Florence "Study" Abroad Past Review
By Jeanne M (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) for
AIFS: Florence - Richmond in Florence and Internship Program
Extremely worthwhile. All of my friends and family say I have a new confidence that I didn't show before I left. I learned to get along with people I may not necessarily choose to otherwise spend time with and to travel with an open mind.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Teachers were very understanding of the fact that students were abroad to experience Europe and not spend all of their time studying and worrying about classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff and the school were helpful in every thing you coudl imagine. The front desk was there to answer any question whether it pertain to where to eat, how to order, or where to travel adn how to get there. The housing staff were also there to help whenever there was a problem and were diligent in keeping in touch with the landlords. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lucked out because I was housed with two other girls in a newly renovated apartment. We even had a dishwasher, separate freezer (most Italian apartments have a dorm style fridge/freezer), and even a rooftop terrace. All we needed to supply was food and toliet paper. All of the sheets, dishware, and even coffee and coffee pot were supplied. |
| * Food: |
The meal plan was enough to cover all meals I needed and I even had extra meal tickets leftover at the end of my study abroad that I used to buy food and wine to bring home with me. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Each week there were cooking classes, wine tastings, and day trips planned. The best trip was a trip to a famous Carnivale parade in a town close to Florence where there were two story tall MOVING floats. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt I was in danger. Even though the staff advised it was unsafe to walk aloen at night time, I frequently did and there were enough other people walking around that I was never unsafe. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
We were required to take four hours of intensive Italian five days a week for the first two weeks. It was extremely helpful because we learned the basics of what we needed to get along everyday in Italy. |
| 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
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I chose this program to get to know the language. I had not taken Italian before but left with a solid understanding of the language and 7 credits of Italian. |
