Perugia: The most amazing study experience! Past Review
By Gina S (Comm, University of Massachusetts Amherst) for
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Semester in Perugia
I would not change my experience for anything. I could not imagine studying anywhere else. It helped me become more open minded and much more aware of important things going on in the world. I made life long friends who I still talk to on a weekly basis and see every few months. It made me want to take a few months of after graduation and live abroad for a while and work.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I loved how small the program was. It was about 100 people, so coming from a huge university was a major difference. Everyone knew each other. The staff and teachers at Umbra are all amazing. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was definitely amazing compared to a lot of my friends apartments because my apartment was recently renovated. Everything we need was there including everything for the kitchen and nice blankets when it gets freezing at night. It was a less than 5 minute walk (up hill) to centro and Umbra and pretty much everything that you need. The street definitely creeped me out a little at first just because of the look and some graffiti but for the most part it was safe. |
| * Food: |
everything is amazing. I even had friends who had allergies and other food restrictions, but they found it very easy to find things to eat. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish there had been more arranged trips with the program. We did a weekend at the Amalfi coast at the end of the semester and it was so much fun! We went to Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and Naples. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| 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) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with anyone and everyone. With my friends and roommates, with my teachers, with the locals. Especially at restaurants and shops were the best places to practice. You need to use a little everyday especially if you want to order a panino or a caffe' machiatto, but it's so easy to pick up the basics. I spoke the most English at home. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
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? | If you want a smaller city and lots of opportunities to speak the language this is definitely the place to be. You get a city feel mixed with a local community feel. Here, everybody knows everybody. The people are very friendly. The majority of Americans are in Umbra and a few at Stranieri (the university for foreigners). It is easy to travel by train, especially to rome and florence for about 20 euros roundtrip which makes traveling to other countries easier as well. |
