New Experiences Past Review
By A student (Fine Arts, Studio Arts, University of Hartford) - abroad from 08/28/2016 to 11/22/2016 with
University of Georgia: Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy
Differences in culture, similarities between Spanish and Italian that helped me learn Italian better since I had taken 4 years of Spanish in high school, a new mindset, gained new skills in fine arts such as ceramics and jewelry/metals
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
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? |
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| * Food: |
Most of the food included in the program worked around my dietary restrictions, but there were a couple of instances that the food gave me stomach aches due to ingredients being in my food that I couldn't have, food made by those who knew about my dietary restrictions. |
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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? |
Yes
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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? | $100 |
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 |
Many residents in Cortona, and in tourist/other locations we visited, knew English and preferred to talk to us in English once they knew we were American. Some did encourage us to try to speak in Italian and were usually very helpful |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | Spanish 4 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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 knew what an issue communication would be. I saw it slowly ruin or complicate relationships between students on the program and their significant others back home, and it caused issues in my own relationship that we were luckily able to work through successfully. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
