IES Abroad - Study Abroad in Italy

I greatly enjoyed my experience abroad with the Umbra Institute. The institution was super helpful in preparing to leave the United States and provided lots of information as well as a pre-departure module that gave us important information and a “what to expect” page. Umbra also has a super up to date webpage with blurbs from past student’s which was helpful for me to see others’ experiences. Upon arrival and throughout the semester, the staff made themselves readily available to help during the adjustment period and beyond. They encouraged us to travel and experience our semester to the fullest. The staff gave us recommendations and were hands on throughout the semester. Our professors are simply the best of the best and are super knowledgeable about their fields. The school environment is welcoming and comfortable for all students which allowed me to feel equipped for learning and experimentation. There were endless ways to get involved throughout the semester through community engagement classes, volunteer opportunities, and small group involvement. I was apart of the Umbra Reps program which was a small group of six students who helped with student activities and involvement throughout the semester. I felt like I have been able to really immerse in the culture of Perugia and experience many places this semester. I will truly miss this place and this staff so much!!

Studying abroad through IES this past fall in Milan, Italy was one of the best experiences of my life. Although it sounds cliche, studying abroad really does change you for the better. Going to Italy on a plane alone leaving my family and friends behind seemed nerve racking but as soon as I stepped out of the airport into my taxi, I knew I was going to love it there. Milan was such an amazing city to study in; the food was delicious, the people were friendly and the duomo got even more beautiful every time I went to see it. Studying abroad through IES added to my experience even more. I was placed in a traditional Italian apartment in a perfect location in the city with the greatest roommates who I grew so close to over the course of the semester. I was also able to bond with my community assistant who acted as a mentor and friend throughout my time in Milan. She was from Italy herself and was able to help my roommates and I adjust to life in a foreign country. The transition from life in the US to life in Italy went very smoothly thanks to all of the resources IES provided us. Throughout my time in Milan I was able to study Italian, History of the Mafia and Fashion and Brand Management as well intern twice a week at a tech startup. Not only was I able to take classes so relevant to my host city, I had the opportunity to work there as well. Overall this experience taught me so much about myself. I have become much more independent, spontaneous and open as a result of this journey. I am so grateful I had such an amazing opportunity to study abroad and I hope to see you soon, Milano!

I attended IES Rome’s Fall program and it was a life changing experience. I had the opportunity to both enrich myself with an engaging and relevant academic curriculum and participate in numerous cultural experiences. These experiences include those orchestrated by the IES program as well as things I did independently with both the American and Italian friends I met through the program. Housing was provided in the cost, as well as spacious, regularly cleaned, and well located. The classes were admittedly less rigorous than those I was accustomed to at my US university, but were nevertheless enjoyable, interesting, and took advantage of the program’s location to incorporate excursions to relevant sites around Rome and Italy. For example, I studied Classical Roman architecture in the ruins of the Roman Forum and Renaissance art at Florence’s Uffizi, both with program classes. The Florence trip was a daytrip organized by the program for the class, and such trips are fairly common in IES Rome classes. They were certainly a highlight of the academics. The professors and other staff were almost entirely Italians with very good English skills. Language was never a problem in class. Furthermore, they were universally approachable and friendly. The program director would invite me into his office and recommend sites of historical or artistic interest to visit over the weekends. The language instruction was also of high quality. I went in knowing next to no Italian, but I left with a decent level of proficiency, enough to join Italian friends for Italophone dinners. The program housed many of its students, including those of us in my apartment, with local Italian students. This was probably the best part of the program. In making friends with my Italian roommate, I was exposed to a host of cultural events, attitudes, and quirks that would be otherwise inaccessible. This was radically different than being a tourist or a simple visitor. With this program, I was able to live in Italy like a true Italian!

