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Introduction
Benvenuti! Welcome to Syracuse University in Florence! We’re glad you’re going to be with us and are certain your time in Florence will be personally and educationally stimulating, challenging, and rewarding.
Life at the Villa Rosa
The Academic Environment
SUF continues to set and achieve standards of academic excellence with superior faculty in Florence. Your academic preparation will include traditional classroom lectures and applied cultural and language activities in Florence through visits to museums, churches, markets, and other historical sites, as well as projects within the community.
SUF Campus
Nearly 100 years old, the Villa Rossa is the center of the SUF campus. Originally a country home of Florentine nobility, the Villa Rossa is now located within a 5 minute walk of the historical center of town. SUF campus buildings retain their charm yet have been updated to meet modern standards of technology and safety.
Students/Faculty/Staff
SUF students come from over 150 different colleges and universities worldwide to share in the common experiences of international education. SUF faculty are global scholars who contribute innovative and fresh research to their academic fields. The Florence staff are firmly committed to facilitating your cultural and academic experience abroad.
Florence
The City and Culture
Florence is a Medieval and Renaissance city full of churches and museums as well as a modern city of commerce, tourism, and industry. While its charm still resides, and always will, in the art heritage of the past, it also has the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of all contemporary cities. Getting to know the city and its people, how they speak and live today, means falling into the rhythm of the place. This is as important as learning about the city’s history, art, and architecture.
The Italian People
Italians are mostly warm and welcoming people. While Italians are not as informal as Americans, they touch more and have a different concept of personal space. Be respectful of unfamiliar customs and try to immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible. The more you try to speak the language and adopt local customs of behavior, the more open they will be in return.
Most students arrive with conscious or unconscious expectations about Italian families. You will be pleasantly surprised by the versatility of modern Italian family life. The Italian family is a close unit; you will notice that even if your hosts are single persons, they will still have very strong relationships with their parents, adult children, and other relatives.
Living in Florence
You will probably be living outside the center where life is quieter and less demanding. You’ll learn to travel by bus like most Florentines who commute to school and work. You’ll learn to deal with day-to-day requirements of a city that is unique but very routine in its daily life.
SU Abroad believes that home-stays are an integral part of the academic program in Florence. There is no better and more rewarding way to acquire language skills and to become an active participant in Italian life than to live with a host family.
Due to the intense nature of their academic program, Architecture and Pre-Architecture students are exempt from the home-stay requirement. All Arts and Sciences students are required to live with host families and will be placed in private homes. If sufficient apartments are available AND if your home college’s study abroad policies allow, studio arts students may also be placed in an apartment with two to five students.
Living in an Italian Household
Our Florentine host families are carefully screened by our Housing Office and many have hosted SUF students for several years. They represent all walks of life and professions; some are traditional large families, some are retired couples, some are widowed, divorced, single parents, or young couples. All host environments have advantages and disadvantages.
Most students expect to “feel at home” from the very first moment they walk through the door. This is a legitimate expectation, but can be reached only if you give yourself time to overcome initial stress and a certain amount of culture shock before feeling comfortable. For this reason, we do not make any housing changes within the first two weeks of the program. Many students with initial concerns later express delight with their family after working through communication issues and site their homestay experience as one of the best parts of the program.
Most of the effort must be made by you—your hosts are already “at home.” Their routine life goes on with jobs, school, worries, and joys, and they expect you just to fit in and become one of the family. You may need to adjust your American sense of “privacy” to the more inclusive Italian style.
Living in an Apartment (Architecture and Pre-Architecture Students)
Apartments are reserved and assigned in advance by our Housing Office. All apartments are fully furnished, include bedding, and are equipped with basic utilities such as kitchen utensils, washing machines and televisions.
Before moving in, you will sign a housing contract. This contract will be between you and the apartment owner, but SUF facilitates the process. An English translation will be provided. When you sign the contract, you must leave a security deposit of approximately $420 dollars from your personal funds which will be offset by your first food allowance. You must also purchase a personal liability policy (approximately $45) to cover certain damages to the apartment or furnishings. The Housing Office takes care of paying the monthly rent and utilities, but you will be responsible for any additional damages and final cleaning charges.
Students are responsible for observing all rules stated in the contract and respecting the rights of other tenants in the building. Please note that the apartment cannot be sublet, nor can other people live in the apartment (or even spend a few nights) without notifying police authorities; the apartment must be kept clean and in good condition; neighbors should not be disturbed by excessive noise after 11 p.m.
