Life changing experience from start to finish in every way, shape, and form. Past Review
By Nathan C (Suffolk University) - abroad from 01/11/2011 to 05/07/2011 with
SAI Study Abroad: Rome - John Cabot University (JCU)
I gained a world of knowledge in and out of the classroom. This is the single most worthwhile thing I have ever done in my life and I am unable to fathom something that could be better.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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 |
They were extremely organized and helpful. They had the answers to any questions I had and it was obvious they had passion for what they do. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a large brand new apartment with one roommate. Had everything I needed. |
| * Food: |
All of the highest quality meats, cheeses, and wines were available with a 5 minute walk. Whether I went out to eat or cooked something from the market, it was fantastic. No processed foods. All fresh and fantastic :) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although I loved living where I lived, I was with 50 other American students. This was comforting to know we were all in the same boat, but it made it difficult to live as the Italians live with so much American culture around me. I joined the soccer team at the school, so it was great for meeting more Italian students. They introduced me to their friends as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had none of my own, however, a friend of mine had a serious back issue to the point that she could not walk. One of the on-sight staff members picked my friend up in her car (on her day off) and brought her to the hospital. The dedication was phenomenal. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt concerned for my safety. We always traveled in groups at night to be smart, but we all lived in great areas and there were no problems. |
| 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 would not say I lived on a student budget. This was my choice though. I saved for a while before my trip and spent about 8,000 USD during my semester. It is all about preference, because I could have budgeted tighter and survived the semester on a quarter of what I spent. |
| * 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? | 300-400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Only take out what you need. My bank pays for my transaction and ATM fees so I typically only took out 50 at a time. This was good in case of pick-pocketers but also kept me honest about how much I was spending. Learn what your bank charges for ATM and transaction fees. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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? | I felt very well prepared. However, I would have brought more dress shirts :( |