IES -Study in Tuscany is a great program if you are looking for a smaller group program to get immersed in Tuscan culture while taking classes with less than 10 classmates. You will get the chance to live in the center of Siena, learn about authentic Italian culture and cuisine, while making friends not only of your program but with people from the local community. Siena is known for its great university, so it is considered a "college city" within Italy. Classes in IES are in English and language classes are available for all levels. I highly recommend taking one course at the local university as well. You can have the chance to make friends outside of your program too! Siena is more of a medieval town rather than a big city, still during the end of the spring and at beginning of the fall there are a lot of tourists who visit the city, but still remains authentic comparing to the metropolitan cities in Italy. I would totally recommend this program if you want a break from our busy life style we have at our American universities, and want to experience a little bit of a more relaxing and fun time while still having the chance to learn a lot about Italian language, culture and history. People are super friendly with exchange students, in fact the Erasmus network organizes activities like wine tours, tournaments, parties and other extracurricular activities to have a lot of fun after class or during the weekends. Although Siena is considered a predominant catholic place, there are several options for Christians, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim students. You just need to ask the program coordinator for information. If you practice a sport there is a center outside the city walls where you can find a swimming pool and a soccer field. The university offer the students a basketball court but again, you will need to ask for a specific information of time and rules of usage when you get there. If you are a going out type of person, there are bars opened during the week and weekends. Night clubs like Vanilla and Sotto Sopra are available outside the city wall. The Erasmus network organizes some parties with buses that take you there and back - with special discounts for students. If you prefer to just hang out with friends Piazza del Campo is a great place to just sit, have a conversation and enjoy the night. The experience of going abroad is definitely what you do with it and up to you to have a great time. IES Siena provides you all what you need to have the time of your life and it is indeed up to you how you get to live it! I highly recommend this program, I had no regrets of all the things I have learned and lived there.

When I was first leaving for abroad, I was very nervous about having to start over with many aspects I had already concurred in my home university. Making new friends, becoming comfortable in a new location, and adjusting to a new culture were all things I had done two year prior at my College, and I was dreading having to do it again. Yet, when I got to Milan, throughout the four months I grew more personally than I have ever done before. The program was so welcoming, accommodating, and friendly that making friends and adjusting was quite effortless. Italian culture is very friendly and talkative, so meeting Italians and becoming comfortable within a new culture also did not take that long. Yet, most importantly perhaps, I learned how to be comfortable with myself in such an uncomfortable situation. You will inevitably find yourself having to eat alone, navigate alone, shop alone, and other activities that are customary to do in groups in the US, and you will grow more personally because of these experiences. I think that is one of the most important aspects of study abroad, and other than IES's incredible support and academics, the opportunity to grow within a foreign and uncomfortable environment is priceless.

As a conservatory student, studying abroad can be a challenge. There are many fewer options in terms of viable study abroad programs. Thankfully, I found IES Abroad Milan's music program and I received such an incredible musical education in my semester here. Not only was the academic perspective excellent (I learned so much in my History of Italian Opera course), but there were also ample performance opportunities in the form of both concerts and opera pastiche. The caliber of the instructors was extremely high. Additionally, the program provided us with complimentary tickets to La Scala when possible, which enriched our musical education enormously by allowing us to observe performances at the highest professional and musical levels. I have made so many lasting professional and personal connections through my time at IES Abroad, and I cannot recommend this program highly enough!

Before going abroad, I had an almost instinctual draw towards Italy. Their seemingly rich culture pared with a complicated history, called me towards the rustic city of Siena in particular. No wonder too since as a history major, I was enthralled when the courses taught took me out of the classroom and in to the city. In Siena, topics were never taught strictly with theories and lectures. Most of the courses I took were centralized around the history of Italy. So if a subject ever came up in one of my courses which was hard to comprehend, my professors would walk us around the city and explain. I learned in the best way possible -- by simply being present in my new home. Siena made me feel safe and comfortable while also stretching my limits. Unlike some larger Italian cities, the Sienese people mainly spoke Italian. Everyday new I encountered new challenges, but some obstacles became a daily occurrence. For example a challenge I faced, which I am sure many of you will, was during my walk to classes. Every morning I had to stumble my way through ordering a cappuccino with my broken attempts at speaking the language. But that is where I grew. I went in to this experience with a very, very limited background in Italian, but IES required that I take an Italian course and I came out of it much more confident in myself and in this experience. If you choose Siena as your study abroad destination (which I would highly recommend) get to know the town. Get to know the locals, and get to know what they are passionate about. Especially make sure to familiarize yourself with the Palio. Believe me, you will not regret it. All in all, go, and take in as much as you can. Because through this IES program, Siena is your classroom.