Meals
If you are staying with a host family, you will receive breakfast and dinner five days of the week, and only breakfast on weekends. Budget for additional meals accordingly. Students living in apartments are responsible for all their meals.
Health, Safety, & Wellness
Personal Safety
Italians have certain expectations about drinking, dress, and social behavior. Behaving contrary to these expectations can lead to uncomfortable results. Observe the locals around you and be aware that the best way to guard your personal safety is to conform to cultural expectations. Generally, Italian women do not walk on the street alone after 10 p.m. or go to bars or discos alone. In Florence, groups of friends make sure one another gets home safely. Male students should accompany their female friends home when leaving any social occasion, art or architecture studio, or library—all the way to their door or to a cab.
Women should always accompany each other home. Walk with a roommate, take a cab home, or arrange to spend the night with a friend if you have to walk any distance alone. Even a block is too far. There is a 10% discount off the taxi fare for women traveling alone after 9 p.m. Ask the driver for the discount.
Be prepared in all cases for unsolicited comments and stares. Students can limit unwanted attention by adopting a more Italian, more “formal,” mode of dress. Occasion usually dictates apparel: Italians dress up for the evening; an overly casual appearance is not acceptable in churches and is frowned upon in museums and restaurants. This disapproval may not be direct, but you may be treated rudely and not know why!
Please see Safety and Preparing to Go or consult the SU Abroad handbook for further tips and information on safety issues.
Italian Law
The Italian police are very helpful and can be relied on if you need their assistance in any way. Plain clothed police officers are also stationed around the city. DO NOT bring or buy drugs of any kind. The laws prohibiting them are very strict. You should also beware of being in the company of others using drugs.
Doctors/Medical Supplies/Eyewear
Before leaving the U.S., please let us know if you have any special medical conditions that may require a doctor’s attention. We treat this information as confidential.
Syracuse University is a member of International SOS, a service that provides students with information about and access to a full range of medical and emergency services including travel, health, and safety advisories, referrals to English speaking doctors, and care assessment and translation services in case of hospitalization. See http://www.internationalsos.com for further information.
SUF has a qualified English-speaking doctor who visits students at the Villa Rossa for two hours twice a week. Should you need specialized medical care, SUF has a list of doctors who have provided medical services in the past. All are English-speaking and some will even make house calls. Medical services in Italy can be just as expensive as they are in the United States. You will be expected to pay for these services in cash when they are rendered. Be sure to keep receipts, in order to be reimbursed by your insurance company.
If you take prescription medication, bring enough with you for the entire semester. Have your doctor provide you with a prescription that gives the generic breakdown and dosage of your medication. You may need to present the prescription at customs. It will also come in handy if you need to fill your prescription overseas. Do not have your parents send medication overseas by mail.
If you wear glasses or contacts, bring an extra pair in case of breakage or loss. Don’t forget to bring your prescription.
Health and Accident Insurance
You must have valid health and accident insurance for the duration of your program in Florence. Upon arrival, students are required by Italian law to obtain additional emergency healthcare coverage which will be used for processing your permesso application. Refer to the Study Abroad Handbook for more complete information on insurance.
Counseling Services
SUF provides counseling services, and a staff member is always available to discuss any academic or personal problems that you may experience. You should be aware, however, that study abroad programs cannot duplicate the level of counseling support that students may receive on their home campuses.
Please let us know if you have a special academic concern (such as a learning disability), or a medical or psychological concern (such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder). We cannot provide appropriate support and assistance unless we are provided with information in advance of the start of the program.
Banking & Budgeting
Banking
The best way to get money in Florence, most or Italy, and the rest of Europe is with a Visa or MasterCard with an international PIN. Checking account debit cards linked to an international Visa or MasterCard network like PLUS or CIRRUS will get the best exchange rate. You will be charged a service fee for each international transaction. Check with your bank about international debit card usage and call your credit card company to notify them of your travel dates and destinations.
The second best way is Travelers Checks or Cash. When purchasing traveler's checks, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind- check with your bank about what will work best for you. American Express offices cash their own traveler's checks without charging an additional fee. Banks charge a fee for cashing traveler's checks and for converting dollars to euros.
If, in an emergency, your family must send you money, it must be in one of these forms:
Western Union- You must take your passport and the confirmation number (given to sender at time of transaction) to any Western Union location to pick up your money.
Cashier’s Check
Money Order
International Money Order
Bank Draft- A bank draft must be sent through the school's bank the 'Cassa di Risparmio' addressed in this EXACT way:
Cassa di Risparmio, Agenzia 44 Via degli Artisti, 8 50132 Firenze Italia Your Name, presso Syracuse University
Budgeting
The average student expenditure will be between $2,500 and $5,000 per semester. Summer students should budget for $750-2,000. These figures do not include airfare home, personal travel or lunches. The actual amount varies according to your initial budget, your tastes, and your travel plans.
