My Time in Rome Past Review
By Mackenzie K (Temple University) - abroad from 08/29/2011 to 12/11/2011 with
Temple University International Programs: Rome - Temple University in Rome
Studying abroad in Rome completely changed my life. I gained a huge amount of confidence, learned so much about myself, and met so many amazing people from all over the world. The worst part about studying abroad was getting on the plane to come home!
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Temple Rome staff was more welcoming and supportive than I would have ever imagined. They showed genuine interest in every student, and went out of their ways to make sure we were safe and happy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Temple Rome program housed students in the Residence Megalie d'Oro, an apartment complex in the Monte Mario region of the city, about a 10-15 minute walk from the Vatican Museum entrance. The staff was great, and accommodations were perfect for students. The apartment building is about a 40 minute walk to campus, but the distance was not a negative factor at all. The neighborhood is one of the wealthier and more residential areas of the city. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The neighborhood where the apartment building is located is extremely residential with hardly anyone speaking English. The shops and stores in the area are familiar with Temple Rome students, and enjoy their presence and patronage. The Temple Rome campus is located near Piazza del Popolo, a more touristy area of the city. More people there speak broken English, and there are definitely more foreigners. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I can honestly say that I felt safer walking around Rome, specifically near the Temple Rome campus and apartments, than I do walking around Philadelphia. I never had any problems with safety while in Rome. |
| 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) |
I spent more than I anticipated while abroad. I did not stick to a very strict budget when it came to food and personal expenses. However, I budgeted my travel extremely well. |
| * 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? | approximately $200 |
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 |
One semester of Italian was required by the program. Students could take that before or during their time in Rome. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | basic Italian |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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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| 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? |
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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? | I wish I had a better idea of just how expensive things like food and travel were, so I could have budgeted better. |
