EEH

Hi everyone,

I am going to study abroad this summer for 6 weeks in either Florence, Italy or Goa, India. Problem is, I can't decide which one I would rather attend! Both programs are through my college (William & Mary) so they should both be strong academically. In Florence I would take classes in Italian language and renaissance art history and in Goa I would take classes in globalization and sociology. Both programs sound equally interesting to me and are similar in price so I'm not sure what other criteria I should use to decide. Also, I have never traveled overseas, so it is not simply a matter of "oh you've already been to country X, so go to country Y."

What advice would you give me on how to decide? If anyone has been to either Florence/Italy or Goa/India I would love to hear your thoughts.

anxiousmom

Great food in Italy. Best tomatoes and bread I've ever had. Are you interested in Europe or India?

cheers

If you've never travelled abroad, Florence offers the best opportunities for a six week period--and for your first foray into international travel.

Third world travel places an extra strain on the spirit. To understand how the majority of the world lives, Third World travel is something students should do, just not as a first trip abroad. That's my advice...

momrath

EEH, I’ve never been to Goa, but I live in Asia and have traveled extensively in the region, including India. I’ve also spent a whole lot of time in Florence.

I have to say that although Florence (Firenze!) is one of my favorite places on the planet that I would strongly suggest that you go to Goa. Florence and Italy and Europe in general are infinitely accessible. You can go there on your own for the rest of your life. Even as a “civilian” you can take advantage of language courses, history walks, museum lectures. There are a zillion books written on the subject and a tourism industry that caters to all interests and economic interests.

India on the other hand is a difficult country to approach. It’s huge and complex and fraught with social issues and a little handholding along the way of a formal introduction will help you assimilate.

Also, I can’t stress enough the importance of experiencing Asia in order to imagine it. I mean, even though you haven’t been there you can visualize what Europe is like, but India and other South and Southeast Asian countries simply have to be physically felt -- seen, smelled, heard, tasted – to get to the heart of their complexities. Whatever your major, a firsthand exposure to a developing country will help you gain a depth of understanding of the issues facing our world.

Seriousness aside, Goa also sounds like a heckuva a lot of fun for a college student.

interesteddad

I have to admit that the food in Italy is hard to beat. However, Goa offers its own gastronomic delights with its Portuguese influences. For example, it is where Lamb Vindaloo originated.

mini

Hear it from an old India hand: Goa is one big western tourist beach. You won't experience much of India unless you can figure out how to travel outside of Goa (but once you do, the possibilities are infinite.) Goa is NOT India (in fact, it wasn't even part of India until 1962). Both Florence and Goa will be teeming with summer western tourists.

At either place, you are bound to have a good time!

chocoholic

Goa was a Portuguese colony, that was finally returned to India in 1962. India is a very diverse country, and different regions provide a very unique slice of life. You will encounter tourists at certain beaches, but it is not the hippie hangout that it was in the 60's. You will be surrounded by colorful people from North and South India, as well as the local folk of Goa. You can certainly avoid the tourist areas, and find fishing villages, farms, local bars.

Florence, obviously, is gorgeous.

As Momrath said, you can experience Italy anytime. Take a backpack and hit the road. India would not be as easy to do on your own.

I am sure you would have a great time either place. What would be the dates of your visit? Goa experiences the monsoons from mid-June until mid-August, and for a newbie, it can be quite an unhappy experience.

eulenspiegel

An American could, in theory, live, work or even study in Florence without a lot of administrative handholding. I suspect that gaining any of these experiences in Asia, even India, would be more difficult. So, as I see it, if you are signing up for a program of study abroad or some other sponsered program, why not go to a place where language, culture or other barriers would present difficulties if you did it on your own? No offense, but junior year abroad in an English speaking country seems like a weenie (except possibly Oxford or Cambridge for English history majors).

EEH

Chocoholic, I would be in Goa from May 19th-June 24th. I was also concerned about the monsoons too (I hate rain, lol).

mini

Monsoon usually hits mid- to late June. Last year, the flooding was pretty terrible (many dead, lots of trains knocked out), though most of the damage was a bit to the north. May is the hot season (which means lots of beach time!)

mini

It is true that there are more wealthy Indian tourists in Goa than there have ever been before, and, as a result, bigger, plusher hotels have been replacing many of the hippie hangouts (or, more precisely, pushing them a bit off the beach.) And it is also true that you can rent a Moped in Goa and go anywhere you like. But the result of the development actually has meant fewer farms and fewer robust fishing villages, as working in the hotels as driven the local economy.

It is now much easier to do foreign study in India than ever before. In the south, English is the lingua franca.

But I guess the obvious "academic question" is "why Italy?" or "why Goa? I'm a great fan of foreign travel (actually foreign living) in any case, but if the programs don't aid you academically, aren't you better off pocketing the money and just going where you really want to be yourself? (I know, however, the first time one does that can be scary, if you don't have foreign experience, gaining some this way might be much more comfortable, and there's nothing wrong in that. But since you've never traveled overseas before - and you haven't indicated that doing so is a long-term part of your plans, I'd choose Florence - but then I've never been in that position.)

SuNa

I think an experience in Goa would change you more.

WealthOfInformation

India is more original and eye-opening.

rhf

Going to Florence would definitely be less of a culture shock. I can assure you that you would not be dissapointed with a trip to Florence. If this is your ONLY opportunity to travel to India, though, then I would take advantage of that-- it would be difficult to do so without the guidance of some organized group trip. Florence is much more accessable, and Italy is truly amazing; I will actually be traveling to Italy next week, but that's a trip you can do on your own at some later point. Good luck with the decision-- neither of your options will let you down

Citan

frankly I would go to Goa....the East is different than the West...