Christina Forte is a junior here at UNH. She just spent the last semester in Florence, Italy. We asked her a few questions about her abroad experience:
Where did you study abroad and what program did you go through?
I studied abroad in Florence Italy through Richmond University
What did you like and dislike about your program?
I liked how we got a ton of free trips included. I got to travel to Siena for two weeks, 3 days in Venice, 2 days in London, and 3 days in Rome all included in my tuition. I liked everything about it, actually loved.
Was studying abroad more expensive than a semester at UNH?
It was the same almost the amount for tuition, but then you have to factor in traveling… and shopping.
Where you able to travel? Can you tell us about a few places you visited?
I went to so many places. I still have a few I want to go back to after I graduate. While I was there I went to London, Switzerland, Paris, Greece, and Spain (Barcelona and Ibiza). I also traveled through Italy to Venice, the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, and Rome. Each place was amazing in different ways, I could tell stories for days. Visiting the Blue Grotto in Capri and going paragliding in the Swiss Alps were definitely two of my favorite things I experienced.
What was the food like? What was your favorite meal?
The food was unreal. I really wish I kept a food journal to write about everything I ate. There wasn’t just one thing I could say was my favorite. Theres more of a top 5 list because I couldn’t narrow it down…
1. Da Micheles Pizza. (Naples, Italy) This was where they filmed EatPrayLove and she ate two entire pizzas. Now I know why. This pizza was out of this world amazing… and yes, I ate a whole pizza.
2. Giostra. (Florence, Italy) All the celebrities come here when they come to Florence. Its right on the street I lived on, which was dangerous. The pear raviolis is the thing to get here, so good.
3. Mesopotamia. (Florence, Italy) Another place really close to my apartment. Its a really well-known place for kebob wraps in Florence (not your normal american kebobs, these are shaved pork with veggies, onion, and this yogurt dressing- YUM).
4. Secret Bakery. (Florence, Italy) A bakery where they cook all the pastries for the next day. Its down a sketchy side street in Florence and charges you close to nothing for late night (freshly baked) munchies.
5. Au Pied de Cochon. (Paris, France) A well-known place in Paris for their pig hooves (actually tastes awful, i tried it). They were also known for their French Onion soup. I’ve never liked it, but this soup was to die for. I could eat it for every meal and still never get sick of it.
Did anything embarrassing happen while in Italy? (You know how we love our embarrassing moments!)
I was dancing at a club, and my friend fell and took me down with her. Lets just say that I have a great bruise to prove how hard I fell. Wiped out, actually. There were a ton of people there too, and I’m pretty sure everyone saw it happen.
Would you recommend studying abroad to others? Do you recommend your program?
Going abroad is the best thing you can do to get a different perspective on life. I’ve met people around the country from my program, and seen places other people wouldn’t have the chance to see. So start saving money and make it happen. My program, American Institute of Foreign Study (AIFS), was unbelievable. Unlike other programs, meals 5 days a week were included. This is rare and saves you more money than you can imagine. Included were trips to Venice, Rome, London, and two weeks of orientation in Siena. Its not offered by UNH anymore, but I hope UNH changes their mind, because its far superior to the other ones that don’t offer nearly as much and cost the same for tuition.