Review Overall Rating
A review on CISabroad - Semester in Perugia
Reviewed by Marissa Orlandostudent(University of Massachusetts - Amherst) on
Perugia, Italy
Small town with great opportunity for practicing speaking skills and getting to know the locals. Not much nightlife, but enough to entertain for a couple nights a week though the diversity of it is limited. Staff at Umbra Institute are supper friendly and helpful, and the locals are more than willing to talk to you and help you out as long as you're willing to talk to them too.
Review Details
-
Academics
The academic component of Umbra was great for the most part, but there were times where I would wonder when I was supposed to be able to experience the 'abroad' part of study abroad instead of just the 'study' part. The classes and teachers were all in my opinion fabulous, but perhaps overly zealous considering the cultural knowledge that can be learned from travel and perhaps could make up for a lack of in-class assignments.
-
Program Administration
Loved everyone. They all made me feel very comfortable and were able to maintain a casual professionalism that I thought was admirable.
-
Living Situation
The apartment was great but I do not understand how our roommates were picked considering it seemed like none of us had common interests or habits. Also, Umbra was a little too zealous on the cleaning of the apartments and the checks of the apartment were often scheduled in very busy times and I was left to wonder don't they know we have tests this week, or don't they know we just returned from Spring break 2 days ago?
-
Cultural Immersion
I think perhaps more could have been done to engage us with the community, perhaps in the classroom time, and to have diverse opportunities for interaction, but overall I did take it upon myself to become engaged so I was not unfulfilled.
-
Safety
You'll be warned and warned and warned about safety but I never felt truly threatened or scared. Do watch your things in public, like sitting in the piazza, because they do know you're foreign and they will notice if you're not paying attention.
-
Food
Eat everything and always try something once; you never know what never delicacy you'll discover. do not just stick with the comfortable.
-
Social Life
There's enough to be had but it's mediocre and gets a tad old after a while. There's only about 3 different pubs and 3 clubs. Drinks are about 5 euro a piece. But buy a 3 euro bottle of wine and make your own nightlife! The piazza is a great place to hang out and when the weather is warm it is completely packed with people-locals and students. Cool way to meet people or just enjoy some drinks with friends on the steps of the duomo.
-
Health Service
Never had to use them but my roommate did and she said they were easy to get to, helpful, and cheap.
-
City Life
The Galleria in the center is really something and I feel like not many people go there. Dal Mi Cocco is a must for dining and only 13 euro a meal, and Bar Centrale has the best, cheapest caffe and Caffe Morlacchi has a hip, cool vibe and delicious Umbrian-style hot chocolate, all 30 varieties.
Other Reviews on CISabroad - Semester in Perugia
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Perugia
Reviewed by Megan Mason on .
Perugia, Italy is the best place to study. Living in Perugia forced me to practice my awful Italian and helped me find the "real" Italian culture. I had my days when I did not want to be in Perugia but I remembered the beauty, history, and the people who make Perugia and I felt okay again. I do not know when it happened, but Perugia became my home.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Best time of my life
Reviewed by Kate Davis on .
This is the most memorable and meaningful experience I have ever had. I met amazing people, American and Italian, and I learned about more than what I was studying in class (which was exciting and new, as well). Before this time in Italy, I never knew how different it is from the US, and this semester definitely exposed me to the cultural differences. I didn't know if I would like a small city in Italy rather than a larger one, but it was perfect. This gave me the ability to talk with people left and right, as well as to master the city. Really, this was the best time of my life.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Amazing
Reviewed by Alyx Barnes on .
Best life learning experience I have recieved
-
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Great Friends, Great experience
Reviewed by Payton Strobel on .
Perugia is a great city, much to do and great scenery. It is centrally located in Italy, being only 2 hours from Florence and 3 from Rome. This makes travel an ease. The professors and School employees are very helpful with any question you need.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Perugia
Reviewed by jordan schnopp on .
The overall institute was somewhat childish in the teaching and administration techniques. Some teachers were not suited for course and there should be a much better description of the program and the outline of its courses.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Best Viewpoint
Reviewed by Desiree' Yeager on .
The best viewpoint in the center of Perugia in my opinion is most definatly off of Corso Vennuci at the very end in the little park. You can see the entire town all the way to Assisi on a bright sunny day. The park is very nice and can sit there and won't be bothered. The view is spectacular with all the buildings and even the countryside in the background. It is the quitensestinal italy.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Perugia is a great city to be in to learn Italy!
Reviewed by Megan Beaver on .
Studying in Perugia was an amazing experience. Living in a smaller city, you are truly immersed in the Italian culture. You are able to make friends with the locals, learn and practice your Italian everywhere you go, and the cute old man at your regular pastry and gelato shops know exactly who you are and your order. Umbra is a very small school and program, but it allows you to form great, close relationships with many of the people in the program. They offer a wide variety of interesting classes, but the classes offered fluctuate regularly, so you can not have your mind set on taking any particular class - you have to be flexible.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Perugia is the best place to study in the real Italy
Reviewed by Lisa Santaniello on .
If you want to speak Italian, learn more about Italian culture and interact with Italian students and other Italians, Perugia should be the place you go. The staff at Umbra is fantastic and the Italian professors will make sure you really learn the language.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia I had a wonderful experience here in Perugia and will CISabroad.
Reviewed by Amy Gluth on .
I would definitely recommend going to a smaller town for studying abroad, not a huge touristy one. I felt it was easier to live the true life of an Italian and you are more immersed into the culture than if there are Americans on every corner like there are in some other cities; I noticed this especially in Florence. Perugia is a great little town and I loved my time here.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Perugia
Reviewed by Hannah Unger on .
Perugia is the perfect city to study abroad in if you are interested in learning the language, meeting other students from all over the world, and being able to easily travel Italy.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Italian Culture
Reviewed by Meghan Baraw on .
Umbra Institute is located in the heart of Perugia, Italy. There is action all day long right outside the entrance especially when the weather is nice. Perugia is a wonderfully beautiful hill top town full of many surprises that will last a whole semester. When compared to Florence or Rome, Perugia and more specifically Umbra, tend to have a more cultural feel. The Umbra students are surrounded by Perugian locals as opposed to the larger cities where a good chunk of the population is american students.
-
CISabroad - Semester in Perugia Nice
Reviewed by Randal Sartor on .
Perugia itself offers so much to discover and explore. You can find anything you are looking for. There is enough free time to travel and do anything you please. It is a life changing, indescribable experience.