rhymeswitheight asked: hello! I stumbled across your blog and am thinking of applying to study abroad in Florence through SAI. The study abroad adviser at my college said they've had some negative feedback about "student support" from the SAI program but she didn't have any specifics. Could you tell me your thoughts/experiences on this?

Hi there! My experience with SAI was extremely positive and I have no complaints. They picked me up from the airport, drove me right to my dorm room, helped me with checking in, and that was only the first day. When I met with my program coordinator the first day I got there, he helped me set up my Internet and then gave me a free cell phone to use along with credit already loaded on it. I was able to call my parents right away so that they knew I was situated. The second day, we had another series of orientation events where I was able to meet other people in my program. I am still extremely close with all of my friends I met. My program coordinator and the staff were very helpful throughout my stay in London; they had scheduled events for us throughout the semester to get everyone together and to provide us with a more roundabout experience in the city. Some included a Jack the Ripper night tour and a trip to Borough Market to sample cheeses and other delicacies. Whenever I did have questions regarding things such as the Tube system and picking up friends from the airport, my program coordinator emailed me a whole list of things to take note of and what the best way was to get there. The program coordinators and staff want you to be safe while having a great time. From my experience, they went above and beyond and spoiled us with a wonderful time.