Vita Come un Sogno: My Semester in Florence Past Review
By Abigail H (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., Wellesley College) for
Syracuse University: Florence - Syracuse University in Florence
My study abroad experience was certainly worthwhile. I had the opportunity to pursue my passions, fashion and art history, in the classroom, my weaving studio, the museum in which I interned, and beyond. I will never forget the feeling of giving a gallery talk on fashion history in the Uffizi in front of the very painting I was speaking about or what it was like to actually touch textiles from the 1600s while setting up for a gallery exhibition. My explorations in fashion and art while in Italy has certainly confirmed my future plans to enter the field of fashion history, museum curation, and textile preservation. I could not have asked for more in a semester, and I would hope that any other students studying abroad would have similar experiences as I, in that they realized or confirmed their passions.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had an incredible semester with the Syracuse University Abroad program. I felt the workload was fair, so I was able to really delve into the subject matter and push myself as a scholar without the administration pushing me. The grading system was fair as well. It was great to go to a school in Europe where taking a break from work is considered necessary, instead of something to be guilty about. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was very satisfied with the administration of Syracuse University Florence. Each staff member I came into contact with was extremely helpful, well-connected to local culture, and prompt when handling situations that needed attention. My expectations were more than met. Bravo! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living in my apartment was helpful to practice Italian. I was the only tenant of three that spoke Italian, and because my landlady didn't really speak English, I was always the communication liason. The location couldn't have been better, it came fully furnished,it was spacious and had a beautiful terrace, and my landlady was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better living situation. |
| * Food: |
It would be hard not to be satisfied eating four months' worth of Italian food. That said, I don't have any dietary restrictions. People that follow a vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, or otherwise alternative diet would probably have a difficult time. Lacto-ovo vegetarians, like I once was, would be just fine and find a range of foods to eat. Some of my favorite places to eat in Florence: Acqua al Due, Olio & Convivium, and Coquinarius for nice meals; Oil Shoppe or I Fratellini for a quick bite; Moyo and Dolce Vita for good bars. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Field trips were phenomenal. Each course had numerous field trips. I went to Pisa, Lucca, Roma, Prato, San Gimignano, even Paris, to name a few, all on field trips. It was unreal to travel as much as I did, and even better that all of my course fees were covered by Wellesley! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had no safety-related incidents, but I would recommend for women to travel at least in pairs late at night. I traveled alone sometimes, and even knowing the area inside and out, the language, and how to defend myself personally, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's been out late partying, or in some otherwise compromised position. That said, Florence as safe as any city could be. Keep your wits about you, and you'll be fine! |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Because I had to provide food for myself, I spent a considerable amount on groceries, probably about 40 euros' worth a week (60 USD, approximately). I also went out for food and drinks at least a few times a week, (at least another 30 or so euro). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Expect to pay at least 20 (30 USD) euros for a nice sit down meal at a good place. Eating out in Italy at a nice restaurant is not cheap! You can get food at cheap prices at sandwich places and some restaurants, but don't expect it! Also, I would make sure to budget for weekly expenditures. For female students, bring as much makeup and cosmetics as you can BEFORE you leave. Prices at Sephora cost in euros what we pay in dollars. I paid about 1.5 times more for cosmetics there than I do in the United States! So, make sure you realize that things do actually cost more in Italy than they do here. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | ITAS201 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Italian in Italian class, obviously, but also with the Italian faculty at the school, my landlady, locals, Italian friends I made, etc. Italian was truly my default language for those four months. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The type of student who would benefit the most from this program is a student that is highly self-motivated, unafraid to seek out opportunities to engage with locals and in cultural activities, and interested in participating in activities or internships unlike any they would be able to have at their home university. An American student can feasibly get along in Florence without speaking (or trying to learn) a word of Italian or attempting to learn about local culture, but he or she would be missing out on so many opportunities and even friendships. There are students like that within the Syracuse program, but then there are also those that try their hardest to experience Florence in ways beyond finding all the American college student hangouts. These are the students that will glean the most from this fabulous program. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian IV |
| Course Department: | ITA202-02 |
| Instructor: | Donatella Sommati |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | I thought Professoressa Sommati was absolutely fabulous. She taught Italian in a very easily accessible way. There was a great emphasis on class participation and speaking. I am always an active participant in class, and Prof. Sommati's class was no exception. She was a very tough grader, particularly on writing compositions. This helped me push my writing skills to a much higher level. |
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