Personal Experiences/Critique
I've always wanted to study abroad, but never thought I could since I don't know a foreign language and I'm not an undergraduate anymore. One day skimming the DI, I stumbled across an advertisement for the Pisa trip that would turn out to be the most fun trip I've ever had. Where and when else would 20 strangers be put in a foreign country where nobody speaks the language, and nobody knows where they are living and what they are doing...only studying abroad!
Language/Culture - Knowing a little Italian before going there would have been somewhat helpful, especially during the first week or so. Wherever you are, there is generally someone you can find that speaks a little English, and usually pretty well, too. A pocket dictionary and travel guide are a must. I didn't experience a culture shock, rather, an independence shock. I am used to being very independent, but it was almost impossible at first in Italy. I didn't feel comfortable going into a store to make a purchase or buying a pastry at a cafe. But that feeling diminished in a couple days as I steadily gained my bearings in the new country.
Lifestyle - Everything in Italy is smaller: the garbage cans, bathrooms, portions of food, and cars. The lifestyle is very relaxed, and meals can easily be stretched out to two hours or more. Sit-down restaurants were nice because the wait staff does not rush the customers. To make things easy, tax and tip are included in the price of things. One thing to be weary of around cafés is that they may charge a sitting fee to eat there. To prevent the sitting fee, which could be a flat rate or up to around 50% of the price of the food, eat standing up, or take the food to go.
Accommodations - The living accommodations provided to me were adequate. My roommates spoke English (although the roommates of other students on the trip didn't), and they were nice. Classes were not too strenuous, and allowed plenty of time for travel and sightseeing without sacrificing grades. The coursework was interesting and the University of Pisa greeted us with a warm welcome. Daily activities were not explicitly planned. The key was to relax, and do as much as possible in the allotted time without burning out. Be forewarned, there is generally no air conditioning inside, and no clothes dryers.
Travel - The train is a simple and cheap way to travel around Italy (and Europe). They run frequently and usually on time. Traveling on the weekends was a great experience wherever we went. My personal favorite cities include Volterra and Rome. Volterra is a small medieval town in Tuscany, whose streets were filled with neighborhood flags, and claim to fame was alabaster crafts. I liked Rome because of its sheer size and marvelous ruins, fountains, buildings, and statues seemingly at every turn. Italy is the land of churches. Even if you are not religious, the churches still serve as an amazing account of ancient craftsmanship and attention to detail. I found myself imagining back hundreds of years to what it must have been like to live in another era.
All things considered, my study abroad trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity, not only because of all the things I was able to see and do in four weeks, but also because of the people I met and overall cultural experience I had. For those students in college, I would recommend studying abroad in Italy, or anywhere for that matter, and for those not in college, I highly recommend Italy as a great vacation spot.