Intership with Purpose Past Review
By A student (Italian, University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 01/24/2016 to 05/14/2016 with
Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy
Sant'Anna has given me the drive and opportunity to find my passion while working with a gorgeous backdrop. While working in an international setting has not alway been the easiest thing to do it is rewarding day after day. My internship allows me to work independently and collaboratively with Italian staff members and American students and I have really become to know the area and the culture so much better because of it. Everyone has been so helpful in adjusting and is so easy to interact with and talk to, really becoming like a tightnit group even if we all don't always see eye to eye on everything, but that's part of the collaboration. I love how much there is to do so nearby and how much like a traditional Sorrento seems, even with all the tourists. And the Amalfi Coast is still one of my favorite places I've been only 45 minutes away.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are only Monday thru Thrursday because they know that students want to be able to travel and expereience the local culture. Also some classes have field trips on fridays which is so much better than class, especially archaeology. Those field trips are great!! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff is so welcoming and helpful and so nice. Sometimes they seem a little disjointed, like there's not a great disemmination of information. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I love my apartment! It's so centrally located and an easy walk everywhere. It's lacking a few things that would make living a little easier like a dish dryign rack, but I understnad that that isn't necessarily something they HAVE to provide. And some of the students live quite a bit farther away, but Sorrento's not that big so it's still only a 30 minute walk. |
| * Food: |
Apartment's are self-catering, so it's buy your own food, which if you're used to living on your own in the US isn't that difficult, but definitley for some people it's their first time living on their own. But eating out in town has been nothing short of great!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I just really wish their was a real tandem program. But its easy to make friends in town. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The great thing is is that you can go into a pharmacy and get medical help from a Dr for free if you need medicine and many of the meds that are precription based in the US are over the counter here, though they are a bit expensive. |
| * Safety: |
Sorrento is defintely a safe town. the train to and from Naples is a bit iffy but you just have to stay alert and not look like a complete foreigner. |
| 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'm tracking all my expenses to stay on budget. Living in Sorrento is cheap enough, but traveling is definitely what makes it expensive. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Travel Wallet App |
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 |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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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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? | The spring has definitely been colder than I expected it to be and part of me thinks coming in the fall would have been nicer weather but I wouldn't have changed my experience so far. I really have liked watching the city come to life as we come out of winter as all the locals really emerge with the spring. Of course none of us have let the cooler weather stop us doing anything up to now. |
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 NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
