Packing up your life and moving to another country for a year can be a daunting, and even scary experience. However, it can also be a very exciting and fun adventure.

You are about to embark on an adventure at Villa Aurora. Most of this adventure involves figuring out some things on your own and experiencing mishaps, but we decided to give you some packing guidelines and some helpful hints that we hope will make the start of your adventure more enjoyable and a little less stressful.

Think of it as a set of guidelines or suggestions, not rules. Enjoy and don’t be afraid to try new things, have memorable adventures, and learn Italian!

From,

Returned ACA students who know what you will be going through

Spring/Summer clothing: When you arrive, it will be hot and humid. Be prepared for

a rainy season. Bring a rain jacket, umbrella, and rain boots or waterproof shoes.

These will be useful when you have to go up the hill to get from the school back to the

dorm.

Fall/Winter clothing: There is the possibility of snow, and if you’re planning to travel

to a country that has snow during winter break, then you’ll be ready! In the winter, the

dorms are cold at night. Be sure to bring warm clothes to sleep in, as the heaters in

the rooms are not always on. Warm socks/slippers are good to bring, since the dorms

are made of concrete and tile.

THE ESSENTIALS: CLOTHES

January February March April May June

36-50 37-54 43-61 46-64 52-73 59-81

July August September October November December

64-90 64-88 59-81 52-70 41-59 37-52

Average Low and High Temperatures in Florence, Italy (˚F)

Flip-flops/shower shoes: You will want them for the

community showers (girls only, guys have their own

shower) and on trips. Italians despise flip flop wearing in

public so don’t use them for everyday apparel.

Good walking shoes: There will be a lot of walking

done on every class trip as well as in the city. If you’re

not typically a walker, you will learn to love walking. The

streets there are made of cobblestone, or just plain rock

and dirt, so be prepared with comfortable, durable

shoes.

THE ESSENTIALS: CLOTHES

Students have fun despite the rain.

Church clothes: There is a church near campus as well as other activities that will require church attire. You can dress how you want, but you should be respectful.

Exercise clothing: The school has a small gym where you can exercise and a brand new soccer field. The school also organizes different athletic activities. There are also lots of trails to go running—but never go alone. Bring a friend along and enjoy the views that the Tuscany region has to offer.

THE ESSENTIALS: CLOTHES

Swim suit: Bring a comfortable swimsuit that is not flashy. During the warm weather, you will be going on school trips to places with beaches, rivers, and pools.

Dress code: The dress code there is more relaxed in comparison to Southern, but you should remain respectful and wear decent clothing to class.

A group of students visiting Manarola, one of the cities of the Cinque Terre.

English-Italian pocket dictionary: This will be very helpful during the first weeks. You can also download WordRef (a dictionary app that gives you context) and Italian English Dictionary (an app that gives you the conjugations of verbs in all tenses).

Bible: You may want to bring a Bible in your own language. It is also nice to have a dual-language Bible, but you should buy that before going abroad, since Bibles are very expensive in Italy.

Journal: It’s good to keep track of your thoughts and memories in a book or on a computer.

School supplies: The school will provide you with a notebook, a pencil, and a folder at the beginning of the school year. You should bring any other school supplies that you may need.

Computer, iPod, webcam device: Skype is one of the most convenient ways to keep in touch with loved

ones while you’re abroad. There is Wi-Fi all around campus. You may need to bring a computer for school

assignments. There are only two computers in the campus library.

External hard drive, flash drive: You will need to make space for the potential pictures and videos from

your year. You can always back them up online, but it’s good to have them on a hard drive.

Voltage converter and adapter: Voltage and outlets are different from the U.S. You can ruin your

electronics if you don’t have a 220 volt converter/adapter. You can bring your own. However, the deans

have converters, from previous ACA students, available for you.

Camera: Pictures capture memories, along with your personal experiences. There are so many beautiful

scenes you’ll want to capture and share with loved ones. Bring lots of memory cards.

Cell phones: You have 2 options when it comes to phones. If you don’t already have an unlocked smart

phone, it is cheaper to buy a prepaid one while abroad that includes a SIM card that you can load with

euros each time you need it. The other option is to buy or unlock your smart phone, before you go abroad,

you can use it with any Italian carrier. Previous students have used Wind or TIM, which gives you service

for around 13 euros a month.

Medications, contacts and solution, etc.: Bring enough of your prescription and

non-prescription medications, contact lenses, and solution for the year. It is hard

to get any kind of medication without a prescription there.

Small first-aid kit: Basic first-aid products come in handy for small emergencies.

Mosquito repellent: Bring mosquito repellent! When it rains and it’s hot,

mosquitoes can be a problem. Bug spray is expensive and is only found in

pharmacies.

Skin/hair care products: Basic brands (i.e. Pantene, Suave, etc.) can be found at

stores such as CAD and la COOP. Other brands may not be available. If you use a

special brand, bring some of these products with you.

Talk with people: Let Italy be your entertainment! Be outside. Walk the city. Meet people at the park or in a café. Do not be afraid of talking to people! The best way to learn the language is to talk constantly with the natives.

See Florence: Just because you have the opportunity to travel through Europe doesn’t mean you should forget you live in Florence. See the local sights as much as you can. You can follow The Florentine on Facebook, to see the different events going on in the city.

Pictures from home: Put them in your dorm room wall! Your roommates and friends will love to see what your family looks like and the pictures will help with homesickness.