Budget Considerations:
- Local Transportation: taxi, bus, bike
- Food: Students placed in private homes receive 12 meals weekly. Budget for additional meals and recreational eating and drinking.
- Personal: Gym membership, health & beauty care, laundry, phone & email use
- Academic Supplies: textbooks, course-packs, architecture/art supplies, etc.
- Entertainment: Theater, clubs, museums
General Information
Getting Around
Like most people in Florence, you will either walk or ride the bus. Moderately sized, it is possible to go almost anywhere on foot in Florence, which is certainly the best way to become acquainted with the old streets in the center of the city.
Florence is well connected by a system of public buses that connect all residential areas to the historical center. Buses run less frequently after 9:30 p.m., and most service stops around midnight. Taxis cannot be hailed, but are available either by phone or at one of the taxi stands. There is a discount for single female travelers between 9:30pm and 2:00 am.
Keeping In Touch
Most Italian hosts will not allow you to use the home phone since in Italy even local calls cost money. In the event you are allowed to use the phone, you must dial 170 to make an operator-assisted long-distance call. Most operators speak English.
Most students in Florence choose to purchase cell phones. Cell phones provide a convenient and relatively inexpensive alternative to calling cards. You will be provided with information on local vendors and plans during orientation.
Students are asked to remember computer etiquette and not use the computer labs for email and other personal use in excess during busy times. Numerous internet cafes are located throughout Florence. Postage for letters or post cards sent to the U.S.A. is .85 Euro. Generally airmail between Italy and the USA takes about ten days, although delays of two to three weeks can occur.
Newspapers and magazines in English are readily available in Florence. SUF subscribes to the Herald Tribune.
Traveling Outside Florence
Florence is centrally located in Italy’s Tuscany region. Within four hour’s travel lies all of northern and central Italy. Many beautiful and ancient hill towns are well within a weekend’s (or even a day’s) travel as are the cities of Siena, Modena, Bologna, Milan, and Pisa. Rome can be reached within a 2 hour train ride.
Return Flights
You are responsible for booking and paying for your own return flight after the end of your program.
**Summer students should NOT purchase an airline ticket before receiving written notification from SU Abroad stating to go ahead and make arrangements.
Independent Travel & Cost
If you are on a tight budget, you will have to limit your travel outside Florence, but you should be able to take day trips and occasional “overnighters” to nearby places. Students can obtain information about travel from the Office of Student Services. Costs vary depending on the amount and extent a student additionally travels. It has been estimated from our surveys that students should budget approximately $900 for these additional expenses.
You should not forget that there is more than enough to see and do in and around Florence to keep you happily occupied for the entire semester or summer.
Field Studies
A number of field studies are planned each semester for the entire student body and certain academic courses. At least three or four trips are scheduled every weekend. Often, these day trips take place on Saturday. In the event of an overnight trip, hotel accommodations are arranged by the program, but you are on your own for meals except for breakfast, which is served in the hotel. Faculty members always accompany students on these trips and lecture at the various sites. There is also free time to explore places on your own: to picnic on the grass, sit in a cafe, visit churches and museums, take photographs, and shop.
These diverse field studies are one of the most popular features of this program, and if you don't do any other traveling outside Florence, you will not leave Italy feeling cheated.
Non-U.S./Non-E.U. Citizens
If you will be traveling on a non-U.S. or non-E.U. passport, check your travel plans with the consulate of the countries that you plan to visit before you depart. You may need to apply for supplementary travel documents, such as tourist or transit visas. If you have access to the internet, you can contact most world embassies and consulates at http://www.embassy.org.
What to Bring
Your Passport and Student Visa
These documents are absolutely mandatory! For complete information regarding passports, please consult the Visa Information.
Permesso Documents
Luggage
Be sure to inquire about airline restrictions before packing or purchasing new luggage. You will have to carry your own bags when you travel and often you’ll have to walk some distance to stations or hotels. You’ll find that the best bags to take will be light and easy to carry, keeping in mind that they will take a pounding. Divide your load and remember that you should carry something on your shoulder or on your back to have your hands free to open doors, juggle maps, etc.
Among the other instructions given to you by SU Abroad, you will be asked to pack one small suitcase for use during orientation. During orientation (two days), your larger suitcases will be stored at the Villa. They will not be available to you until the day you are actually introduced to and picked up by your Italian hosts. So be sure to have all the essentials you’ll need to get through the first few days packed into that small suitcase or backpack.
