This Is What Dreams Are Made Of Past Review

By (Western New England University) - abroad from 06/18/2016 to 07/09/2016 with

Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned the Italian lifestyle. I have a new appreciation for life and have taken back lessons that I could have never learned here in the states. This was the best 3 weeks of my entire life.

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.

The 6 credit course load was appropriate for a 3 week course, the professors were well prepared and offered adjustments when needed. The courses were appropriate to our activities and shaped our cultural experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Sant' Anna staff were kind, informative, welcoming, and friendly!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My apartment was beautiful, convenient, safe, and clean.

* Food:

Our two meals a day that were built into our program were offered by two restaurants in Italy! We were given a wide variety of options, served by friendly wait staff and saved more money than I could imagine. The food was DELICIOUS.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt completely immersed in the local culture. By the end of my 3 weeks I felt like an Italian! Tourists were asking us where to go and what to do.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any personal health issues to address.

* Safety:

I felt completely safe in Sorrento! Of course it is important to stay aware and keep your eyes open but there was no reason to feel uneasy or afraid.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

My experience with the Sant' Anna Institute and my time in Sorrento was absolutely unforgettable. The city is beautiful, the people are kind, and the school made sure we felt right at home.

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)

Thanks to having two meals a day paid for it was easier to live on a budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 150 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Come with money set aside for gifts/souvenirs. By the end of your trio you will be looking to purchase items to take home which may end up costing more than you have left.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • The beautiful city and all it has to offer
  • The activities
  • Interacting with the locals
* What could be improved?
  • I only wish I could have stayed longer and been able to speak more Italian
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how friendly the people of Sorrento are. If I would have known how much time I would spend with the locals and how often I would converse with them I would have tried to be more prepared with the Italian language.

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.