An Experience of a Lifetime! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

On-site administration of your program

Gustolab did an amazing job of coordinating this program to ensure that my classes met everyday, the field trips and events that I was a part of ran smoothly and the staff was always avaiable 24/7.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Initially I encountered an issue with my housing situation however I immediately notified the staff at Gustolab and they promptly resolved all my issues. They were extremely conscientious and astute about my preferences and worked with me on making my living accommodations that more comfortable. Thank you so much!

The food was amazing! I ate fresh food every day thanks to Gustolab and their recommendations. I had the best gastronomic experience of my life!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated and welcome in Rome. Rome is a melting pot and somewhat similar to other major urban cities like New York, etc. It was a pleasant surprise to see people of other cultures living in Rome and speaking Italian.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not use any healthcare facilites however I noticed that Gustolab placed me in a neighborhood that was extremely close to a hospital and a police station. I felt very comfortable in the neighborhood I was placed in.

I felt extremely safe. Again my flat was centrally located in a half residential half business area. Restaurants, banks, parks and supermarkets were all within walking distance of my flat. Gustolab chose a beautiful and pleasant neighborhood to reside in during my stay.

I learned so much about food and how Italians value eating good food and more importantly eating together. In Italy and in other courntries food is about family and friends and sharing the pleasures of eating healthy nutritious food. Italians are passionate about their food and everyday was literally a culinary experience. I appreciated the love and care that was put into each dish I was served. It was humbling experience. I would choose the same program because of the level of expertise, thought, prepartion and attention to detail that the staff took to make every walking tour, food tour, excursion class presentation so noteworthy and memorable. A lot of work was put into providing a thorough immersion of Italian culture into 5 short weeks.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Frequently but as I was not taking an Italian class I was able to get around with a small bit of Italian and English. Looking back I wish I had taken an Italian class just to speak a little bit fluently with the citizens of Rome.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Food Tours - learning about the past through food
• Visiting all the food sustainability organizations in Rome and outside of Rome
• Having the opportunity to explore the city on my own

• Housing - for me it was getting to know and living with new people