The IES Experience

I studied abroad using IES Rome... Awesome Experience!  Here's my comments from the website:


Mouth of Truth
Tell a lie and your head gets bit off!

Hittin' the Books
What was your favorite course?
Contemporary Italian Media taught at Roma Tre was my favorite course.  I absolutely adored my professor, the students in my class, the Italian students I met at the university and the field trip to Cinecitta (the Italian Hollywood).
Life After Class
What was your favorite local landmark?
The Coliseum is my favorite landmark; however I believe I'm biased in my answer because I lived 15 minutes walking distance from the Colosseo Metro stop.
How would you describe the IES Abroad sponsored field trips?
I loved the IES field trip to Naples, Amalfi Coast and Pompeii the most.  I found the tours very informative.  The hotel we stayed at was in Sorrento, which was very enchanting at night.  The planned dinners were amazing, loaded with several courses of great Italian food.
What was your most memorable experience?
My best memory would be from my last night in Rome.  Knowing our planes left early the next morning, all the IES students stayed out late that night.  Even though we knew it was the last time we would all be in Italy together, the love of our host city and the lifelong friendships we developed kept us strong.  Many of us took our final tour of the monuments lit up at night.  I remember the last time I saw the Coliseum - it was a bittersweet moment. I knew I would lose Italy, but I would be gaining America and my family back.
Home Sweet Home Away From Home
How would you describe your housing experience?
I felt that living in an apartment with the aid of my Italian Student Companion (ISC) was beneficial.  I liked how friendly my neighbors were.
In a Nutshell
Why IES Abroad?
IES is one of few programs affiliated with my home university that provides a selection of coursework that fits with my major.
Comments on IES Abroad staff:
My favorite professor was my Italian teacher.  She really helped to ease the tension that I first had from the shock of having to take classes in a foreign country.  She taught us so much about her culture and the Italian lifestyle.
What was the greatest challenge you faced while studying abroad?
I remember when I visited my friends studying in Spain for their last weekend there.  I had traveled alone before so I wasn't too afraid to book a flight to and from Madrid alone.  The problem happened when I missed my flight back to Rome.  Although I was scared I stayed calm.  I was told to never travel alone which I would strongly advise to others.
What is the best piece of advice you can give to new students?
Patience truly is a virtue.  At first it's hard to adjust to new rules, behaviors and even a new language.  When something doesn't work the same way as in the United States, don't let it frustrate you. Instead, try to embrace the culture and understand why things work differently. The best advice I can give is to have an open mind.
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