BU in Padova Past Review

By SarahG (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., Tufts University) for

Boston University: Padua - Italian and European Studies Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was very worth while. I my Italian improved so much, I was able to travel all over Italy and Europe. I learned about how to travel alone and I gained a tremendous amount of confidence in my abilities.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here:	Universita' degli Studi di Padova
The term and year this program took place:	Spring 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	It was a great program, I highly recomend it.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Maria Pia is amazing and does a great job of making sure that all of the students feel comfortable, even though they are in a foriegn country
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived with an Italian grandmother who spoke no English, it was wonderful <br /><br /> I was a little bit too far away from the center of the city
* Food:	It was wonderful, cannot complain
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	They took us to Ravenna, Venice and Florence and paid for wonderful meals
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I felt very safe in the city.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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)

Language

Language acquisition improvement?	my language skills improved tremendously, although it was still difficult to a point, it never quite reached perfect fluency

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	You have to be ready to really learn Italian and keep in mind that Padova is a small town, so its a little slow