Summer Study in Venice: Unforgettable Past Review
By Amy W (History, Towson University) for
Towson University: Venice - History of Venice from the Maritime Republic to the Modern Day, Italy
Studying in Venice has reinforced my desire to travel the world.
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 classwork was just enough to keep me engaged in learning while allowing ample time to explore and enjoy my time abroad. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Institute was very small, but the faculty were used to non-Italian students and I was able to access the web after class every day. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our apartment was in a great location. I came with all the essentials, and there was a grocery store nearby. I felt very safe walking around at any time of day or night. There were plenty of bars and shops within walking distance, as well as a boat stop to get to school. |
| * Food: |
Plan to spend a lot of money on food in Italy. The cuisine is all delicious but rather expensive. I recommend buying groceries to make breakfast and lunch, buying panini or pizza for dinner most days, and saving for a few expensive meals at some nice restaurants. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed befriending my classmates and taking weekend the excursion to Florence. It was also neat to witness the Biennale art show. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I needed no vaccines for Venice. The city was clean and safe. I did have my credit card number stolen. I would suggest charging a debit card with euros at a US exchange and using that to withdraw euros from an ATM when you need it. Leave the credit cards at home. |
| 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) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Some of my greatest memories involve speaking Italian with locals. I used Italian when shopping, dining, and with my roommates. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would recommend this program to any student. Those interested in art, history, language and culture will reap the greatest rewards from this experience, in my opinion. |
