My second home, Cortona! Past Review
By Makenzie Steiner (University of Hartford) - abroad from 08/27/2018 to 11/19/2018 with
University of Georgia: Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy
I learned the language, the culture, and a lot about Italy. I gained an immense amount of self confidence, hardiness, self sufficiency, and better awareness of my surroundings as well as my impact as a part of a society. Being put into a completely new world with new culture and foods and language really narrows the variables down as to what is in your control and what isn’t, and forces you as your own being, to take control and really fight for yourself have it be in a social situation, occupation-wise, career-wise, or really in any way, shape or form. It was extremely worthwhile and I learned so much more about myself than I ever expected to.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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: |
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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
My program was a very nurturing, and reasonably lenient program. The professors were extremely reasonable, and a very good judge of character pertaining to students being able to travel by train/plane within and between countries. I always felt like they had their best interest in me, and whenever I needed help I knew they were only a phone call away. |
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? | 80-100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy groceries if possible, find the cheaper options for breakfast and lunch so you can afford dinner! |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Level 4 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Practice ahead of time and don’t be afraid to talk to the locals! They probably can already tell you’re a student and most appreciate you trying to speak their language and will understand you better than you think, AND they will teach you! |
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? |
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? | That dialect and the “tongue” of your language is very important in annunciations while speaking. It’s important to not Americanize the language and to say it like an Italian should. |
