walk outside of the city center and walked home every night. Theft is always an issue but I have never seen/heard/experienced a violent act of theft

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)

extremely easy because homestay provides breakfast and dinner throughout the week and depending on where you go you can get a VERY good meal for cheap (il gato e la volpe, antico noe, antico vinao, etc.) a huge panini can be 3.50 euro

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? get a lot of moeny out of the ATM at once so you dont have to pay the ATM fee a lot. there is an exchange fee/foreign tax fee for a lot of things i suggest using cash, but then you have to worry about where to keep/hide it.

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

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? none for the language of the host country (Italian)- i took elementary II Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? SPEAK IT! LISTEN! STUDY!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • HOST FAMILY
  • FOOD
  • TRAVELLING
* What could be improved?
  • The school that we went to (so many other international school where we could go through like Syracuse or NYU)
  • Host family screening process (it's scarey not knowing ANYTHING about the host family you are placed with until hours before you ahve to meet them)
  • give the opportunity to NOT live in a host family (although i am a HUGE advocate.. some people will avoid this program and city BECAUSE of this-- but Rome and Tuscania don't require it.....)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how quickly the time would pass - DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED! Explore everything and be moving all the time

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'