Want to Study Abroad in Italy? Start Here!

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience. Living in a foreign culture gives a certain perspective that can't be obtained in any other way, and may very well change the way you look at the world. Of all the places in the world to go, Italy is without doubt one of the most beautiful.

Although Italy is geographically a very small country (about the size of California), the cities can be incredibly different depending on where you choose to go. While in the north of Italy the weather is a bit cooler (and there is snow in the winter), the south doesn't get so frigid. 

Whereas in the north they are somewhat organized and modern, in the south things are a bit more disorganized, yet this is where you see the more traditional, strong Italian culture come out. Whereas Sicily is a bit more laid-back and relaxed, Milan is a more type-A city, similar to New York or Washington.

The the way that they speak also changes from region to region. Historically, each region, even town sometimes, has their own dialect, which are usually still used today. Among Sicilians, usually only the Sicilian language is spoken, which is true for people from Puglia, Naples, Rome, and so on. However, the standard Italian language is spoken everywhere, so don't worry.

What is relatively sure is that wherever you go, it will be beautiful, so get to choosing!

At most universities, your first step here will be to contact your study abroad advisor, which most schools have. They will likely give you a list of which programs are available for Italy, likely in the form of a big book with names, locations and contacts. If this office does not exist at your university, or you just want to go it alone, you can easily search the internet or get your hands on one of the many books that list study abroad programs. Some of the major programs in Italy are IES and AIFS, but there is really a long list to choose from.

In this process you will want to choose whether you want to do a full-immersion program or not. Full-immersion means that you attend an Italian university in Italian, whereas a non full-immersion program, which is more common, is in English, yet there is the strong possibility of remaining in an American (or British, Canadian, etc) bubble and basically turning your semester into a 4-month vacation.

• The first and most important thing to do, even if you are not doing a full-immersion program, is to learn some Italian! The vast majority of students that end up going to Italy know very little Italian, and this doesn't allow them to experience Italian culture in any real way.
• Make sure you are up-to-date about the exchange rate. Recently, it has been pretty tough for the American dollar in Europe, so if you're coming from the States, make sure that you are realistic about planning to pay for the trip. You will want to have a decent amount of spending money to take small trips around Italy and Europe.
• Be very judicious about what you choose to bring and not bring with you. The maximum that you can bring on an airplane is two checked bags and a carry on (or maybe two depending on the airline), but if you choose to bring the maximum, be prepared for a physically exhausting flight. If you choose to bring less, make sure that you are not short-changing yourself so that after a month you will be forced to buy new things.
• This almost goes without mentioning, but get all your visa paperwork in-line. The Italian bureaucracy, like most others, is a slow, horrible nightmare, so do everything as early as possible to save yourself the headache. 

When you get to Italy, the first thing you need to do is go to the local police department, or quaestura (within eight days of arriving) to get your permesso di soggiorno, or living permit. Usually the study abroad programs will take care of this for you, but either way, just make absolutely sure that you have the permit in your hands within eight days (it is really just a small piece of paper with a stamp on it), or else you will not be living legally in Italy.

Make sure you take a bit of time to take in the differences in culture. Milan, Naples and Rome are not the same thing as your college campus, so don't go get drunk and pee in the Trevi Fountain. In your first Roman adventure, don't go starting fights when something is not the way it is in your country, because you decided to come here. Even if some things seem stupid to you, it is you who are the foreigner, so learn to adapt.

You have a limited amount of time in Italy. Make the best of it! If you get a chance to take a day-trip to another part of Italy, or you are invited to dinner at an Italian home, accept! This is an experience that you will remember forever.

It is normal that people become homesick, especially given that Italian culture and living is quite different from that in the United States, Canada and many northern European countries. It is easy to get frustrated with the constant car horns, flaky public transportation, and difficulty with the language barrier, but just have patience. When it is all said and done, which are you going to remember, the bumpy bus ride or the tour of the Coliseum and incredible pasta dish afterwards?

For those of you who decide to study in Rome (which, in my very biased opinion, is the best place to do it!), check out the website I have created specifically for study abroad students in Rome, Students in Rome. Here I offer advice based on my two semesters studying here as well as years of working and understanding the culture.

No matter what city, program, or university you choose in the end, you are sure to have a great time, so get on that application! Get out, be adventurous, and take this great opportunity to live in Italy.