Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

La Bella Vita- Bologna Study Abroad Past Review

By (Italian Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/07/2015 to 05/22/2015 with

Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The experience itself was a dream come true! I learned about myself and how I can further become a global citizen. It was worth every penny!!!

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were all taught in Italian, but I was so happy that we had a month of intensive italian classes. Each course was different but somehow I managed to find connections between each course.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrators were really on top of everything. They planned amazing excursions throughout the program and they made sure we had everything prepared we needed for our permission of stay.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved the dorm I stayed in specifically because I was able to really practice my italian with my roommates. My dorm-mate was awesome because we watched movies and tv with each other and kept a clean bathroom. I had a total of 10 other roommates (8 guys and 2 girls).

* Food:

Nothing beats the food in Italy!!! No matter where you go you will have an amazing food experience, but there is a catch! Bologna is known for their spectacular dishes but there are other great places throughout Italy. You have to be careful in certain cities that attract tourists because they will sometimes serve bland food and not authentic fresh Italian cuisines.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

During the program we went to theatre performances, the opera, and definitely met many new people! Bologna is similar to Boston in the sense that it mostly consists of students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt safe mostly because we traveled with at least one other person. The police patrol cars were visible throughout the city, but I also was aware- because of prior traveling experiences- that I needed to be mindful that I am an American in a foreign country and can't be too comfortable in my surroundings.

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)

I used the money they gave me for groceries and sometimes for meals on the trips I took outside of the program, which was manageable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about 80-100 euros a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop in bulk. Pasta, sauces, breakfast foods, and snacks should be bought in large quantities. If you plan on going to other cities besides the program-sponsored excursions then plan ahead of time and stick to an amount so that you don't go too over budget.

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? 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? 200-level italian courses.
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? Read books in italian, speak frequently with your roommates (even get them to text you on Whatsapp), and watch american tv shows dubbed in italian.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Food
  • Students in my program
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • The administrative work the first month of January was overwhelming
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Every minute counts. Time flew by so quickly and before I knew it the trip was over.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.