Italy is Incredible Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/16/2012 to 07/14/2012 with
Rome Institute of Liberal Arts: Rome - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was definitely worthwhile. Any trip abroad is worthwhile and educational. I gained a much better understanding of what it meant to be Italian.
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. |
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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? |
Bed bugs. |
| * Food: |
They didn't feed us specifically. All food was bought on our own. The food in general in Italy is excellent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
No real attempts to help us meet Italians. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Cream was purchased for the bites, which was good of them. |
| * Safety: |
Italy is really safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 500 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Watch out for tourist trap restaurants. You'll pay less and enjoy the food ten times more if you eat at local restaurants. |
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 |
I didn't take the language part myself. I'd imagine it was good though. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | ITL 328 |
| 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? | Actually try. Don't let people you're talking to switch into English. And don't be afraid to ask them to repeat something. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | Be prepared to fight a lot to make friends with the St. John's students. And also expect to be completely shocked by their classes. It's different. |
