The Most Amazing Experience Of My Entire Life Past Review
By sara.dalan (Elementary Education, Illinois State University) - abroad from 01/30/2014 to 05/16/2014 with
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
I learned SO many things about myself, about the world around me, and about others. It was SO worthwhile and I would never trade my experience for anything in the entire universe.
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. |
I wish I had learned more Italian in my Italian class because that would have really helped me in my day-to-day living. Other than that, I think the amount of course work meshed very well with my nomadic lifestyle over the semester! |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
I think I lived on about 50 euro a week or less (not including extra travel). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 50 euro a week on food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I worked 3 jobs the summer before I left for Italy! It was a busy and tiring summer, but I am telling you, it is SO worth it. All of that extra money I saved up went towards some awesome weekend trips to places like Paris, Barcelona and Croatia - all things that I will never forget! |
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 |
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| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had knowledge in Spanish, but none in Italian! |
| 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? | I would say, definitely try and learn a little bit of the basics before studying abroad. I wish I had done that because I would have felt more connected to the Italian culture. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? |
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? | This time will fly by, so appreciate every single moment, even the not so good ones! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
