Best time in my life, wish I could live abroad Past Review
By A student (Benedictine College) - abroad from 02/05/2014 to 04/23/2014 with
Benedictine College: Florence - Semester Program in Florence, Italy
I learned about other peoples cultures and how to travel outside the norm. everything is an experience that will impact you than or later in life. Sure I learned a little Italian while I was abroad but the main thing I took away was some of the best friends I made while abroad
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. |
I was very pleased with my education that i received while I was studying abroad. However I feel it depends which professor is there at the time. My professor taught philosophy, this was an added bonus since i needed the course for graduation. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All the staff at the Villa were great, they really make adapting to European life very easy and tried to accommodate the needs of some of my needy classmates. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The villa was a great place to stay, beautiful views and everything was provided that was needed. I much preferred the villa to the apartments my friends who were studying in Florence as well had. |
| * Food: |
Food was fine in my opinion, sometimes repetitive but you can expect that when you are there for over a 3 month period. Some of my classmates where to worried about living as if they were in the states and not opened to new things and trying new foods |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt the integration was good however would like to have had more opportunities through-out the week to just spend in the city vs class at the villa. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Saw a Chiropractor in Florence, he was an aussy so the language wasnt an issue, probably would've been a difference experience if he were Italian and only spoke Italian |
| * Safety: |
Never felt unsafe in any cities while abroad, just need to be smart and travel in groups. This is especially true for the girls in our group. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
It was easy for me to live on a students budget, you just need to have a Budget and try to stick to it. At the end of the day spend the money the experience is worth it more than the money spent. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150-200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | take anywhere between 3,000-5,000, less could be managed but may limit you a bit and of course always having more is better. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| 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? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? |
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? | I would've packed less that way I could've brought more things back |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
