Finding myself abroad Past Review
By Morgan M (Management and market, University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 01/13/2014 to 05/10/2014 with
SAI Study Abroad: Sorrento - Sant'Anna Institute (SA)
It changed my life.
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? |
Living with a family was the best decision I could have made as a study abroad student. |
| * Food: |
Again, home stay. Wow. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living with an Italian family made all the difference. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues. |
| * Safety: |
Sorrento is a very safe city. I felt at home walking down the street. |
| 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) |
Having meals at home made a big difference. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 25 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat dinner with your host family. |
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? | None |
| 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? | Zero Italian. |
| 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? | Be willing to sound stupid. It's better than sitting in silence. |
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? |
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 wish I knew it was going to be more difficult for host family kids to adjust, but that it would all be worth 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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
