63 reviews
4.38 / 5 based on 63 reviews
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6
Mayumi L
Housing
Type of housing: With a family
Arranged by: Home university
If returning, I would choose: With other italian students
Why?
Though normally I prefer homestays, the program might have done a better job matching students with families. It is hard for sensitive students to adjust to some lifestyles.
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Personal comments
If you are worried about cleanliness, odds are you will not have problems staying with a host family. Most host families are pretty good, almost obsessed, about how clean their house is! In general, families differ in Italy just as they do anywhere else. Some are a good match, some aren't. But it's almost always very exciting, and one should never expect things to go easy or slack.
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0
g u
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Home university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
I loved my apartment and the students I lived with, but I didn't really make any lasting relationships with any Italians. Living with a family would have helped accelerate my learning of the Italian language and expose me to how Italians really live. I spoke with other students on my program recently and they still keep in touch with their host families - which I think is really cool.
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Personal comments
The housing was provided by my home university. The apartments were very clean, spacious, and close to campus and the center of town.
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Useful |
2
Mayumi L
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings<br>
Government assistance<br>
Other
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
Because I set out to do more than usual since it isn't all the time that I get to spend my time in such a beautiful place! Staying with a host family could be costly but usually worth it. Telephone was more expensive since it was the first time I had a cellphone. At home I barely used the telephone. I never really went out at night before going to Italy. I think it's changed me a lot.
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Telephone, Housing, Food, Overall, Nightlife:
was more expensive than at home.
Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Train transport is pretty cheap. I loved going to the market on wednesdays.. nice clothes and other items for cheap!
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0
Kate H
Occidental College, Los Angeles, United States
Language, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
In Italy, nothing functions without problems. Be prepared for bumps along the way, all the time.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
CET Academic programs could do a better job of integrating students with the Università per Stranieri di Siena students as well as with the regular Università di Siena students.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
I LOVED Siena and Italy. I want to come back more than anything. Take every opportunity you can and you'll never regret them.
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2
g u
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities, Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The best views of Siena are on top of the Museo Dell'Opera Metropolitana and the Fortezza. The best time to go to Siena is during the summer. The Palio - the horse race/festival Siena is known for is a must see. The Sienese get all worked up and party all through the summer representing their contradas (neighborhoods) by wearing flags. Go to Il Campo at night - have dinner, or sit around and share some wine with friends. Don't drink? Have some gelato or a granita from Gelateria Caribia.
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0
Kate H
Occidental College, Los Angeles, United States
Language, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
I traveled a lot more and the cell phone was incredibly expensive. I also cooked more than I do at home and I feel grocery items are cheaper, so I saved there. Nightlive at home is also very expensive and Siena is a very cheap city, luckily for it.
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Overall, Travel, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing:
was the same price as at home.
Nightlife, Food:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
The exchange rate is awful. The cell phones are incredibly expensive to call other countries. I suggest finding a way to have internet in your living space so that you can use Skype instead of cell phones for longer conversations.
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