Studying abroad in Italy can be disorienting ....whichever city a student chooses as the final destination for their semester. There are obvious cultural differences: the language, the food, the people, not to mention having to adjust to walking on cobblestone streets for the next four months, versus driving comfortably door-to-door in a climate-controlled car. Even something as mindless and natural as trying to flush the toilet might cause confusion.
This is why Umbra hosts a three-day orientation session for new students upon their arrival. Orientation includes a three-course Italian welcome dinner, small-group orientation meetings, a safety meeting with Officer Caneschi who speaks frankly of the dos, don'ts and the dangers of "Disneyland Syndrome." After an extensive orientation, students are then immersed in one-week of a survival Italian course where they learn how to navigate the nuances of their new environment. The first few weeks are challenging--especially when it comes to communication--but also exactly what students come here for.
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