Bellissimissimissima Past Review
By Anthony Terenzio (Loyola University Chicago) - abroad from 01/16/2017 to 04/28/2017 with
Loyola University Chicago: Rome - John Felice Rome Center
Language skills, adaptability, travelling skills, you name it. So worthwhile.
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. |
Really engaging classes, but never overwhelming--still plenty of time to explore and travel. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The campus staff was attentive, kind, and very helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Pretty standard dorm arrangements. Very social, so this was fun, but a bunkbed is a bunkbed. |
| * Food: |
People complain about this, but I didn't have a problem with it. The servers are locals and they are super sweet, and the simple pastas were always a safe bet. There was also the snack bar for more options a-la-carte, and it was never disappointing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The campus is located in a residential area, so you get some relief from the tourist bubble. I was buddies with the butcher from down the block by the end of the term. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any issues, but my roommate had a litany of food allergies and they seemed to take care of him. |
| * Safety: |
Rome is very safe. Obviously, standard big-city rules apply: watch your belongings, don't travel alone at night, etc. However, coming from Chicago, this felt incredibly safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was amazing. I'd do it again 1000x. |
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) |
As far as food, everything is cheap and delicious. Nightlife is relatively similar to what I'm used to in Chicago--midrange to expensive but not crazy. Travel is insanely cheap if you know where to look (RyanAir!!!) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | If I went out to dinner once, bars twice, and lunch once, I would probably spend 70-80 Euros. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat local, avoid tourist traps, and fly ryanair. |
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? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3rd semester of Italian language instruction |
| 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? | Just try. Don't be afraid to mess up. Talk to locals as much as possible, they are really encouraging when you show effort, and they'll tell you your Italian is beautiful even when you know it's crap, so don't be afraid. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? |
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? | I could have done a whole year |
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. |
