Living in Italy helped me to grow more independent Past Review
By Katherine L (Art History, Theory, Criticism and Curatorial Studies, Maryland Institute College of Art) for
Studio Arts College International (SACI): Florence - SACI in Florence
It was so worthwhile. I not only got to go to Europe for the first time, but the country that my family is from originally. I have always been independent but this helped me even more so to manage my time and money. It also helped me in the realm of meeting new people from all over. It helped me to discover more about myself in general.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
workload was very mild. I felt like I had a lot of free time to focus on work and exploring the city, which is something that I really desired-- though I wanted to be dilligent in my studies I also wanted to experience the culture as well. Many of the classes were mixed-level in terms of expertise (beginners mixed in with my advanced students in a particular area) so from what I was used to at MICA I chose o work more independently with semester long proposals, etc. I was glad that certain teachers allowed this |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
though I enjoyed a less rigorous structure, I did not feel as challenged as compared to when at MICA. But that is something that can be more relative-- I wanted a bit more looseness so I could juggle academics with general experience of being abroad. Also I would suggest a way for MICA students to get credit for taking Italian language classes. I know many people who could not get credit for this, including myself, who needed to get their maximum credit requirements in to graduate on time. So, unfortunately, we could not take an Italian class which would have been a really positive immersion. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I thought that we lived in a dream-- an apartment right in the central Piazza San Giovanni right next to the Duomo! Since we lived in the heart, as well as in a real Italian apartment, we would have to interact, speak whatever Italian we could learn, etc. Our apartment was stocked with cookware and furniture, and my roomates and I were paired together really excellently. |
| * Food: |
the food was delicious and I feel like I have never eaten so well in my life. I took full advantage of fresh markets and produce (I'm vegetarian so I had tons of options!) and had to chance to cook for every meal along with my roomates, who happened to be vegetarian too! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
my roomates and friends and I immersed ourselves in the more local culture of Florence and did not gravitate toward the typical tourist aspects. We were adventurous in exploring and frequented more local hangouts-- we did not stick to the Irish pubs that other American students seemed to be doing. We also tried to socialize with actual Italians as much as possible, though I would have liked to get to know and make friends with more. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
SACI definitely provided guidance on medical issues, but it was more on the lines of who specifically we should see if we were experiencing health issues. Then from there it was more of the student's job to go to a doctor or specialist. |
| 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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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would remember to not only focus on academics, there is so much more to be learned than just from within the walls of the institution. Socialize and learn to grow out of your element. Meet and spend time with the students from outside the MICA program and try to meet Italians! Also, expect that the exchange rate between the Dollar and the Euro will not be the greatest, so remember that the Euro will be a bit over the Dollar and you will be spending more than you think. Try to cook often, it helps to keep costs down rather than going out to eat for every meal. |
