Nothing that I expected but everything that I needed Past Review
By Candra C (Globalization, SUNY - Albany) - abroad from 01/28/2014 to 05/17/2014 with
Florence University of The Arts: Florence - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
No matter where you are, you are never alone. You will bits and pieces of yourself all over the World. You will experience every single emotion all at once and when you come back, you will never be the same. DEFINITELY WORTH IT
Review Photos
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Provided apartments in the city center of Florence. Mine happened to be on the Oltrarno side and in a quiet street across the Pitti Palace…amazing! |
| * Food: |
Credits for university cafe and restaurant were a part of program costs and was okay but the food in Italy…speaks for itself. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in an apartment with other American students did not allow true integration because it was harder to learn the language. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No vaccines needed to travel to Italy. Many hospitals speak on Italian so it is necessary to have a local with you if you are in that sort of situation. |
| * Safety: |
Never felt threatened in the city, whether it was in the middle of day with a group of friends, or walking home alone from a night out. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Florence is an expensive city, especially in the center. So you need to be prepared for the amount you will be spending, especially on food, travel, etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do NOT go out to eat to dinner every night. Most dinners cost a minimum of 20-25 euro in Florence and money adds up quickly, especially with the exchange rate. Therefore, cooking for yourself most of the week will help save money. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | AP French |
| 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? | It is hard when you are leaving with other Americans so if you can, avoid it. Also whenever you go out (grocery shopping, dinner, clubs, etc.) always speak the language. You will also get more respect from locals for even trying. |
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? | 0 |
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? | How expensive it would be and that the program and the experience was nothing that I expected but everything that I needed. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
