independence Past Review
By Tara S (PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES., University of Rochester) for
Universita degli Studi di Firenze: Florence - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
not to trust people (my roommate stole valuable things from me and lied to me twice as frequently) to be more appreciative of the things i have and what i am. to remember the importance of passion
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with 3 other girls on one of the main streets of the city, so i always felt safe. It can get loud during the nights. FLorence is a small city, and living in the center, we were near classes and bars/clubs/restaurants. All house items were provided (sheets, cookware). We had to buy a few light bulbs and bought toilet paper and paper towels as needed. There were 4 of us total, coupled into double rooms. My direct roommate placed a heavy damper on my experience as she was a compulsive stealer and liar. She stole a huge sum of money as well as my ear phones and camera during the stay. I tried moving out, but there were no available rooms in other housing complexes. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | at least 50 Euros on food, and at least 30 euros on nightlife |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | best way to save money is to cook; eat at home. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
with classmates and friends and roommates. Yes, I did need to use the host language at restaurants and cafes in smaller cities in the country, but in Florences, I got by with mostly English. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | students who are into art, fashion, design, architecture, humanities subjects, such as religion, philosophy, history, anthropology, sociology, etc. |