I studied abroad the Summer of 2017 in Siena. IES Siena was amazing - the program coordinators were wonderful, available often and always very helpful. I lived in an apartment with one US roommate and one IES Resident Assistant (we were the only apartment with a live-in RA). The RA was amazing, gave great advice - from the best restaurants in the city to fun day trips away from Siena - and is one of many great friends I made during my time in Siena. The program itself is the perfect combination between classes/schoolwork and culture. You’re in class for a couple hours each day, but have no class on Fridays. As such, you’re given time to explore Siena and visit different cities in Italy. The program really seemed to understand that while you were obviously in Italy to take classes, part of being there was also to learn a new language and culture, so they gave you plenty of time outside of class to do so. Something to keep in mind is that the number of students in the actual program was fairly small - there were only about 12 of us during summer term. Regarding the city of Siena, the city is relatively small compared to Rome or Florence, but the plus side is that it is incredibly safe and the people are some of the most friendly and open I have met during my travels. Siena also has a very unique history and culture, which is amazing to learn about and get to be a part of. As a whole, I can’t say enough good things about IES Siena, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of studying abroad there!

Food, art, fashion, music, business, and so much more! I participated in the IES Abroad Italy Today program during the spring semester of 2016! I lived in a homestay with a family who showed me the Milanese lifestyle. From there on I took a vested interest in getting to know the locals and the city. I made relationships and memories that I cherish everyday. I took classes in Italian Language, Italian Design, Environmental Sustainability & Social Innovation, and Transcultural Psychology. The classroom excursions were an experiential way to learn, observe, and apply what we were learning from the classroom. For instance, in Italian Design my classmates and I designed our own lamp in a lab. We truly put theory into practice. Even more so I enjoyed attending cultural events throughout the program. I took part in a cultural language exchange program at IES Abroad Milan. This particular program was perfect for me because I wanted to learn and practice my Italian speaking skills. In time, I began speaking the language with more confidence as I immersed myself into the culture and practiced the language with friends, locals, and my host family. The best part about studying abroad is that you learn to expect the unexpected. You come to live with more responsibility yet with the opportunity to make what you want out of your experiences. When learning happened outside the classroom, my world view and desk view became one in the same.

Photos

I spent my fall semester of the year 2016 with IES Abroad Rome, and it was incredible. There were many obstacles that I immediately encountered upon arrival. I had never travelled outside of the United States of America before, so the sense of disorientation was jarring and frightening. I was thrilled to have the opportunity, but I felt so overwhelmed that I worried I wasn't going to enjoy being abroad. Luckily, I was in the hands of a caring faculty well-accustomed to nervous students like myself. IES had a support system for me already set in place; I could talk to professors, administrative officers, and the ever-lovable ISCs (Italian-Speaking Student Companions). The IES Abroad Rome's Program also took us on a few field trips, both around Rome and out to other Italian cities like Siena and Pompeii. While there is strengths in numbers, sometimes I wished I had gone by myself to these places - later on, during Fall Break, I did. That being said, IES works really hard to organize trips with guides and information a solo traveller wouldn't otherwise have access to. Did you know, for example, that there's a saying among the people in Siena that says the curly-haired woman is capricious? With each curl, our tour guide explained, she changes her mind. As someone with a headful of curls, I was at first offended, but then I changed my mind. Cultural immersion is not, I've decided, something that any school or program can enforce. IES gave me all of the tools - Italian language courses, social time with the ISCs, and my homestay option. I chose to take advantage of those, even though I could have only spoken to or hung out with other American students. I had only taken two Italian language classes at my home university, and that was a year before I decided to go abroad to Rome - I basically knew nothing. Upon returning, I have since tested into a junior/senior standing translation course. That improvement is something IES and I accomplished together.

Photos

I knew for years, even before college, that I wanted to study abroad for a semester in college. As just a freshman in college, at The College of Wooster, I decided to apply to IES Abroad's Rome program for the Spring semester of my Sophomore year. I knew Rome would be an amazing opportunity for me since I am a Classical Studies and Archaeology double major--but my experience abroad exceeded even my expectations. Through IES, I was able to live with an incredible host family who made me instantly feel at home and provided me with an unparalleled cultural immersion experience. I also was able to participate in an archaeology internship with the American Academy in Rome, which proved to be incredibly valuable to my career goals and educational experience. Additionally, through IES's classes, I learned an unbelievable amount about the city I was living in--its people, its political and cultural past, its archaeology, and more. I also was able to learn Italian at a faster pace than I could ever have done in the U.S. (something my host family also played a major role in as well). Overall, I had the most memorable experiences, learned many valuable life skills and lessons, met so many incredible people, and I would do it all over again in heartbeat. I'm mid-semester at my home institution and still I think of Rome and Italy often, but I know I'll return to the city I called home for months--it's just a matter of when and not if!