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Firenze: Memories that will last a lifetime!
AIFS: Florence - Richmond in Florence
Program Information
Be a part of the community, not just a tourist, living in your own Florentine apartment and enjoying restaurants and cafes throughout the city with your AIFS meal vouchers. Experience the culinary side of Italian culture with wine tasting and cooking classes. Explore Italy's artistic heritage with visits to mu... More
| Provider: | AIFS |
| Location(s): | Florence, Italy |
| Year Founded: | 1964 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
A student () on September 14, 2011
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-05-29 |
| * End Date: | 2011-06-24 |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This program exceeded my expectations. I took two classes and am used to a very heavy workload but the workload for the classes I took abroad was a decent amount but very manageable. The teaching methods were very similar to those at my home university as well as the educational system. I was not taken off guard. I loved my classes and learned a lot about Italy and its culture as well as the many famous paintings by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. What I learned abroad I would never have been able to learn here in the United States. The onsite visits were my favorite part of the classes and truly helped me to have a greater understanding of what I was learning. The experience of this program will last a lifetime. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This program was very organized and allowed one to participate in multiple activities. There is not a single complaint I have for this program, it had exceeded my expectations and I had the time of my life. |
| * Housing: |
I had gotten lucky and my apartment was right on the corner from school so it was very easy to get to which I was happy about. I felt safe and never worried about walking home in the dark or anything. The only problem we had with our apartment was during heavy rain the roof would leak and we had called to get it fixed which it never was. |
| * Food: |
AMAZING! It was great that we were given meal cards and all the restaurants that accepted them had very good food. I did not have one meal in Italy that I did not love. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were many field trips organized for certain classes as well as day trips for anyone to sign up for. I had signed up for every one that was available and got to see more of Italy than I thought I would have been able to in the time I had there. I met many people and great friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Always have a buddy to walk around with, especially at night. I always had a friend that I was with if anything were to happen. Keep belongings close to you and secured. When going out at night to clubs and bars or such, go in groups. |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did your university prepare and support you for your time abroad? |
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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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Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be prepared to spend more money than you would think, the exchange rate is terrible. Girls bring more sundresses that are knee length. |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Absolutely! I gained a greater knowledge of the culture, food, and traditions of Italy. Being in this program made me want to truly travel all over the world. It was one of the best experiences of my life. |