Devotional book in English: This keeps your spirituality accessible and separate from the frustrations of another language.

Devotional book in Italian: This will help you connect your spirituality with Italian and help you learn religious words.

Students enjoying their time in the city.

Cosmetics: Unless you prefer a

specific brand or have a skin issue,

makeup is easy to find. There’s a

store that specializes in it and

constantly has sales (KIKO).

Feminine hygiene products:

Tampons are made out of harder

material and come in small

packets. Pads are more expensive

and come in small amounts.

In front of the Duomo in Florence, Italy

Find comfort in discomfort: Immersing

yourself in a different culture will not

always come easily. But that is why you are

going there. Otherwise, you could have

studied Italian in America. If you feel weird,

you’re probably on the right path.

Be Italian: Sit with the Italians at worships

and meals. You learn best by using the

language, and the Italians want to help you.

They want you to learn. So don’t surround

yourself by Americans only.

Nothing says Italian like eating a good pizza.

Packages and mail: The school has a mailing address for mail and packages. The mailing system in

Italy is slower than the American system. Homemade food items are not permitted. All packages

have to go through customs, located in Milan. If they see suspicious items they will open your

package and inspect it. Make sure to tell your loved ones to write a low price value of the package

when sending a package. If the value is high, you will have to pay an expensive fee to get the

package.

Water bottle: There are no water fountains on campus, except in the cafeteria. There are no

drinking fountains in the city, so bringing your own water bottle can save money. However, be

careful about drinking the water, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.

Cooking: There are no kitchenettes of any sort in either of the dorms. There is one centralized

kitchen used for the school chefs. They are very friendly and teach the cooking classes. If you are

nice, respectful, and show a willingness to learn, they might let you cook with them for a meal.

Don’t bring a lot of expensive, delicate items: Remember that delicate items can be worn out when traveling. You don’t want to draw too much attention to yourself by having expensive items on you. Plus, you won’t have to worry about them while you’re traveling

Mosquitos: They are a big problem at the Villa. Be aware that there may be holes in your window screen, so make sure to bring bug spray and anti-itch cream. If you ask, they will give you a wall plugin that will help.

Internet: There is Wi-Fi at the Villa. It is fast when it is working. Sometimes a storm can knock it out for a few hours.

Check your courses: Make sure you compare your courses with those of SAU and make sure that they will count for something when you get back. Take advantage of the history and religion courses offered at Villa. You can get all of these General Education courses abroad! Also, check with SAU about how many credits you will need to take in Italy so that you do not fall behind in credits. The credits do not transfer 1-to-1, so always check.

Debit card/credit card: They are necessary for buying plane and train tickets. They are great for emergencies. Make sure you’ve notified your bank because some banks will freeze the card as soon as they see international transactions. Be aware of fees for withdrawals and card usage in stores. Withdrawing a larger amount of cash is more economical than withdrawing a little bit at a time.

Money: It’s easier to carry cash (Euros) with you and have a debit or credit card for emergencies. Don’t change your dollars to Euros at the airport if you don’t have to. They have high exchange rates! Talk to the employees and students at Villa. They have helped students get the best exchange rate in the previous years.

Get a Bank of America account: It’s the only bank that gives you free withdrawals.

Exchange rate: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=USD

Passports: Keep your passport with you at all times while traveling. Do not leave it unattended. It should be kept in a safe place while traveling and during your stay at the dorms.

Other traveling documents: Keep a copy of all travel documents in a safe place. Having a backup copy helps in case of emergencies. Take your original documents only when you go outside the country. Other than that having copies is fine. This is your form of identification for any situation. Villa Aurora will also help you get a temporary ID card, so take extra passport photos.

Michael Taylor enjoys a fun day in Venice.

Backpack or daypack: This will make traveling during breaks and day trips a lot easier.

Pack just the necessary: You may want to buy more clothes while you are in Italy. It’s better to save luggage space for new clothes and souvenirs.

Emergency clothes: Pack a couple sets of clothes in your carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost.

Bus tickets: The university provides you with a monthly bus pass so you can get around the city easily.

Search for deals: Take time to search for cheap flights when traveling during break. Always plan ahead, especially if you are traveling on New Year’s. Some good sites to check include: Skyscanner, Jetcost, EasyJet and Ryanair.

Hand sanitizer/toilet paper: Take some with you when you go out. Public restrooms can be dirty or lacking in toilet paper and hand soap.

A visit to Volterra

Safe storage: Each room at the university comes with a locked closet to

store all your items and keepsakes.

Fan/heater: During the warmer weather, there are fans in some rooms.

There’s AC. During the colder weather, each room has an installed heater.

Pillow/comforter/sheets/towels/washcloths: Each week, the school

provides free laundry services for your bedding and towels.

Laundry: There is a laundry room that students can use for free. You get

two coins every week, one for the washer and one for the drier.

Be nice. When needing to talk to advisors, teachers or even peers at the school, it is more likely that they will help if you are nice first. Outside of school, try not to argue with vendors; just smile, disconnect eye contact, and keep

Boat rides in Venice

Be frugal. Everyone's financial situation is different, but the more money you can hang

on to, the more confident you will be when traveling. Always try to find good deals and

live cheap. Occasionally, it is fun to splurge on a nice dinner, show, or clothing item.

Talk to people. One of the best ways to learn about the local culture is by chatting with

people on transportation, or in markets. They will have plenty of questions to ask you as

well.

walking if not interested in their merchandise.