My experience abroad was life changing and has made me more culturally diverse. Past Review
By Shelby V (Nursing, Stephen F. Austin State University) - abroad from 05/20/2015 to 05/30/2015 with
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Rome - The Italian Health System Maymester Program
I learned so much. I learned a lot about their culture but I also learned a lot about myself. I put myself in a situation outside of my comfort zone and had to branch out to make friends and make wonderful experiences. It was very worthwhile and I was not ready to leave Italy. I made a lot of friends and experiences that I will never forget.
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. |
I learned a lot about the Italian Health Care system, and I was able to form a good comparison of the Italian and American health system. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our host country administration was wonderful. Especially our tour guide, Diego. Diego was very helpful, kind, and patient. Our experience in Italy would not have been the same without him. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our hotel was great. The offered great hospitality and care for us. I really enjoyed staying at Residence Candia. |
| * Food: |
The food in Italy was good, but they lacked variety. It seemed that every restaurant offered the same options. They were delicious, but repetitive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated in the culture. By the end of the trip, I was a pro at public transportation. I enjoyed Italian culture and learned a lot. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I enjoyed visiting the different offices and hospitals. It was awesome to see the difference in Italy vs the US. I learned a lot about the health care they provide there. |
| * Safety: |
For the most part, I felt very safe. I stayed aware of my surroundings and my belongings which helped me stay safe. |
| 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) |
Personally, I probably spent more than I could have. But since we had to pay for most of our meals, it got a little expensive. It would have helped a lot to have lunch included in the program cost. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 300-400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure you realize that 5 euros is worth more than 5 american dollars, so be careful not to overspend quickly. I thought 5 euros wasnt very much at first, so I spent a lot very quickly then had to budget the rest of the trip. |
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 |
We did not have to know Italian because we were given a translator for all school events. The only time that we may have needed to know some Italian would be during free time. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I had bought a Italian dictionary before the trip, so I was able to look up certain words that I heard and translate them to english. |
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? | How to budget my euros better. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
