Cortona: A Lifetime of Experiences That You Will Never Forget Past Review
By Kathryn L (Ceramics, University of Hartford) for
University of Georgia: Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy
I can't say enough how great this program was. I think about it everyday and I wish that more people knew about it and applied. I don't make sense to me why someone wouldn't do it had they the chance. I am so grateful of the time I shared with the people on this trip and I miss all the friends and faculty I made and I plan on living in Cortona one day.
Review Photos
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. |
Studios were great but so was the Italian Renaissance art history class. It was amazing to be learning about great works of art in class and then the following weekend go see them in person. It is an incredible experience to finally see famous works that you have known about for years right in front of you. I will definitely be traveling back to Italy as soon as I can afford the money and time to do so! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was an incredible program. I would recommend it to anyone interested. Caring and loving faculty and staff and everyone worked together as a team. I only wish that the art studio didn't have to close at 11pm every night but it at least made me go to bed at a decent time. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Cortona is extremely safe to live in. Sheets, pillows, and towels were provided and the kitchen was completely stocked with cookware. I only had problems with the wireless internet that was provided since it wouldn't work very well most times. There are three "angels" who made our beds everyday and took out our trash. They are very kind but don't speak much English, which is fine. |
| * Food: |
GREAT pasta but not so good bread in Tuscany. At the restaurant we eat at during the week, they were accommodating for vegetarians and people with food allergies. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every weekend there was a scheduled trip to one or two towns in Italy. They also scheduled an art show for us and a grape stomping event. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Cortona is remarkably safe and it wasn't a problem to walk around the small town on your own. One student, a very close friend of mine, was sitting on a wall when it crumbled underneath her and she fell 30 feet. The faculty and staff immediately reacted and she was sent to the closest hospital and she was well taken care of. Whenever there were any possible visiting hours, there was always a staff member there who was fluent in Italian to help the student in any needs and talk to her doctor. All of her expenses were covered and they even paid for her mother to fly over for over two weeks to be with her daughter. Miraculously, she suffered minor injuries including a fractured nose and a couple broken ribs but when considering she fell 30 feet and was able to pull herself out of it to get help, the town mayor actually called it a true miracle. The town knew about it was offering any help they could. |
| 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? | It all depends on the student and what they are willing to spend. I am tight with money and I could get away with spending less than 20 euro a week if I wanted but I would buy postcards and stamps and those can add up. You can work out ways to not spend money and live cheaply if you need to. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Unanticipated expenses are extra baggage or over weight bags when flying to and from Italy. Also, keep money on the side to pay for class fees. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I didn't take the Italian language course but it was offered by a true Roman born and bred in Italy. It was absolutely helpful if you knew some of the language, even a little goes a long way. |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You would benefit greatly if you love to explore on your own and not be afraid to leave your comfort zone to experience something amazing. |
