Common Study Abroad FAQs

When will students have time to visit home?
For First Year Abroad(FYA) students, the best time to visit home would be in December, during winter break. Visit our FYA page to see exact program dates and breaks.

 

How can I contact my student during his/her time abroad?
Michelle Futo, a Student Recruiter, wrote a great article on this earlier this summer so check out her post at this link (nolereservations.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-alleviate-your-parents-worries.html). When I was abroad I chose to FaceTime from my sister’s iPod with my whole family in the room. Check out your options and consider whichever is best for your situation before you go abroad.

 

What about money?
In our three Europe locations, students will need to take out local currency (Euro for Valencia and Florence and the British pound for London). Paying in cash is highly recommended since many banks and credit card companies will charge a fee for using a credit card outside of the U.S. Speaking from personal experience, I would say to go to your local bank and buy $300-400 worth of currency before you go abroad. It’s good to have some money when you arrive, so you’re not scrambling around looking for an ATM the first couple of hours in your new home.

Throughout your trip you will want to make withdrawals of currency. Make sure you do this in larger increments to make it worth the convenience fee. Keep money you won’t be using in your safe in the residence hall room and be sure not to carry more than $50 worth of money with you around town.  

I would also recommend making a budget before you go and to discuss this with your parents about money before you leave so no one is taken by surprise. Use Google Docs to write your budget written down and share it with your parents.This organization will help you keep track of spending.

Contact your bank as well so you don’t have to worry about any denied transactions while you’re abroad.

 

How many hours will I have to take abroad?
Program fees cover up to 16 hours in the Fall and Spring and 3 to 16 hours in the Summer semesters. In order to receive Bright Futures or Florida Pre Paid, you will need to enroll in a minimum of 12 hours for Fall and Spring and 6 hours for Summer. FYA student's program fees cover up to 49 credit hours. FYA students must complete minimum of 36 FSU credit hours and maintain a 3.0 GPA in those classes in order to receive in-state tuition upon return to FSU. Please note, credit hours vary based on programs and length of stay. Please refer to our website for the specific amount of credits included.

Closer to your program date, you will receive an email telling you to register for classes as well as specific instructions on how to find the classes offered in your abroad location on the my.fsu.edu page.

 

Is English spoken in the program locations?
All classes (except language classes) will be taught in English. Although, there is no guarantee that the citizens around you will be proficient in English. Make sure you buy a phrasebook or download an app like Duolingo to help learn some of the language. I can’t stress how important it is to learn some basic phrases (and possible responses to those phrases) in case you get lost. Most taxi drivers will not speak English so be sure you know how to get to your destination and back in the local language (including cities you visit outside of your study location); also have the address written down in case you can’t pronounce the address. Knowing those key phrases goes a long way to making a good impression on the people of your host country.

 

What can I expect in my classes when I study abroad?
When you study abroad, many of your classes will be taught by FSU professors or local faculty. These people are experts in their particular course subject . Therefore, you can expect classes to be very similar to the ones you are taking at the Tallahassee campus. Classes abroad, however, are much smaller than in Tallahassee. So small, that your absence or tardiness will be noticed and may negatively impact your grade. Textbooks are also very important when you go abroad. The best idea is to purchase them before you leave and bring your textbooks overseas. Shipping textbooks from the US is not advisable since the package will have to go through customs where you may be charged more than you paid for the textbook. Also, the book may not arrive until several weeks after your program starts (for this same reason we recommend that parents do not send their students care packages while abroad).

Since class sizes are very small and you are most likely in a city full of things to do, you will be walking around the city for a lot of your classes. Professors like take advantage of the opportunity to show students city highlights and how they apply to the course content. Bring clothes and shoes that are comfortable for walking!

 

Will I be picked up and dropped off at the airport at the beginning and end of my program?
Your program fees will include airport pickup for most locations. If, for some reason, your flight will not arrive in time for pickup, you will need to find transportation to the study center on your own. A few months before you leave, you will be emailed a pre departure information packet. In this packet there will be specific airport pickup times. The packet will also include instructions on how to get to the airport pickup location and how to get to the study center. The FSU International Programs department suggests printing out this packet and keeping it in your carry-on in case something happens to your luggage.

Since everyone will have different travel plans, there is no group drop-off at the airport at the end of the program. However, when you check out of the study center, the program assistants will call you a taxi to get you safely to the airport.  

 

What travel documents will I need to travel Europe?
To enter the country for your program, you will need a passport. When traveling outside of your host country, you will need to bring your passport as a form of identification. Before you leave, make a photocopy of your passport for your parents or guardians to keep in case of an emergency. When you get to the study center, they will also make a copy of your passport for their record. When traveling, keep your passport in a carry-on bag but not in a front pocket for maximum accident protection.

