Unexpected and Relaxing Past Review
By eric.gastauer (Finance and Financial Management Services., University of Texas - San Antonio) - abroad from 05/16/2012 to 06/03/2012 with
University of Texas - San Antonio: UTSA Honors College in Italy
I learned how to live more on my own in a large city and how a large, crowded city functions. I learned both the ancient, medieval, and Renaissance history of Italy and how it has to come to the place it is as today. I also learned much of the surrounding countries of Italy, including their history and the modern-day relationships other European nations have with Italy.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors, Dr. Baron and Dr. Johnson, were both extremely knowledgeable on the historical narratives of each individual city and the specific locations within. They knew all the important things to take note of and enlighten the students about. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I personally did not have to deal with any administrators for this program from our host country. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very cramped, but was a good experience. Allowed us to get to know our roommates better. |
| * Food: |
Loved the gelato and authentic Italian dishes. Worth the expense. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our host city, Rome, was not a very youth-oriented culture. I did not connect especially well with any person native to Italy. Nonetheless, meeting locals was a wonderful experience. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care in the US is much better. Medical drugs are more expensive, and the city was not the cleanest. Still, I did not feel in danger on the trip except when one of our roommates gave most of us the same bug he had previously contracted. |
| * Safety: |
I felt as if our professors did excellently to take care of us, but for the most part I feel as if common sense and wits were what best kept us safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
As with all budgets, to live cheaply requires sacrifice. Eating better was more expensive, but worth it in order to have the full experience. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I would say that my expenses were about $200 a week, though I did buy many items as keepsakes. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring at least 30% reserves. This is in case anything unexpected happens or could be useful if an opportunity arises that was not foreseen or accounted for financially in which you would wish to partake. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How vastly different the culture of Italy is to that of Americans. I am very glad to have experienced Italy, but would choose another city to study abroad at in the future. |
