The Best Semester of My Life Past Review

By (University of Mississippi) - abroad from 01/22/2018 to 05/10/2018 with

SAI Study Abroad: Florence - Florence University of the Arts (FUA)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so many things! Its hard to put into words the experiences I had and I wouldn't trade that semester for the world. I learned that I am truly capable of living on my own and traveling on my own and I learned so many new things about myself as a person!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I broke my foot while abroad and the SAI office was as helpful as they could have been!

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

SAI made me feel safe and at home while across the globe from my family and friends. They had organized events to help imerse us within the culture and were always there to help if we ever needed it.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around $100 a week

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

I didn't take an actual language course while abroad, but it was still very easy to pick up on key terms.

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? high school level
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • the school
  • the people working in SAI
  • the events and travel excursions that were available
* What could be improved?
  • pre-departure gatherings
  • suggested phone plan
  • meal plan
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that everything was going to work out just fine so that I wouldn't have worried so much going into the semester.