Suspension of Reality: My 3 weeks in Italy Past Review
By Bernadette M (Liberal Studies, ) for
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (SIUE): Florence - History Program in Italy
I seized the opportunity to travel that SIUE afforded me. I looked forward to the history, art, climate, and FOOD. Inspiration was found: in the weather (cold and rainy my first week), people, architecture, views, everywhere! I was never without my notebook where I jotted down observations and composed poetry. I amassed over forty poems in three weeks and turned it into my senior project.
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. |
Dr. Frick taught us in the streets, hands on. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The internet was unreliable at SRISA. In our short time they interrupted our plans to be out in the city to go over housing and other technicalities. Our group was present for a meeting only to find that it had been moved to an hour later. Adjusting the the Italian "time" or culture was frustrating for American's with limited time. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Spacious, safe location, near school. |
| * Food: |
We provided our own food. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
SRISA provided lectures on Italian poets, wine tasting, and more but our schedule was full with the syllabus provided by SIUE. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I felt save in a group. |
| 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) |
|
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be open minded and not ethnocentric. You will learn more if you are not judgmental. Go for the right reasons... not just to party. Be mature, you are representing SIUE and Americans. |