 

What do I pack?
The main thing you need to pack for your time abroad is a rain jacket (or umbrella) and a couple pairs of comfortable walking shoes (you will be walking A LOT). Do some research on what type of converter you need for electronics and bring the appropriate one. If you’re traveling in the summer, you may want to bring sunscreen and/or bug spray. You will also want to bring a laptop, many assignments need to be done online; our study centers all have wifi available for students.

Electric appliances like hair dryers, straighteners, etc. should not be brought over.

Written by: Kevin Smith, 2015-2016 Student Recruiter

Florence 1975

 

I’ve always been fascinated with communication, so in my senior year of college, I decided to put that passion to use and go on the Florence Program. I was a music student at FSU and ended up taking basic studies throughout my four years, so I could also tend to music making. My freshman year I was shocked to learn that even instrumentalists had to sing.  Not only did we have to sing, we learned to do so in Italian. That experience made going on the Florence Program a natural choice.

Forty years later my Italian alter ego is still fun to flaunt!  The world has changed a lot and offers many virtual experiences, but there is nothing like that “we’re not in Kansas anymore” experience to give meaning to the American experience. I learned more about myself and what shapes my thoughts and attitudes in Italy than anywhere I’ve visited in the United States. 

It was intimidating to be on the program with so many art majors, but I carried my flute with me everywhere and played it in some memorable places. Some of these included inside the Ear of Dionysius, on the ruins in Agrigento, and after dinner at a Sicilian sulfur mine. 

 

Studying about Italian history gave me great insight, because I later married an Italian, took Italian citizenship, owned a home in Italy, and helped my son with his geometra (a kind of Italian high school) homework. When I want to understand what’s going on in the world, I appreciate being able to understand Italian in order to get another viewpoint not governed by the United States’ mass media.
 

Today, most young Italians understand, if not speak, English, and I heard that Florence’s famous Vivoli’s ice cream will be available at Disney's EPOC soon. So, why go on the Florence Program?  Florence is a gem that can’t be totally appreciated in a few months but one can be totally enveloped by the city and be connected with other wonderful areas in Italy while studying in Florence. Italy isn’t quite as standardized as in the United States, so one can experience interesting regional differences without going great distances.  Heck, go up in the mountains in Tuscany and see the ghiacciaie that helped to make Vivoli’s ice cream possible. 

As one understands the language and how Italians care to communicate; the Italian legal system; the Italian health care system; the Italian appreciation for historical patrimony; the Italian appreciation for the arts; the Italian love of sports; and the Italian quirky habits, one also begins to understand how Americans use English; what Americans value; along with American social systems.

Avanti Sevoia! Go for it!  Make your Italian adventure count.

Deborah Nelson

Florence, Italy, 1975 alumna

Retrospective Realizations

As I sit in the airport waiting to head home, I keep thinking about some of the things I learned while I was on my study abroad program, some of which may be helpful to others. One suggestion I have for those traveling is to keep a journal. I have a terrible memory, so I invested in a leather journal my first day in Florence, Italy and recorded all of my adventures. Without this journal, in just a few years I would forget many memories of Italy. With the same idea in mind, I also relied on the app Day One. This app is a photo journal that records the date, location and time a picture was taken, as

well as allowing you type a comment about the picture. Little things like this will help you keep track of all the experiences you have traveling. Another important tip is to make the most of your time abroad. I know that sounds obvious, but after a few days you may think taking a long nap is no big deal or skipping a museum is fine. However, it’s important to remember that your time abroad is going to come to an end, and it usually comes much faster than expected. Don't try to pack everything in at the end of your stay. I advise you to spread it out and plan accordingly. If you're not a museum person, find other activities. I love coffee and found a class that taught you how to create coffee art. I wanted to see a performance, so my friends and I attended a ballet in Fiesole, a beautiful city only 20 minutes outside of Florence. There is always something to do in a foreign city, so don't spend too much time on homework or catching up on sleep. You'll regret not doing more in the end. 

 

Author: Courtney Merolle

A Postcard from Florence

Two Florida State University students, Jordan Park and Paige Granfield,  share how studying abroad with International Programs gave them the opportunity to explore the world and broaden their horizons in the realm of education and self-discovery. 

The 5 Breathtaking Towns of Cinque Terre

 By Sarah Jean Ferraris

I first heard of Cinque Terre from my friend, Kelsey Flynn who recommended it. I can’t thank her enough for sharing her experience with me because Cinque Terre is now one of my absolute favorite places in Italy. And if you’re a photographer, this is your dream come true! I’m
paying it forward by telling you that you must put Cinque Terre at top of your list of MUST SEE places while in Italy!

