Please Let Me Go Back to Italy! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The main difference between Italian and American goals for education is that in America, we tend to approach learning from an individualistic standpoint. For instance, students are asked to come up with their own interpretations of materials; in Italy (and I would assume all of Europe), students are asked to learn the correct interpretation from the instructor and replicate it in exams.

On-site administration of your program

The administration, consisting mainly of four people outside professors, was good. Three were Italian, and one Romanian, so the cultural differences were occasionally very apparent, but my experiences with them were overall positive. The program director was the most helpful. He was very kind and understood American students, having lived in the US for many years earlier in his life.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was excellent. I lived in a convent situated at the top of the Aventine Hill, in a quiet, safe residential neighborhood. Bedding and towels were provided to us; they were a little rough for the wear, and many students used their own, but it was sufficient. There is a refrigerator available to students and a lounge. Most students had single rooms, each with their own bathrooms. The rooms were cleaned weekly by the nuns, who were always kind. The only difficulty the students in my program experienced was the nuns need for quiet past 11 pm.

The quality and taste of the food served in the convent was certainly far lower than what we experienced out at night, but the food of the country in general is absolutely amazing.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In reference to the city itself, we could not have been happier. We involved ourselves in everything possible. In reference to the people of our program, there was certainly discontent from several. The Trinity program, being that Trinity itself is a private college, is full of rich, clique-ish, private school kids, and that presents a problem if you are not these things. There were several weeks of trial and error for some students until they found the few willing to be nice to everyone. Trinity would benefit greatly by promoting the program to and accepting a more diverse student body. Not only in background, but in all areas. Of the sixty of us, we had two black girls, one Asian girl, and one of mixed heritage.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never felt unsafe in a group or by myself in Rome. I do not recommend walking alone at night, but I would say the same of any city in the US.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I learned far more Italian than I thought I was capable of, and I am sure that this is because I was able to speak it all the time, on the metro, in the grocery store, etc. Getting into the language was originally very difficult and frustrating because both the Italian teachers in the TCRC program have very poor English, and therefore the first few weeks were a struggle for either side to get messages across. But, once we (the students) gained a base in the language, we were able to learn quickly. It becomes fun as you become able to understand bits of conversation as you pass people, and your crowning glory becomes being able to say buongiorno without them knowing that you are American.

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