Italy: How I Fell Head Over Heels for an Entire Country Past Review
By Zoe C (Cinema And Media Studies, Carleton College) for
GEO: Siena - Study Abroad Programs in Siena
It's changed me in more ways than I know. It's made me more culturally aware and has given me a deeper appreciation for the arts and art history.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I fell in love with my italian teachers. My art history teacher, an italian man, was incredibly smart and extremely passionate about italian art history. He taught us a lot about the italian renaissance and took us on invaluable field trips to museums in Florence and Rome. My italian language teacher was also fantastic. She was a wonderful patient woman who stressed the aspect of communication and speaking as primary goals for us. because of her, I was really able to get around by the end of the program. My american teacher from Oregon State University however was less than ideal. He was incredibly easy and did not take academics very seriously. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program overall was incredibly well executed. They offered cooking lessons with an amazing italian woman, held meetings with italian students to improve our italian and took us on excursions to amazing locations. I think the only problem I had with the program was my one American teachers lack of commitment to teaching and to us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My neighborhood was extremely safe, close to classes, and close to nightlife. I did not need to buy any sheets or cookware. |
| * Food: |
All the food was incredible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Carnivale |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Siena is incredibly small and safe. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It completely changes. When traveling (which I did often) you could spend between 200-300 euro per week. If you did not travel, that number would go down. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring money to travel! That is one of the most exciting and memorable aspects of Italy. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | N |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Many people speak english but the program tried to improve our italian language in many ways. We had a language lab once a week where we spoke to italian students at the university. overall just talking to italians at cafés, restaurants, bars and so forth helped immensely. |
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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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? | Say yes to everything! If you are given an opportunity to travel-- do it. If you are offered a food you've never had-- eat it! They will all be incredible experiences. |
