A marvelous once in a lifetime experience Past Review
By mena.tejada (Communication Studies, University of San Francisco) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 12/14/2014 with
Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy
It was definitely a worth while experience and something I would recommend to anyone wanting to travel abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took were not only interesting but very hands on learning combining just enough field trips and lectures to really understand the subjects. I only wish that Italian was offered more frequently for the semester long students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Always useful and ready to help if you if needed. There is a close relationship with the students and the administration/teachers which makes it feel like a home away from home. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment is well located near stores and a short walk to school. |
| * Food: |
The food anywhere in Italy is amazing and Sorrento is no exception. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because Sant'Anna is located in such a small and quaint town you do not feel lost amongst the tourists and are able to mix in with the locals just fine. While making friends with the other study abroad students is not a problem, neither is making friends with the locals and improving your Italian skills. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Personally I have had no health issues, but I have helped my friends with some and the school has always been as helpful as possible. The biggest problem there would be a language barrier which is neither the school's nor the health institution's fault. |
| * Safety: |
Overrall I consider Sorrento to be a very safe city where I am able to walk at all hours of the day alone and not feel the need |
| 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) |
If you budget yourself and know how to cook money for food should not really be an issue. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 50-60 euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Learn how to cook. My friends who did not know ended up spending a lot more money than I did. Also, avoid touristy restaurants and locations if you want to get a better deal for your meal ask the locals for tips. |
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 |
My only class in Italian was Italian and it was only twice a week. Wish I could have that class more often. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | An online Italian language course. |
| 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? | Go out and make friends with Italians. This forces you to speak and listen to the language. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | That I was going to be the only person not from the United States in the program and that there would be no classes with the Italian students. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
