The Best Decision of My Life!!!! January 30, 2026
By Elisabeth G (Journalism, Belmont University) - abroad from 01/20/2025 to 05/10/2025 with
SAI Study Abroad: Florence - Florence University of the Arts (FUA)
By studying abroad I gained so much confidence that I knew I had in me but hadn't unlocked yet. I studied the Italian language, and am proud of how much I learned. I took a class on the Italian-American Experience where I learned about Italian history, the immigration process, did a research project on my family's immigration from Italy to the United States and found supporting documents along the way. Each member of the SAI on-site staff was wonderful and so helpful! All of the FUA professors were passionate about what they taught, new me by name and were so accommodating and kind! Florence is a wonderful and beautiful city that I would love to visit again. I am very thankful for my time there and highly recommend studying abroad with SAI.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site SAI staff was so kind and always there if you need them. I enjoyed getting to know some of them as I would attend different events they hosted like a day drip to San Gimignano, cooking class, pizza making, made a leather wallet, local food tour, gold foiling class, and much more! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a wonderful housing accommodation, an apartment within the city center of Florence and in good walking distance to all FUA buildings. |
| * Food: |
Delicious! I miss the food everyday, and the gelato of course! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
At Florence University of the Arts, has an Italian Family Club. Where if selected you get matched with a local Firenze family and can spend weekly time with them. I was matched with a wonderful family who showed me what their daily life looked like. They invited me to their home for dinners, taught me how to make carbonara, took me to both of their Nonna's houses, showed me around the area they lived in, and invited me to spend Easter with them. They helped me practice my Italian and were so encouraging. Nonna Lucia was the first to tell me that the new Pope was American. She was so excited to share the news with me and talk to me about this. |
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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) |
Eating and living in Florence as a student I found very affordable. I had a personal budget that I stuck too and also really enjoyed my time. Lots of the museums have student ticket prices which really helps as well. I also would grocery shop and make meals in my apartment too. But once you are there, you will find a system/schedule that works for you! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Always try to speak in Italian the best you can when you are out. Practicing is the best way to learn! |
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? | While being in Europe it is very easy and reasonably affordable to travel to other countries for trips. I do recommend if you are able, to travel around. However, please make sure you spend time in your host country, stay there on some weekends, explore and really immerse yourself in the city. I did and am so thankful! But I know others who were gone so much on the weekends and they now miss not having stayed in Florence on weekends as well. Try to meet in the middle and find the best of both worlds, Italy and Florence has so much to see and offer! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Florentine Art Walks |
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| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | I absolutely loved this course. I took it as a 3-week course at the beginning of the semester and looked forward to it every day! Each class was a different walk around different neighborhoods in Florence. I learned so much about the history of Florence, art, culture and daily life. We would go to many different churches and learn about the church itself in the time period it was built and also about the style of art including Mannerism, Baroque and Art Nuovo. My professor would also recommend different things to do and some of her favorite spots along the way. By taking this class I immediately became more confident with directions, walking and getting around the city. I also learned many cool things along the way, like seeing the childhood home of Mona Lisa. |
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