An experience of a lifetime Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This was quite possibly the best academic experience I've ever had. Without this program I never would have been able to learn Italian as quickly and as thoroughly as I did, and because of the classes I took I received amazing exposure to art restoration and conservation, which is a path I plan to follow in my future. This program offers a very deep and personal look at Italian life, culture, and history.

On-site administration of your program

The people in charge of administration in Florence are absolutely wonderful. They know everyone in the program by name and are some of the best resources for not only understanding the program, but understanding the city, transportation, food, etc. it is obvious that they care about the program and the students and they don't hesitate to help when someone has a question or problem.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was at a home stay with just me and my Signora, which was a very close experience because most of the time there was just the two of us. Of everyone in the program in my year I probably lived the farthest from school and centro, but the distance was definitely worth it because of my Signora. She was a great cook and loved to talk, which was probably why I picked up the language so quickly considering that her English was mostly confined to what she could point to in an Italian to English dictionary.

I believe It is impossible not to love the food in Italy. During the orientation at Pescia all food was provided, and there was a lot of it, all of which was wonderful. Back in Florence, good lunch sandwiches and produce could be found for fairly cheap throughout the city, and dinner was supplied by our home stays. Often when the school took us on weekend trips we were given a large meal to experience the local cuisine of wherever they took us.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I used public transportation and a lot of streets where you don't find many tourists, so I definitely got a good understanding of how people commute. The school definitely organized many trips geared toward understanding Italian culture and history, which was wonderful. The program also brings in local high school students to talk to and practice Italian with. For those of us who didn't feel like going out to drink on a regular basis I felt that it was difficult to connect with Florentines that were our age who weren't already involved with the program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any healthcare issues while abroad, but there is a farmacia (pharmacy/drug store) on practically every other block. The people who work at the farmacie are, as far as I could tell, helpful and speak enough English because they have to interact regularly with tourists.

The city seemed safe, even at night after the busses stopped running.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

A lot of things are covered, such as the bus pass, school trips, a museum pass, laundry, breakfast, and dinner. For the most part the only weekly expense is lunch, which can cost as little as about 20 euros a week.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

My host did not really speak English, so I had to learn the language to communicate with her. The language professors are also very helpful and supportive.

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• Host Family

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• N/A

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• Americans

• The city
• The professors
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