Fall Semester 2011: Semester Progress

Friday, 26 August 2011

Today the semester begins! The students are arriving and checking in to the orientation hotel. Two students started their travels early and have been seeing Italy and Europe for a week or so. Five students arrived yesterday and are already getting adjusted to the time change. The rest arrive today. They will be dropping off their luggage at the school and then getting their first taste of Rome by taking a 10 minute walk over to the hotel.

Morning Check in to the hotel

15.30 Depart from the hotel for an introduction to Rome.
Together, we will learn the basics of Roman life: the different types of stores, the different types of food places, what a pharmacy looks like, what a mailbox looks like, etc. We will walk through the ancient streets, practice using the buses and the metro. We’ll visit Italiaidea, where the students take their Italian classes. We’ll also have time for a first taste of gelato at one of the best gelateria in the city (Gelateria del Teatro).

18.00 Early dinner at Naumachia
While dinner time in Rome is usually 8.30pm or later, since this the students’ first few hours of Italian time, we will be having a light dinner at one of the few good places in Rome that is open at 6pm. We will have a delicious meal of assorted antipasti (mozzarella di bufala, prosciutto, salame), two half servings of pasta, and a homemade desert of cream-filled pastry baskets.

22.00 Time for an early (perhaps) bed to rest up for the full day tomorrow!


Saturday, 27 August


8.15 Breakfast in the hotel. Enjoy continental breakfast at the hotel’s buffet.

8.40 Depart with Aurora from the hotel for the walk over to the school.
Don’t forget to bring your map and your bus pass.

9.00 Introduction to studying in Italy: Expectations and Cautions
We’ll discuss together what to expect from the next four months. What are your hopes for yourself? What are you nervous about?

10.00 Health and Safety
How to make it through the semester and get the most out of it.

11.00 Coffee break

11.30 Travel tips and Roman Transportation

14.00 Lunch break

14.30 Transportation practice
The students will be divided into groups and given assigned places to visit throughout the city of Rome. Through this exercise, they will practice using maps, using various forms of transportation, and working together.

18.45 Depart for dinner: Angeli a Borgo
Our second group dinner is pizza. Pizza in Italy can be served two ways: one at a counter and purchased by the slice to go, the other sitting down in a restaurant. It is this second way that we will experience this evening.