Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Best Little Seaside Town in Italy Past Review

By (Marketing, University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 01/18/2015 to 05/09/2015 with

SAI Study Abroad: Sorrento - Sant'Anna Institute (SA)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned how rewarding it is to experience other cultures, to learn a language, and meet people from all over the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Sant'Anna and SAI staff are extremely helpful

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

a lot of opportunities to mingle with locals through volunteer English lessons, internships in Sorrento, and home stays

* 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? Around 200 a week - unlike the question above, this includes my spending on trips, spring break, etc.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't eat out ALL the time. It is extremely tempting, especially in Italy, but cooking on your own and saving eating out for the weekends or special occasions is the best way to save money for travel.

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? No Italian experience
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? Use the language as much as you can while you are there. Download some language learning apps before you arrive.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • Location (on the coast in italy)
  • Size (small town, small program)
  • Food/Wine
* What could be improved?
  • Class Schedule
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how to pack a little better. Rain boots and a better rain jacket would have been nice, because Sorrento has a rainy season.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.