3 weeks of excursion filled Italy Past Review
By Brooke Heckenberg (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 07/02/2018 to 07/20/2018 with
Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy
It helped me decipher my career path, as well as showed that I was capable of being independent. It was worthwhile and the perfect amount of time.
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. |
It was an extremely hands on type of education, which I enjoyed. I feel as if the material is so much more memorable with physically getting to experience it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on site administration was friendly, helpful, and welcoming. However, there were multiple situations that seemed very unorganized. The staff seemed to be confused with our expectations with housing and excursions, and they were unaware of what was going on. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I enjoyed the living arrangements and the longer walk to class. I saw a lot more of Sorrento than I would have if I had stayed in the dorms. |
| * Food: |
The food was certainly fresh and delicious. Majority of restaurants contain the same dishes, so distinguishing the excellent from mediocre was an enjoyable journey. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The people of Sorrento and Italians in general dont appear to be big fans of Americans. A few shops and local business were regularly not friendly. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No health issues during my study abroad, but I felt prepared with a health insurance card and awareness of the local pharmacy's and hospitals. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe during my time in Sorrento. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I enjoyed the program and would do it over again. However, I would not be the guinea pig class in order for it to be more organized. If the course had included better communication and organization, it would have been a 10/10. |
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) |
Cooking at the apartment and grocery shopping was more reasonably affordable, but much of the time its not convenient to walk 30 minutes back to the apartment when we have an hour in between an excursion. Therefore, I did eat out a lot which got expensive quickly. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | 0 |
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? | Its a lot more high speed than I intended. Every day there is a schedule. I enjoyed getting to see such a large amount of Italy in such a small time, but its not a vacation. Id call it a trip. |
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.' |
