AWESOME EXPERIENCE! TRAVEL ABROAD NOW! Past Review
By victoria.mcmahon.90 (Sant'Anna Institute) - abroad from 01/17/2015 to 05/09/2015 with
Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy
I learned how to time manage and work in a small space with a lot of people in a different environment. I learned how to recycle Italian style and cook without an oven, I learned manage my spending more closely, and it was 100% 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 school is small so it does not supply laptops to work on at school or desks to do work and study on. The classes are based on two exams. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very helpful staff! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our apartment held 5 girls with one shower and toilet, no living room, no storage, above two noisy bars, and two desks (that were then used for storage) for 5 girls. Our hot water tank constantly ran out, wi-fi randomly stopped working, and our heat stopped working half way through our semester. Problem after problem. Only positive was that it was in an ideal central location. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Walk with purpose. |
| 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 want to travel outside of Sorrento often, you will need at least 6,000.00 Euros. Be careful with spending |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 400 Euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan out each weekend ahead of time, do your research in the countries and cities you want to visit, save your money for important things, manage your money and know where it is going, get a no foreign transaction debit card (capital one- 360 was terrific), and stay in top rated hostels as much as possible. |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Level 2 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? | Listen and try to understand, ask questions, turn your phone into that language, watch television shows in the language, and try to order food from grocery store and restaurants in that 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 it would rain a lot and to prepare for all weather conditions. Also, businesses and housing does not work similarly to the States and therefore, you must prepare to be patient. |
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.' |
