Packing Suggestions

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	Before you leave How much should I bring? Money issues Documents Gifts for your host family Computer Clothing Other items Security in arriving and getting around Rome
	Before You Leave Make two xerox copies of the page of your passport with your picture. Leave one with your parents, a relative, or a friend at home. Keep the other in your luggage (separate from your passport). Do the same with a list of your health insurance card, credit card, ATM card, travelers checks, and airline ticket numbers, along with a telephone number to call for each service in case there is a problem. To call these services from Rome, you will need direct numbers, not 800 numbers.
	Pack lightly! Students always say that they ended up lugging with them more than they needed here. Do your best to pack lightly. Keep in mind that the airlines will only allow you a certain amount of luggage going and coming. Usually this is two checked bags that weigh no more than 70 pounds each, plus a small carry-on bag. Check with your airline to be sure. You will want to purchase some things here, so be sure to allow some empty space in your luggage. A good test of whether you have overpacked is to pack your luggage the day before. Once it is all packed, pick up all of your things and carry them around the outside of your house or around the block a couple of times. If you can do this with ease, then you have packed well. If you have trouble, remember that you will have to manage your bags on your own for at least 100 yards, across curbs, hills, and cobblestoned streets. The only alternative to this is to bring a bit of extra cab and tip money and travel in style. Separate the clothes and other things that you will be using during the first three days from the rest of your belongings and pack them together, either in your carry-on bag, or in a section of one of your checked bags, organized so that you can easily remove them from the rest of your luggage, even if this means putting them in a plastic shopping bag. During your first two nights in the hotel, your luggage will be stored in the hotel's luggage storage area. Italian hotel rooms are much smaller than US hotel rooms and there is simply not enough space in the rooms for three of you and three sets of semester-length luggage.
	Money Most of the expenses for the semester have been included in your tuition and program fee. You will need to plan to pay yourself for the following. Initial costs (these all must be paid in cash only) Transportation from the airport (see the page on arrival information) Lunch each day Taxi from the hotel to your host family homes (10-20 euro) Money for your permesso di soggiorno (73.12 euro), see the page Required Documents Cell phone and telephone calls (cell phones cost about 90 euro) Costs throughout the semester Dinner on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (except first Friday and Sunday) Extra laundry loads (see housing information) Internet access at internet cafes Traveling Souvenirs Going out Transportation to the airport at the end of the program Accessing Your Money You can change your dollars into European euro in many ways. In order to get the best value, keep in mind the following: US Bank Account The best way to handle your money while in Rome by accessing it through a bank account in the US that you can access via an ATM card and with internet banking capability so that you can monitor your money while in Italy. Ask your bank whether your ATM card is connected to the Plus or Cirrus networks; if so, it should work in Italy and throughout Europe about service charges for withdrawing in a foreign country (Italian banks do not add an extra service charge) whether there are some ATMs in Rome that are better to use than others. There may even be one without service charges. Important points (1) Know your PIN in numbers, since there are no letters on the ATM keypads here. (2) Have your money in the account that the ATM accesses first by default. You cannot choose between checking and savings from the ATMs abroad. Bank account in Rome Since you are only here for 14 weeks, it would not be worth your while to open a bank account in Rome. It takes quite a bit of time and energy to open (figuring out the system, getting the right documents, etc.); there is a service charge on any money that you use to open in, especially if it is a foreign check; once opened, it takes probably take a week or two or more to have access to your money. Once the account is operational, bank fees in Italy are usually rather high. All in all you would end up spending more money on these charges than you would if you leave your money in your US account and be judicious in how you access it via ATM. Cash and Traveler's Checks Avoid bringing large amounts of US dollar cash or traveler's checks with you. You get a far lower exchange rate using them and, with traveler's checks, you have to abide by the short hours and high commissions of Italian banks. It may be advisable to bring a little cash with you in case some problem arises or a small set of traveler's checks that you plan to save in case of emergency. Credit Cards A credit card is useful for restaurants, larger purchases, and for travelling expenses such as train tickets, plane tickets, and hotels. Visa and MasterCard are readily accepted for these purchases and American Express is often accepted as well. Leave your Discover Card at home, as it will not work in Italy. Ultimately, you are responsible for managing your own money. This is only advice and may not apply to your particular circumstances.
	Documents There are certain necessary documents that you must bring. See the documents page.
	Gift It would be nice to bring a small gift for your host families. Some small momento of your home town or region would be ideal.
	Computer A big question that students have is whether to bring their own laptop computer with them. Here are some things to consider: for Many students of the previous semesters have found having their own laptops helpful. You can use the laptop to write your papers. These can be turned in via any electronic medium (floppy disk, CD, email) You can bring your laptop to some Internet caf?s and libraries to connect directly to the Internet. If you are used to working with a computer, you can continue in this mode. against If your computer is stolen or damaged, this can be a big loss. All course work can be turned in handwritten. Some host families will be uncomfortable with computers plugged in for long periods of time in house. All internet cafes will have computers that you can use for email. You decide, but if you decide to bring your laptop, check with your parents' homeowner's insurance to see if you can get special coverage for loss or damage to it while you are traveling.
	Clothes Plan your semester wardrobe with interchangeable layers in mind. During the fall semester, the weather will be very hot during the first month (with no air conditioning) and quite cold during the last month, so you will need clothes that can serve in hot and cold weather. During the spring semester, the weather will be quite cold (30s & 40s) during the first two months, warming up into the 50s and 60s by April. Italians keep their heating much lower than Americans. Rain is always possible during both semesters. Shorts are fine on the street and in most informal places, but are not acceptable in churches or some public buildings like libraries. Roman washing machines are small, take quite a while to run, and the clothes are hung out to dry. For this reason, you will only be able to wash one small load each week. Bring one set of comfortable shoes that will be good for both informal and dressier occasions. Make the decision about what clothes to bring more than once, taking out some each time.
	Other items (suggestions) Medicine. If you bring prescription medicine, keep it in its original bottle. Check with your doctor about the possibility of getting this medicine in Italy. Basic cold and cough medicine and aspirins are available here, but if you like a certain type, it is a good idea to bring along a modest supply. Toiletries. Most of your favorite toiletries can be purchased without problem in Italy. Some hair-care products are not the same here, so if you are attached to some, you may want to bring them. Battery-operated alarm clock Electrical appliances. It is advisable not to bring any electrical appliances other than travel-ready devices like laptops and digital cameras (these have their own voltage converter built in). If you use a hair dryer, it is far more sensible to buy one here because the current is different and using a transformer with one is tricky. You may not use power voltage transformers in the homes of your host families.
	Security in Arriving and Moving Around Rome Rome is safer than most large cities of its size in the world. You are safe in the historic center of Rome walking about until late in the evening. You are unlikely to ever be in danger of your life. Minor crime, however, is always a problem in southern Europe. You should be on your guard against theft and pickpocketing. Keep your passport, credit cards, and cash on you in a safe place until you reach your destination. When you are moving about (changing planes, moving through airports, taking a train), always be aware of your passport and money. Be careful with your hand luggage and purses in the streets of Rome or getting in and out of taxis and buses. Your time in Rome should not be overshadowed by constantly looking over your shoulder. The best peace of mind comes from simply being aware of your surroundings and the knowledge that what you bring is replaceable (for example, a disposable camera may not have all the bells and whistles of an expensive one, but its quality is dependable and it holds no attraction to thieves).