culturewarsinrome

All Things Practical -- Do Now!

 

 

For the 2008 class, you must be in Rome by noon, or 400 pm at the latest, on May 15.

This means you must leave the USA no later than May 14.

You may leave Rome the morning of May 28, but not before.

Try to stay after the program, or arrive before it, if you can: we will discuss independent travel in March.

Share your flight information so you can meet in Rome Airport: See Travel Plans on this site.

We will discuss this at our first meeting. (Establish a meeting place: The large café between Terminal B & C? (See map of airport.) Make contingency plans in case of a late flight: “I will wait until 10:30 (?) and then leave.”)

(A sample site: http://www.worldhostels.com/regions/Rome.aspx)

Want to consider a Eurail Pass?  See the travel agency in the UMC for help with details.

Movies: See Italian Film on this site. 

Reading: The Blue Guide to Rome, pp. 9-33 plus whatever else you can in this book.

            Keep passport and plane ticket in a safe place (Make this a habit!)

            Make copies of passport’s main page: for your family, yourself, and Wayne (if you want me to keep a copy for you).

            Copy of travel itinerary to Study Abroad

Record credit card info (acc’t numbers, phone numbers or web site for lost card, pins) and leave with reliable people. Memorize pin numbers (by number, not letter).

Notify credit card companies (bring 2 cards!) of your travel plans

(Debit cards tend to have lower transaction fees.)

Make a list of contact numbers: Wayne: 347.165.2247; Corlin: 333.882.7831, your family, Study Abroad, convent,                 

Get enough of any prescription medicine you might need. Get your allergy medications! Also bring any over the counter medicines as brands differ in Europe (and Americans tend to prefer American Advil). Leave medicines packed in their original bottles/containers.

Prep family on possible need to wire money or relay credit card/passport info

Western Union Money in Minutes: http://www.westernunion.com/info/osMoneyTransferOptions.asp

Tell any nervous relatives you will email them late on day 1: since there is an 8 hour time difference, they may not hear from you until May 16.

If you want to rent a cell phone, Google can help.

Get Euro? Wells Fargo Bank: 1242 Pearl St., between 13th and B’way. There is an international desk that has a separate line from the other tellers. But you can also get Euro at Bancomat or “Cambio” in Rome Airport.

 

 

Packing:  (Pack Light!): comfy shoes (running shoes and good sandals are better than flipflops), very light jacket, bathing suit, towel. Shorts are not permitted in many churches, so bring sundresses or pants. Bring a light scarf for coverning shoulders when entering churches. (Rome has stores and laundromats, so you need not bring *EVERYTHING*!). Camera, pens and a good tablet (not too small!), battery alarm clock, prescription drugs. Woolite packets (if you will do a little laundry in sinks). American sun block. arplugs can be useful on plane but also in convent if you have a room on the piazza. Put clear ID on checked luggage. Be able to describe your bag(s). If you pack light, big backpacks are more manageable than suitcases. A small bag or pack is useful for carrying textbook and notebook. E

 

DO NOT BRING LAPTOPS!  There are internet cafes, and you will be glad to have less to carry, not more!

Don't bring hair dryers: They won't work even if you have "coverter" plug. (Your cameras and MP3 players, on the other hand, should work.)

 

            Get to airport early. Be sure your suitcases have your Rome contact information on them

            Relax.       Get EURO at airport?

            Have a safe place for passport, ticket, money, credit cards: Make this a habit!

Sleep (or READ!) on the plane but be alert on transfers, esp in Europe!

 

            Proceed toward Baggage Claim, going through “Passport Control.”

If your bags do not appear, wait patiently. If they still don’t appear, go to “lost luggage” and report them. You will need a good description, baggage claim checks, and the address and phone number of our convent.

Go through Customs (“Dogana”): It is simple and you may not realize you’ve passed!

No EURO? Get some at ATM or “Cambio” in airport.

 

Get to Convent! See map handed out in class and directions on the back. (Or see http://culturewarsinrome.pbwiki.com/Directions+to+the+Convent) Try to arrive by mid-afternoon.

By taxi: just outside terminal. Confirm price for Metro Cavour.

By train: across the street and up the stairs: simple, but walking required.

 

Look for Wayne in Piazza Madonna dei Monti, May 15.

Leave hotel key at front desk on departure from hotel

Group meetings at noon and at 4:00 pm.

Get to know the neighborhood. Call or email home.

We will discuss Italian phones, phone stations, phone cards, internet cafes.

 

 

Class: Attendance, alertness, notes, punctuality

 

 

Life in the convent: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

            (Why Wayne may become exceeding angry if you drink too much.)      

 

Health, wellness, and insurance: Study Abroad Office can explain.

            Bring your prescription drugs! Use your heads.

 

Stay in the city center. Avoid deserted or seedy areas.

Pay special attention to theft near train station and on public transportation.

Emergency numbers in Italy: P. 572 of Blue Guide      AIUTO!

 

 

This document is a mere summary: For a more complete list of advice, see the Study Abroad Program Handbook