I WILL NEVER HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE!!! Past Review
By Luke Z (Sport and Fitness Administration/Management., University of Missouri - Columbia) - abroad from 06/02/2013 to 07/13/2013 with
SAI Study Abroad: Florence - Florence University of the Arts (FUA)
I gained international knowledge on every level of life (education, culture, attitude). I also discovered myself in a light that wouldn't have been shed on me had I not taken the opportunity. I made international friends, and friends from my school that I would never have hung out with if we weren't forced together by some miracle of budgeting and decisiveness.
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. |
The education was the experience. I can't explain it, all I can do is promote it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone was friendly and spoke my language. They were always available when we needed them and they have buildings all throughout the city. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The lack of technology was almost a blessing. The beds were small, the showers were tiny, the smell and sounds of the fratelli's around you were ever-present, but that's all part of the experience. I could've lived in a dumpster and had the time of my life! |
| * Food: |
Come on... It's Florence, Italy |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I learned basic Italian before my trip to Florence, and I made it a goal of mine to have an entire conversation with an Italian that would have no idea I was American. That experience came during our last week when I met a couple outside of a bar and spoke to them about the city and work and the wonders of Italy for nearly fifteen minutes in pure Italian. That was one of the five-million-billion highlights of my trip. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was very easily accessible and communication was expedited through school-issued cell phones. |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $125 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of loan access and APPLY APPLY APPLY for grants. There are several thousand available (layman's terms, I can't verify that) and they are easy to find. Put the work in now and you will get so much more out of the experience later. |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Rosetta Stone Italian: Unit 3 |
| 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? | Rosetta Stone/ books/ the interwebs... |
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? | Anybody attending a college that offers this program can do it. I had so many questions and perceived issues going into it, but I knew that I wanted to do it so I found a way to resolve those issues. Anything you think might be a problem is only an opportunity to become more prepared. Anyone can do this, and everyone that does will be better for it. |
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. |