Clothing
Italy begins to get chilly and damp in October and winter lasts through March. While it rarely snows, be prepared for cold, damp weather both inside and out of doors. For early Fall and Spring, think cool and comfortable. Summer months will be quite warm with occasional rainy days. An umbrella and raincoat are standard for any season. Pack versatile clothing that layers and color coordinates easily. You will inevitably buy some clothing and footwear once you arrive in Italy so PACK LIGHT.
Computers & Electronics
SUF offers wireless connectivity as well as 40 networked PCs for student use. Availability may be limited compared to what you may be used to and you will not be able to connect to the web from your home-stay residence. Should you decide to bring your laptop with you, carry it as hand luggage on the plane. Do not ship a computer to Italy! You risk considerable delays and exorbitant import taxes.
Our advice is NOT to bring electrical appliances if you can do without, consider buying inexpensive ones here. If you do bring any personal appliances, remember to bring an appropriate voltage converter AND adapter.
Arrival & Orientation
Travel with Our Group
If you travel with the group from New York to Florence with SU Abroad staff and faculty, plan to relax on your way to Florence and use the time to become acquainted with your fellow students. You will fly into Italy and be met on arrival by Syracuse University Center staff members.
You will then go immediately by private bus to your orientation hotel in Florence.
Independent Travel
If you choose to travel independently to Italy, you will have to find your own way to Florence and are responsible for making and paying for all connections. Flights from the U.S. arrive either in Milan, Pisa, or Rome. It is possible to fly directly into Florence from many other European cities.
In Milan, you must get a connecting bus from the airport to the train station, buy a ticket, and take the train to Florence—a three-and-a-half to four-hour trip.
In Rome, a train will take you to the train station where you catch the train to Florence. Assume at least a three-hour trip to Florence.
In Pisa, a train takes you directly from the airport to Florence. The trip is about one hour. Pisa and Florence do not accommodate the larger transatlantic airplanes, however. If you plan to arrive in Pisa it will probably be necessary to fly into another European city to change flights.
Once in Florence, you should report directly to the orientation hotel. If you arrive a day or more before the group, report to the SU Center.
Independent travelers receive a special information packet with the location, date, and time they are to report to the Syracuse University Florence Center.
Orientation
During orientation you will stay in a hotel in Florence and eat in a nearby restaurant. The orientation program includes a cultural orientation to Italy, practical hints on transportation, telephone use, academic advising, and registration. The orientation period gives you a chance to get over jet lag before classes start. It also provides many opportunities to meet the staff and faculty of the Florence Center, and most importantly, to meet your fellow students. You will have had a very full day of traveling, so expect the jet lag and fatigue to be intense! During the orientation period you will move from the orientation hotel to your living accommodations. Now you are ready to begin classes and to really discover Florence!
Conclusion: Ciao, Firenze!
Adjusting to a new culture affects every aspect of your life. Take full advantage of living in Florence. The essential key to adjustment is, of course, getting involved, learning the language, and forming friendships with Italians. Don’t be satisfied with just going to class and hanging out with other American students. You have made the significant decision to study in Italy: you will have a much richer and more rewarding experience if you make the effort to meet Italians and engage in the history, culture, and language around you.
Florence has a lot to offer, so be adventurous and open. Learn the city through your feet; roam with open eyes, learn the names of the streets and piazzas. While you’re roaming, read signs, and newspaper headlines. When you go out in the evening, try to go with Italians and to places less frequented by Americans. Take advantage of cultural activities in the city and the many events organized by your program staff.
And finally, one student summed up his experience in Florence with a single word:
discovery...
“Discovering Vivoli ice cream for the first time, discovering the majestic beauty of the Duomo, discovering my appreciation for art while walking through the Uffizzi, discovering that I can live without a hot shower every day of my life, discovering the awesome capabilities of man in constructing a city as beautiful as Florence, discovering myself as a minority in a foreign country...”
These and many other exciting discoveries await you in Florence. Your semester or summer abroad will be one of the most enriching and unforgettable experiences of your life!
Before you Go Remember:
- Call your bank and credit card company to inquire about international transaction fees and to notify them of your travel dates and destinations.
- Make copies of important documents (visa, passport, travelers' checks, credit cards, etc) to leave with a trusted friend of family member.
- Read up on your destination.
- Fill all medical prescriptions for your entire journey abroad. This may require contacting your insurance ahead of time.
- Notify SU Abroad if you have any special medical and/or psychological needs or conditions.