The best semester of my entire life Past Review

By A student (Fordham University) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 04/22/2012 with

Temple University International Programs: Rome - Temple University in Rome

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

At the end of the day, I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything else in the world. It was the single greatest 3 months of my life. From traveling all over Rome, Italy and the rest of Europe, I can proudly say I have an increased appreciation for foreign culture and heritage. Although I was rather disappointed with the langauge component of the experience, the culture, the food, the school, the classes, the people, the apartment, etc made it the best semester of my entire life. Everyone I talk to about studying abroad I recommend going to Rome for a few reasons. It is the perfeect base city. What I mean by this is that there is a good balance of culture, good, learning and self enjoyment. You can go to the colosseum for the day and then eat dinner at a little quaint restaurant in Italy. You have the ability to play soccer with local Italians on a Monday night. You have the ability to intellectually grow as a student in a foreign city. I wish I could be back right now as I talk about my expierence. As a result, I would like to look into grad school programs for going abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The school's administration was very kind and there were absolutely no problems at all.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Although it was nice to have a seperate apartment building for only american students, It was minimum 40 minute walk away from school and public transportation was never consistent.
* Food:	It's Italy. The best food in the world comes from this country.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Rome is like any other big city. The people solely focus on themselves and most people carry on with their own business
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	No problems at all with health issues
* Safety:	There was absolutely no time where I felt uncomfortable or unsafe in Rome.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)	I spent a lot more money than I honestly expected. Food was rather expensive. Drinks were expensive. The conversion rate was not in our favor. I probably spent closer to 500 dollars a week.
* 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?	$200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Yes. Pick up your food at the local fresh markets because its cheaper and its definitely more fresh. Save your shopping bags and buy wine and alcohol at the local grocery store.

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	This may have been the biggest disappointment for me. I was full heartedly expecting to go to Italy and touch up on my Italian. If anything, I truly believe my Italian speaking and writing skills are now worse. When you are in an environment with 400 other american students who cant speak the langugage and are also very ignorant to learning the language, it makes for a non cohesive learning environment
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	Intermediate
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?	Advanced Italian and Literature
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	DON'T SURROUND YOURSELF WITH AMERICANS.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* 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 fact that it was solely based in my favorite city in the world was spectacular in itself. The administration was very generous and knowledgeable. My art history teacher took us on weekly trips to various churches and museums all over Rome.
* What could be improved?	More interaction with Italian students. They need to find teacher with better english speaking abilities because some teachers it was nearly impossible to understand The library was very outdated
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	The vast cultural, social and technological differences between Europe and America.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	International Trade
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:	Aldo Patania
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The teacher was very knowledgeable of the subject and he was definitely had european connections. On the other hand, it was nearly impossible to understand his accent and his was incredibly pretentious. I regret taking this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: