Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The most liberating and eye opening experience of my life! Past Review

By (Anthropology., University of Texas - San Antonio) - abroad from 06/08/2012 to 07/08/2012 with

University of Texas - San Antonio: Siena - Summer Faculty-Led Program, The Classical World - Anthropology, Art & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I found a field specialty that I want to research and turn into my life's work within cultural anthropology. This trip also changed who I am for the better and showed me a different way of life and a different perspective that I had never known before. It was definitely worthwhile and I am so glad I did this!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

What I really liked about our program orientation packet is that they included a detailed list of pharmacies and their hours of operation in case we needed anything.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Siena and never felt like I was in any kind of danger. Even at night when we would be coming home from the piazza,I always felt like we were never in danger.

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)

I never felt like I had to spend too much money on food or anything else, especially since we had to pay for our own breakfast. I always thought it was very inexpensive.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Being taught by Italian professors and getting to know them
  • The amount of personal time we had to pursue our own intrerests
  • Having classes in the morning instead of in the afternoon
* What could be improved?
  • Having more logistics outlined (housing, travel) prior to leaving
  • Being taught how to buy our own bus ticket instead of having them bought for us
  • Stressing punctuality because people were always running late
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew Italian. I know Spanish and that made a significant difference, but knowing the native language would have been way more helpful and fun to interact with the locals.