Ahh yeah! Italy yeah! My adventures abroad on the best capstone at UNI! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program is not heavy on the traditional classroom or textbook scale. The educational experience, as the title suggests, is mainly in Italian culture and how your own culture compares.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was pleased with most of the hostels we stayed in. We were in 5 different hostels over the course of the 19 days. The Plus Hostel in Florence and the hostel in Milan were both very nice. Our hostel in Rome looked worse than it actually was- it proved to be quite nice with the majority of the rooms being taken up by our capstone students.

I loved the food! But who doesn't look some good pasta and pizza. I was actually expecting the food to be more expensive but I spent less than expected. For lunch we typically would eat pizza or sandwiches which you can buy on the street for 5-8 Euro. For supper we usually chose the "second plate" which was pasta. Pasta dishes ranged from 7 to 18 Euro, and we could usually find something good for 12 Euro or less. Portions in Italy are smaller than Italian food portions in America, but between the bread, wine, and main dish it was enough. Besides, you can't take leftovers home anyway!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved seeing many different Italian cities and living in hostels inside the cities. Besides the fact that we went to plenty of traditional tourist attractions, we were always near Italians on the metro and water ferries. I had a great time interacting with Italians when I would order food or buy items in shops. The only type of cultural integration I would have liked to have that was not available is an overnight stay with a host family. I realize this would have been hard due to the language barrier, but it would have offered a great opportunity to "do life" with some Italians.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not have any health issues on the trip but I had a friend who experienced a few. There were farmacias sprinkled throughout every city and each had a variety of medicine and health care items available.

I felt very safe while I was on my study abroad trip. The only times I did not feel comfortable was our first night in Rome at my first ever hostel and at the Venice Inn. Due to the creepy desk clerk in Venice, some of the girls did not feel entirely safe, but I have been assured that students will no longer be staying at this location in Venice.

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

I actually budgeted for more than I ended up spending. My budget included 2 meals a day, transportation costs, and souvenirs and I actually had a few hundred dollars to spare.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Tammy really encouraged us to try to use Italian phrases when possible and be open to learning Italian culture through language. Knowing or learning Italian was not a requirement for this course, but it was a bonus to learn some phrases.

Select all that apply

• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Other

• The location was a perfect fit for me.
• Our professor was very laid back and let us have plenty of free time to explore each city.

• The hostel situation in Venice could have been better.