My Italian Experience: My Diversity Abroad Past Review

By (Interior Design., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for

University of Arkansas: Rome - UA Rome Center

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was very worthwhile. It opened my mind and allowed me to see that everything in the world is not done as it is done in America. It challenged me to think in a different manner than the way I am used to thinking about thinking about things in America (especially design related, but also in relation to everyday life).

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.

Everything about the program flows well together. Classes were Monday - Thursday, and Friday - Sunday was always different. There were mandatory site trips, free weekends, and optional out of town trips. The grading system was the same (the +/- system). The teaching method was very different, because we were able to go to the site that we studied. This rarity is what made the study abroad so special. My "textbook" was not pages bound together. It was churches that were hundreds of years old, villas that belonged to important families, and important public architecture. Even our school, Palazzo Taverna, has a rich history behind it. Being able to experience the architecture and then learn from our experience with it made learning not only fun, but also tangible. The workload was very manageable. We had a "curfew" for studio hours, which is very different from my home university, because studio never closes (hence architecture majors being known as the students who never sleep). This curfew forced me to manage my time on studio work very well.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our program helped us handle all legal matters that were required by the Italian state. They helped with mailing and apartment issues if there was a large one. There were approximately 60 students overall, and it was a great professor: student ratio (considering our level of independence). Teachers were always willing to help, even if it had nothing to do with their class.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Proximity to all necessary facilities was pleasant. Located very close to major attractions. My only complaint is that me & my roommates' apartment was uncomfortably small in comparison to all of the other students in our program.

* Food:

I love to cook, so having fresh markets and several markets nearby (less than a 5 minute walk away) was great.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Weekends on which there were no assigned trips, I went many places with my roommates and other students in the program. This allowed us time to just explore the city, and see things as everyday Italians would, not just as tourists.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

There were no safety-related incidents for me. There were not prevalent health issues. I never had to use my insurance.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I could survive on €20-30 per week for food, if I am only cooking at home. A safe amount would be €75 per week if you don't plan on cooking everyday.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Weather changes often, so unless you are absolutely always prepared with something to help you in any element, be prepared to buy an umbrella, scarf, new socks after your shoes have been soaked, etc. Manage your money well, don't go souvenir crazy! If you're going to be there for a while, take time to scope out good tourist shops. They usually aren't the ones near the big sites. The souvenirs near major sites charge a LOT, because they can (think of it like would you rather buy a Mickey Mouse shirt from the mall, or from Disney World?).

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Italian 3003
Language acquisition improvement?

I practiced the language in my Italian Composition class, with everyday people on the streets, in stores and restaurants, and while watching television. Most people did NOT speak English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meeting students from different places (Rome, Philadelphia, Alabama)
  • Teaching style: learning by experiencing monuments.
  • Location of the school and apartments
* What could be improved?
  • Pre-departure information accuracy
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? ~Know some of the language before you go. ~Keep an open mind to new experiences (don't lock yourself in your room and skype with you American friends when you could be exploring!) A student majoring in architecture with the thirst for an experiential knowledge will benefit best from this program!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Historic Preservation Seminar

Course Department: ARCH 4023
Instructor: Francesco Bedeschi (and others)
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was not challenging. It presented many new concepts and schools of thought, but the material was very manageable. The final project allowed me to gain real-world historic preservation experience.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, because it is through my home university
Course Name/Rating:

Architecture of the City

Course Department: ARCH 4653
Instructor: Davide Vitali
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course allowed me to go to several historic sites around Italy, and Davide taught by giving an overview of the city planning in a specific time period, then the class would go out to the site, and learn through sketching and witnessing architecture and urban settings close-up.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, because it is through my home university
Course Name/Rating:

Italian Conversation

Course Department: ITAL 3003
Instructor: Barbara Spaccini
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: This was an excitingly challenging class, because it tested the true strength of my knowledge of the Italian language, and it bettered my fluency.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, because it is through my home university
Course Name/Rating:

Architectural Design - Rome

Course Department: ARCH 4116
Instructor: Giovanna Piga
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This design course
Credit Transfer Issues: No, because it is through my home university