63 reviews
4.38 / 5 based on 63 reviews
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Mayumi L
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Nightlife, Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
For dance club enthusiasts, Florence is your best bet, but there is always Tendenza's. Thursday nights are usually the best. Otherwise, there are the pubs. I like Bogart Internet Rock and the Tea Room (both alongside Piazza del Mercato). Irish Pub usually doesn't have a whole lot of locals. Red Baron and (Siena) Rock Cafe are usually crowded. Watch out for crazies though.
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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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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, Nightlife, Overall, Food:
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
Mayumi L
Languages
Language of instruction: Italian
Was learning Italian a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Italian
How much did you improve your Italian?
My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I picked up things really fast. Conversationally things are not a problem. Give me a couple extra months I might have become fluent. (I was only there 3 months)
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0
Mayumi L
Overall
I wish I had known...
In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I highly recommend it, especially for those students with the University of California EAP Program.
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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
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0
Mayumi L
Academic
Course recommendations
I preferred the tutorials run by the University of California, but the courses were pretty good. I was put in intensive language instruction so I learned things quite quickly.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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