An Unforgettable Month September 10, 2022
By Abigail T (Williston Northampton School) - abroad from 07/01/2022 to 07/30/2022 with
The Experiment: Italy: Culinary Training and Culture
I gained confidence in my adaptability and connection skills and it was definitely a worth while experience
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I went on The Experiment in International Living's trip to Italy this past July and it was an incredibly unique and exciting experience. I got to see new places and experience new things all while learning about Italian culture and cuisines and connecting with the other kids in my group along the way. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The in country partners and individual group leaders were amazing and really helped the trip go smoothly. Overall it was a very positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to really get a feel for many of the different parts of Italy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The hotels were nice and in safe areas, not all of them were air conditioned though and it got very hot. |
| * Food: |
If you like pizza and pasta this is the trip for you! There was not a lot of variety but the quality was always very high/ |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It is hard not to feel like a tourist even after being there for a month but you get used to the feeling of being in Italy after a while which is cool. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
If access to healthcare was needed, it would be provided. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe while there and the program did a good job keeping us in safe areas. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really enjoyed being in Italy, the lack of language training makes me think I maybe should have picked a program in which I had previous language training so I could have further immersed myself in the culture but it was still a good experience. |
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) |
Money for food was a part of the initial cost of the program so we did not really have to worry about it once we were there. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40-50ish but that is not necessary, it was just me. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We had some training but not much and they did not really encourage us to use the language, they would help you say things if you asked but it was really individual choice. |
| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Duolingo |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
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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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? | To do more prior language training and to bring more shampoo and conditioner. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
