Learning about Florence as a city of religion and art history July 31, 2025
By A student (Environmental Studies, Sarah Lawrence College) - abroad from 02/07/2025 to 05/16/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence
Even when I was having a hard time, I was in Florence! It was easy to have things to do on my own, and I would encourage other abroad students to do that more. I also learned more about the impact of American tourism in Europe and the European perceptions of Americans (and the truths there).
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All of the instructors we had were wonderful, but the program was not very rigorous for Italian Beginners like myself. The instructors were wonderful, but it felt like Americans entered the beginning language program expecting their abroad experience to be focused on travel and partying (not me!). I was left with little homework and a lot of free time, which was nice, but I felt like I could have maximized my education there more. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Middlebury Study Abroad office was very helpful and supportive of my difficult visa process. |
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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? |
Fault of the location rather than the program. Florence has a large American study-abroad presence, so integration into the host culture not as easy (or desirable to Italians). However, learning Italian through the program and living in a homestay are huge helps. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Free healthcare! |
| * Safety: |
Night/clubbing culture is not as extreme as other cities in Europe and was largely safe, but sticking together as a group while going out is important. |
| 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 spent way more money in Florence than I normally do at home because I was cooking for myself. At school, this normally adds into tuition. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100-150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Many students do trips around Europe, but it can be just as valuable (and way less expensive) to put your time into getting to know your own city! |
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? | None |
| 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? | Use your language, even if it's awkward! |
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? | The social life of the program is small, and I wish I put more energy into making Italian friends outside of the program earlier. |
