Breathtaking! Past Review

By Morgan W (Information Design and Corporate Communication, Bentley University) - abroad from 09/03/2012 to 12/13/2012 with

Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

The experience was absolutely worth while. It was opportunity to see the world, something most people don't have the chance to do. I learned the different lifestyle of an Italian family which was possible through my home stay. If I had the chance, I would do it all again in a second.

Review Photos

Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence: Direct Enrollment Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

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?
* Food:
* 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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	150 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat out less, make sure you research the cheapest means of transportation etc when traveling to other countries.

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?	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?	Beginner Spanish
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?	Immerse yourself into the language. Use it everywhere! Restaurants, stores, etc.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Host Family Food Teachers
* What could be improved?	What teachers expected from you was very vague in the classroom n/a n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	How the other people live! I traveled to 7 different countries. Seeing the different cities, food, etc really opened my eyes to what is out there.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Beginner Italian
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Stefania Lazzerini
Instruction Language:	Italian
Comments:	The course was challenging as all foreign languages are for me but the teacher was excellent. Stefania was very effective in her teaching methods and with a small class size of 12, we were encouraged to participate more. The class was assessed through two exams, 4 quizzes, homework and writing assignments as well as participation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	n/a haven't received grades yet