What a Dream Past Review
By A student (Teacher Education by Level, Point Loma Nazarene University) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 05/13/2016 with
SAI Study Abroad: Sorrento - Sant'Anna Institute (SA)
What a loaded question, to asked what I gained and learned... I learned how to meet new people with no assumptions about who they are, offering them a blank slate on which our friendship can begin. I now have renewed confidence in my ability to learn languages and speak with random people. It makes me wonder why I don't talk to random strangers in my own language! I have a new desire to explore and adventure in the US and in my hometown specifically. What secrets are awaiting me that I have yet to explore because I have grown too comfortable?? This experience was beyond worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program had the perfect balance for someone desiring to learn as much as possible yet still have time to explore and make travel plans! The homework load was never very difficult besides getting slightly heavier towards the end of the semester. The professors were of high caliber, and I feel like they taught me about much more than their subjects. I am very pleased with my academic experience at Sant'Anna. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration was always willing to answer any questions or listen to any complaints/suggestions brought to their attention by the students. They were also happy to listen to your experiences in general. It was wonderful to be greeted by a friendly smile every time I entered the building. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the higher-up members of the administration. Maybe this comes from attending a smaller university at home and seeing our administration around campus, but overall I am so pleased! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living arrangement has been absolutely wonderful. They have been so understanding about everything, including when I took a pillow traveling with me and left it in Switzerland. My mind cannot wrap itself around such generosity as that which we have seen from our land persons. Also, the land lady comes to clean every week, and she does a phenomenal job. |
| * Food: |
The only food I really have had are the meals I make at home! My roommate and I find it cheapest to eat at home for most of our meals. Occasionally, we will eat out or I grab a sandwich for lunch, but overall the food has still been wonderful. The meals that have been provided during group excursions or other things of that sort have always been amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
At first, the cultural integration was a little rocky, but that is expected! After learning a little bit more Italian and gaining in confidence, it has been easier to integrate into the culture. I never felt any real cultural shock which came as a surprise, but the people are so generous and friendly that they make you feel right at home. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I have answered 5 stars, but I really do not feel capable of rating the health care services. Fortunately, I never had to receive any health care during my stay. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt very safe in Sorrento, even if I happened to be walking home at a later hour. The city is very clean and feels well protected. That doesn't mean to say one should not be careful, but the overall feeling of the city is one of comfort. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
In a heartbeat I would choose studying in Sorrento at Sant'Anna again. The people are what made the experience. The staff and faculty at Sant'Anna, the local students and community members, the other Americans I studied with. They were all amazing. We got along so well. Although Sorrento wasn't always the best place to travel around Europe from, it was well worth it. |
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) |
Due to the devaluation of the euro, the spending was much easier than expected! The dollar and the euro are much closer than they have been for a while, so that was exciting. However, I would not say that Sorrento is a place to come on a student's budget. It can be a little bit pricey. The trick is finding the best place to purchase the items you need at the best price. It took us a couple weeks at the beginning, but now we have a better hang of it and can spend our money more wisely. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $110 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would suggest spending more time saving your money up before you depart for your study abroad trip!! I did not expect to need quite so much money as I have spent, so my savings was depleted quicker than expected. But also, don't be too stingy with yourself in general. If you have the capability, give yourself looser reins (if you are prepared) to spend money on things you might not usually be willing to spend money on. But not always! It's finding the balance between "once in a lifetime" and "I can't go home with $0". |
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 |
The program really encouraged me to use the language or rather, because of my Italian class and my internship, I encouraged myself to work hard at learning and remembering the language. I wanted to be able to speak with my teacher and community members in their own language!! |
| 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? | No Italian language courses |
| 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 speak with strangers whether that be in the supermarket, on the bus, waiting in line, etc. Just show them that you have the knowledge and they usually are interested in seeing how much you really know! They want to talk with you if you show them you have been studying! |
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? | Just a little bit more about the location of Sorrento and how inconvenient it can be to travel out of the city. However, I'm not so sure I would want to know... Because then I might not have chosen Sorrento, and I would have greatly regretted that decision. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian 101 +102 |
| Course Department: | Linguistics |
| Instructor: | Nunzia Travaglione |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | Sant'Anna was amazing when it came to putting together this course in order to get me the desired amount of credits to send back to my university. I took two courses combined into the same semester, both at an advanced rate. My professor was amazing. Patient with my questions and stories and always willing to talk about the culture and my experiences abroad as well as the course material (in Italian of course!). |
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