Study Abroad? Past Review
By A student (Springfield College) - abroad from 06/28/2019 to 05/17/2019 with
API (Academic Programs International): Florence - Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute (LDM)
This experience was so worthwhile. I was able to learn to travel and navigate buses, trains, and planes. I learned to think outside the box and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Out of my four classes I only liked one. My professor for Italian was terrible and I struggled a lot with the language. My art professor thought that we were all going to be picasso. That class caused me so much stress and I actually cried in several museums around Florence because of the negative critic I recieved from her. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We didn't have a microwave, or a toaster. Other apartments did. Our stove would also stop working if someone was running the washer since it was electric. So my housing was a nightmare. My roommates were awful and just so mean. They would eat my food, and I was actually not permited to use one of the bathrooms in our apartment. It was strickly for them, and ofcourse it was the nicer one too. |
| * Food: |
Food in Florence was great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not feel integrated with the local culture. Everyone spoke English and even my Italian class failed to communicate in Italian. I wish I had the opportunity to meet locals or live with a host family. I really felt a disconnect with the locals. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No experience with this category. We did however recieve resources for in case of emergency. |
| * Safety: |
Felt pretty safe, you've just got to be smart. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I wish I had chosen a program where I had been able to get integrated with the city and gotten to know local people and learn the language. |
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) |
Pretty hard, I was lucky I had saved up. I spent tons on groceries every week becuase I didn't want to eat out all of the time, so I felt like I wasn't getting to try tons of Florentine food. I also wanted to travel but Florence is kind of expensive to travel out of by air, and trains can be tricky based on the connections. I tried to save my money and really pick and choose. I did ok, but it was definitly something I stressed about and was conscious of. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | SAVE UP! |
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 |
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| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Duolingo maybe, honestly don't bank on LdM teaching you anything. |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | That Florence is a US study abroad hot spot and that you'll only meet Americans while you are there. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
