Wild and not what I expected. Past Review
By Orli S (Fine Arts, Studio Arts, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/10/2017 to 04/29/2017 with
Temple University International Programs: Rome - Temple University in Rome
I gained so much!! Wonderful American friends, and experiences that have opened me up and made me a more well-rounded person.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
One of my art history courses and my advanced painting course was awesome, however I thought there was very little attempt to integrate us into Italian society and my other courses were not very good. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
But I lived in an apartment in a different neighborhood. It was great. |
| * Food: |
Well the Temple food wasn't good, the food in Italy was SPECTACULAR. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think it was partly my fault, that I didn't go out of my way enough to try an make local friends, but I found it difficult to find people! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose the same program, and honestly probably do most things the same. I think the only thing I am sour about is not making as many local friends. Maybe if I could go back I would have made more of an effort to do that, I settled into hanging out with the American, who were amazing but I didn't have the drive in the end that is necessary to go out of your way to make local connections. I did meet Italians, but no one that I am going to keep in touch with, no one that I hung out with repeatedly who I want to see again. I think if you can do it, you should plan ahead where you want to go and take a bunch of language courses for that country so that you can go on an exchange program. Because for me, I was kind of just going to American University in a foreign country, when I wanted to feel like I was going to a foreign university in a foreign country. It's a MUCH more difficult thing to do, to make friends with people who speak a different language and have a different culture, and it's not possible to do a program like that if you don't have significant language knowledge. |
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? | probably close to $2000 because I was paying rent that was around $1000 a month, and then I had food, travel, activities and art supplies. So it wasn't cheap. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There are definitely cheaper houses off Temple campus, spend time before you go looking for them and don't be afraid to live with Italians and/or random people from the program. And get a job while you are there, I didn't and I regret it. |
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 |
They encouraged us, but it was up to us to use it. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | One semester of Italian. |
| 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? | Just use it, even if you sound dumb. Also, travel around in Italy, get out of Rome, go south where everyone speak Italian to you. Speak to cab drivers, and grocers, be brave! Most of the time Italians LOVE when you try and speak in Italian to them. I regret not hanging out with more Italians my age, but I think it's hard to speak in Italian to them when they speak english to you because it's so much easier. So first just try to speak with people in small conversations. |
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? | 0 |
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 known that it would be so short. It went by so so fast, knowing that would have made me seize every moment more and make the most of it. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
