Andiamo. Past Review

By Sather (Maryland Institute College of Art) for

Studio Arts College International (SACI): Florence - SACI in Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I am so glad I went and it was an experience I will never forget!! I would like to return without the safety net of the group from my homeschool. I had to challenge myself in many ways to have the experience I had hoped for, and I feel like many students don't push themselves in that way...which might be why they are disappointed or homesick and eager to get back home.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Workload was significantly less than what home school expected, but allowed for more exploration of the city and to travel to other countries -- which in the long run was much more important than what I could have learned in the classroom.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	We were so incredibly lucky to be placed where we were: on via Roma, as close to the baptistry as possible. It was in the centre of everything! Every event that happened in the city came past our home, it was close to everything we could want and need. The locals couldn't believe college-kids could ever afford to live there. There were times I wished we could live in a more remote part of the city (it could get pretty loud and rowdy outside) but it was a wonderful living experience. I would have liked living with a host family - it would make getting acquainted with the city and language easier, but I am glad to have lived with the girls I did -- they will forever be great friends of mine.
* Food:	It's Italian. 5 stars.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I explored the country a lot and encountered many people who were so open and generous. I made lifelong friends while walking through the street -- it's something America, and Baltimore in particular, seems to lack. It felt like a community there.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Florence felt like the safest city in the world compared to Baltimore. I had a strong awareness of my surroundings but never felt afraid to be alone in the streets, even at night. Returning to Baltimore is certainly a huge shock, violent crimes happen on every corner at any time of day...
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
Language acquisition improvement?	I met some Italian friends and between my language courses and practicing with them, I can say that I'm fairly fluent in Italian now. It definitely helped to take the class - if I hadn't I would have been very frustrated as a foreigner in the country, and I probably would have missed out on many interactions and experiences. I was capable of traveling independently and making friends outside of the program. I feel like I had a much more authentic experience by getting away from "American" familiarities and jumping into the local cultures.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	expect a less challenging academic experience, don't get hung up on the excitement of legal drinking age -- this seems to be the downfall of every American kid studying abroad and gives our culture a bad reputation. It's very embarrassing to walk the streets and see Americans passed out all around, or worse, getting themselves into bad situations with sly Italian men. Learn the language and make a good attempt at meeting new people -- it's great to meet new American students but you're in Italy and should really try to make friends who are locals. I know I can't wait to return someday, and when I do I will have many contacts who are anxious to reunite with me.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Italian I
Course Department:
Instructor:	Patrizia Bonucci
Instruction Language:	English/Italian
Comments:	Patrizia is incredible - her teaching style was SO helpful and she is very patient...and witty. I miss her.
Credit Transfer Issues:	nope.

Course Name/Rating:	Beg. Etching
Course Department:
Instructor:	Melania Lanzini
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Melania is incredible. She expected a lot from us, which was refreshing. I liked the challenge, and she knows what she's talking about. The studio was pretty messy but that was none of her fault.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Painting Conservation
Course Department:
Instructor:	Roberta Lapucci
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Roberta is one of the most knowledgable people I have ever met; I found a passion for conservation I never knew I had -- and inspired me to consider it as a career path. She gave me so much responsibility and faith in my abilities, allowing me to work directly onto 16th century paintings going to a museum in Malta! If I could study under her again I definitely would.
Credit Transfer Issues: