Semester in Italy - best four months of my life. Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Providence College) for

Fairfield University: Florence - Semester or Year in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I thought that my study abroad experience was the best four months of my life. I was able to grow independently and learn more about myself. Being in Italy made me learn to appreciate things in life and slow down.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Florence University of The Arts
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

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing was in a dangerous alley. It was not good to walk by myself at night because there was a nightclub directly across from my door. Besides that I thought that the apartment was nice and fun to live in. It was a adjustment from apartments in America, of course, but I loved it! I lived in Via Castello D'Altafronte across the ally from Glamour nightclub. <br /><br />

* Food:

Expensive

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I suggest that you save up extra. I thought I would be able to be very thrifty and eat cheaply and travel cheaply, but it still adds up more than anticipated.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

I did not think that enough Italian was incoorperated into the week for me to fully improve.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? It will be the best experience of your life.