Vacation of a lifetime Past Review
By Melissa H (Stephen F. Austin State University) - abroad from 05/14/2012 to 05/25/2012 with
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Traveling - Early Childhood Education, Italy
this trip was very worthwhile, i am very glad i got the opportunity to go! i learned a lot about what i can incorporate into my future classroom
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | ---------------------- |
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked where we stayed for the most part of this trip. I DID NOT like the hotel in Rome. If we HAD to stay there again, I would make Rome our first place of visit due to having to walk up 5-6 flights of stairs with heavy luggage. I also wish some of our hotels were a little nicer than others or in a better place in the city that we were at. |
| * Food: |
Loved the welcome dinner and good bye dinner |
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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? |
Our tour guide made sure to take care of us if any of us needed help or a pharmacy or medicine. |
| * Safety: |
Some cities I felt safe in where others I didnt. I felt safe roaming around at night, but at some of the places towards the end I didnt feel as safe. Mainly due to where the hotels were located at . |
| 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) |
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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | meals ranged from like 5 euros to 12 euros...i tended to go for the cheaper stuff..so maybe about 25-35 euros a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do not go crazy when you get there! Safe your money, dont just buy to buy, just because you are on vacation doesnt mean you have to buy anything and everything |
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? | 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? | Spanish |
| 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? | Get a book of that language |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | top places to eat, places to go visit at certain places/things to buy |
