Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The most amazing experience I have ever had! Past Review

By (New Media, SUNY Purchase) - abroad from 06/27/2012 to 08/01/2012 with

SUNY Purchase: Pisciotta - Municipal Schools of Pisciotta

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The experience was extremely eye opening in how small we are in comparison to the rest of the world. Things that we take for granted in the United States are not readily available in other countries, yet the people remain extremely humble and grateful for what they do have. The locals were truly inspirational and amazing people that I will never forget.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes I took abroad were extremely well integrated into our time spent in Italy. While they started very early in the morning, that allowed us the whole day to really absorb the experience of life in the country. The teachers did well of engaging our surroundings into our learning process.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on site administration of the program handled everything exceptionally well. I can imagine handling a large group of college students may not always be easy, but they remained extremely organized and we had a mutually respective relationship with them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like I was really absorbing another culture entirely by being in a small town as opposed to if I had spent my abroad session in a larger city. The experience felt really authentic and eye opening

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt really safe on my trip abroad. My advice is to never go anywhere alone, stay with the group. The locals in our town were extremely friendly and helpful, but you should always be careful when traveling abroad. Always be aware of your surroundings and where your friends are.

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)

Studying abroad is expensive, but we did manage to make it work. We were in a generally inexpensive area, but the trip itself was somewhat expensive. While the experience I got out of the trip I would consider priceless, it is definitely necessary to budget and save money when you can (cooking instead of eating in restaurants etc.)

* 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? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook meals instead of eating in restaurants, walk instead of public transportation

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

the town we were in (Pisciotta) was a town that did not speak a lot of english, so it made learning the language both a must, and easier because the locals would help a lot, and also with repetition the language becomes more familiar

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? Beginner Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The people
  • The town
  • The food
* What could be improved?
  • the cost
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To pack lightly!

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.