The Best Semester of My Life Past Review
By carley.schwartz.9 (Biology/Pre-PA, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/09/2013 to 05/03/2013 with
AIFS: Florence - Richmond in Florence and Internship Program
I learned how to slow down and enjoy the little things, and I realized I want to live abroad after I graduate.
Personal Information
| 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. |
AMAZING professors! Workload is very reasonable and onsite classes are the best! They understand you aren't studying abroad to spend the whole time doing classwork. I travelled most weekends and never had a problem getting homework done (it was very minimal). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The AIFS staff is incredible! They really have everything planned out and will help you with any questions you have about places to go around the city, great day trips, and activities to do if you have family or friends come visit. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was pleasantly surprised with how large our apartment was. There were no driers or microwaves but everything else we needed was there (dish washer, washing machine, oven with a stove top, refrigerator). The only problem we had was with the hot water occasionally shutting off but we just had to flip a switch to fix that. |
| * Food: |
It's Italy so the food was obviously amazing. AIFS gives you 5 dinner vouchers and 5 breakfast/lunch vouchers to use each week at great restaurants all around the city. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You can't live in Italy for 4 months and not feel a part of the culture. AIFS offers great opportunities to have dinner with local Italians, take cooking classes, go to an opera, etc |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got strep throat while I was abroad and simply had to go to the AIFS staff and they organized a meeting with a local English doctor who gave me antibiotics. You get health insurance with the AIFS program and they also reimbursed me for the visit fee and the cost of the antibiotics all I had to do was keep all my receipts and fill out a form in the office. Oh and no vaccines are necessary. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Florence. I walked around the city plenty of times alone and never felt I wasn't safe. At night I usually walked around with at least one other person just to be smart since I was in a foreign country, but nothing bad ever happened. Just be smart and use common sense with you go out at night and you'll be fine. |
| 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) |
With the vouchers I got through AIFS the only things I had to pay for were a few groceries, personal items (clothes, gifts), and cover charges and drinks on the weekend. I also had to pay 20 euro a month for internet, but other than that basic living is easy to due on a budget, it's the traveling over the weekends that gets expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$75 (depending on shopping expenses and not counting weekend trips) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have a budgeted plan in mind. First have a certain amount set aside for mandatory expenses like food (you'll have to take care of 2 days worth of food each week you're in florence and then all food while travelling to other cities/countries), utilities, internet, books, etc. Then with what you have left budget it for 'fun money' so your weekend trips, gifts, souvenirs, etc. |
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 |
They definitely encouraged us to use the language but it's up to you to use it in your day to day exchanges at cafes, bars, restaurants, etc. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| 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? | Even though you may think you sound horrible or you're bad at it just keep using it as much as you can the italians really appreciate it and you will get better the more you use it. |
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? | The time will literally fly, so enjoy every moment and every day. |
