Once in a Lifetime Experience Past Review
By Justin S (International Business., Xavier University) - abroad from 01/16/2012 to 05/11/2012 with
SAI Study Abroad: Sorrento - Sant'Anna Institute (SA)
This was a life changing experience. It was exactly what I was looking for, in the sense that it was not just an American experience in a foreign country. It was truly an Italian experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were not a joke like you hear many study abroad students talk about, but the Professors were very understanding that the students were there for the whole experience and so many field activities and field trips were included in the curriculum. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration could not have been more helpful. Whether there were questions about living situations or even help planning a weekend trip, everyone was amazing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I did a home stay, and my situation was second to none. I am still in great contact with the woman that I stayed with and even got to know her whole family! |
| * Food: |
The food in Italy is amazing. I don't think it is possible to have a bad meal while living there. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The advantage to studying abroad in a place like Sorrento is that everyday you are interacting with locals. I myself made many local friends that I am still in touch with. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was never sick, but we did have a few students be sick in the winter and they administration was always quick to respond and get them to a doctor and medicine to treat their illness |
| * Safety: |
Sorrento is one of the safest places I have ever been. Not once was there a problem or a feeling that I was in an unsafe place. |
| 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) |
This completely depended on how many activities you wanted to participate in and how often you chose to eat out. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I ate at home a lot and so my only expenses were going out or traveling. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to cook as much as you can to 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 |
Constantly they encouraged us to practice and use Italian. It helped that Sorrento is not full of English speakers like Rome or Florence and also that my host mother did not speak English very well. |
| 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? | 201 |
| 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? | Don't use the crutch of English and truly try to get out and practice |
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? | 10+ |
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? | Nothing, honestly the fact that the experience was such a surprise and an adventure made it all that much better. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
