Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Siena, Italy: The Perfect City Past Review

By (Physics Education, SUNY - College at Geneseo) - abroad from 05/23/2013 to 06/14/2013 with

SUNY Geneseo: Siena - Medieval and Renaissance Italian City States

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I became more confident in traveling, saw sights I never thought I would see, learned a bit of a new language, and made some great new friends. If I could go back right now, I would not think twice.

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 course was challenging for a 200-level, but not at all impossible to succeed in. Especially since we were seeing daily the things that we were learning about

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Dr. Cook did an excellent job as always.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My only wish was that the hotel had provided mini-fridges to the rooms, but maybe that's just an American thing. Our hotel was great otherwise!

* Food:

It's Italy, of course the food was amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If I had known more Italian I would have felt more at home. It's too bad the program could not have been extended a week, maybe without coursework, to allow for a more relaxed immersion into the culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Didn't have any problems, thankfully.

* Safety:

I felt perfectly safe walking around Siena at any time of day.

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)

If I had needed to spend less money, I could have; Siena was a pretty easy place to live in.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? There's really not that much you need to buy besides food except for souvenirs at the end. It's not too hard to figure out where the good deals are.

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

The Italians like you a lot more if you at least make an effort; in addition, it will open new doors and really enhance your experience.

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? None
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? Rosetta Stone, take courses, anything. I wish I had had more time beforehand to devote to studying Italian.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* 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?
  • Location
  • Learning
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Travel to location
  • More time for experiencing Siena
  • Switch the time so that we can watch the Palio!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? International travel and study is not as scary or hard as you think. It is a rewarding experience that everyone should enjoy!

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!