Beautiful people, language, and food Past Review
By Tommy Ranucci (University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 01/24/2018 to 05/16/2018 with
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Semester in Rome
The ability to be on my own and embrace a new environment
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site staff was friendly and amazing! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our housing was in a perfect location, in a beautiful neighborhood close to the city center |
| * Food: |
Pasta, pizza, and gelato, what else do you need. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
integrating into the culture in Rome was exciting and required you to leave your comfort zone, but it was worth it |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Make sure to stay with a group of people when walking to and from the bars, other than that Rome was very safe |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
CIS made this experience amazing, other friends who went abroad did not speak highly of their programs |
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) |
In Rome, it is just as easy to live lavishly and spend a lot as it is to live in a modest fashion and still be happy |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would suggest budgeting around $4,000-$5,000 for the 16 weeks you are in Rome, this includes everything from groceries to weekend flights |
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 |
My personal motivation to use the local language pushed me, the program could ave encouraged students to speak more |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use duolingo (free language app) |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | Be more spontaneous |
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.' |