     
Since I was only in Florence for the summer, time was of the essence and I was only able to allot 1 day for this trip. I wish I had more because I could’ve spent a whole week there! Cinque Terre means five villages or towns and my one-day itinerary will help you realize independent travel is not as daunting as it seems.     Keith and I had an early start and took a 7 AM train from Florence to la Spezia. From there you can take a regional train to any of the 5 towns. We stopped first at Manarola which is actually the second town. Manarola has a lot of rocks you can go cliff jumping off of. We took another train to the next town, Corniglia and then we had to climb over 300 steps because it sits at the very top of a promontory. It’s surrounded by beautiful vineyards and terraces. This is a good pit stop to take a break and eat lunch because after you have to hike 2 hours to get to the next town. The hike from Corniglia to Vernazza was my favorite part of the trip. We hiked the coastal, cliff-side trail which meant we got wonderful views of the water. As you approach the picturesque town of Vernazza, you start to see the beautiful, colorful homes and the ruins of a rustic castle. Finally, we took a train to the last town, Monterosso and swam on the beach until it was time to take the train back to Florence. 

 

Cinque Terre is so incredibly beautiful and it will leave you in awe of how spectacular nature is! Cinque Terre will change your life! It changed mine and I’d give anything to go back.

 

 

Florentine Memories

By Kristen Wharton

My time abroad began in Florence, Italy. As an Art History major, this city captured my heart, mind, and soul. The quintessential Florentine streets lined with facades of rusticated stone were a constant thrill to meander through. In the winter especially, this city maintains much of its 16^th century charm. If the architecture itself wasn’t enough, the general ambiance of this city has the ability to transcend you to the time when the Medici family, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Michelangelo roamed these very streets.

But Art History nerd in me aside, this city is truly breathtaking. I remember at the end of my first week in Florence I went for a run from our home on Via Romana down to the Ponte Vecchio and along the Arno, then up the hill to the stunning Romanesque basilica, San Minato al Monte. The road that sits right below the church, ropes around the hill to reveal the most wonderful panorama of the city. I was running along this road, literally watching this city reveal itself step by step under the “pre-sunset” sky. So captivated and entranced by the beauty of this city, I wanted to capture it and hold on to this moment forever. 

I decided to run home to grab my camera, hoping to make it back up to this spot to catch the sunset. Sprinting down the narrow streets, Italians staring at this clearly crazed foreigner, I quickly grabbed my camera and took back off towards my spot. So excited that I made it in time, I went to take my first shot…..only to find I had drained my battery while uploading pictures the night before. I just kind of gave an accepting smile, a bit humored by the fact that life always has a funny way of making the most memorable moments at a time when it is impossible to capture them in any other form but in your mind.I should know by now that putting a camera up to your face separates your eyes from your memory. Maybe it is best that instead of taking the picture with a machine, I captured it entirely naturally. A raw memory only for me.  

Here, I had found my sanctuary, a place of peace and clarity, of pure, uninhibited beauty. I had also just experienced something quite remarkable, almost like a physical burden being lifted off my shoulders, for it was at this moment that I allowed myself to let go.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome

Now, That’s Amore: A Culinary Love Affair

By Erin "Caterina" Heffernan

I went to Italy hoping to fall in love.  I wanted to find my future husband there.  Instead, I fell in love with a plate of pasta (and one of the world’s most beautiful cities).

I thought that I knew what to expect from Italian food: spaghetti, pizza, panini, mozzarella, etc but I could never have anticipated the love affair that would inevitably ensue.  From the beginning, I had moments of hesitation, but as I began to eat, I realized that I had nothing to fear.

This love began with a sandwich, a particular sandwich.  This sandwich is numero 9 from Antico Noè, a panino shop near FSU’s study center that serves some of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever eaten.  Turkey, onions, brie cheese, spicy sauce: in a word, magic.  My love for numero 9 was unrivalled by anything I had ever eaten previous to that point in my life.  That is, until I met numero 11: sausage, spinach, pecorino cheese: in a word, life-changing.    As I ate these sandwiches and walked around the beautiful city of Florence, I realized that I had never loved an item of food so much before.  My life had been changed forever and I thought that it could not possibly get better than it was at that moment.

Andrea, me and Luca in Antico Noè

I could never have guessed what fate had in store for me just around the corner, literally. 

There is a restaurant in Florence called Trattoria all’Anita.  It is just behind the Piazza della Signoria, one of Florence’s most historic squares.  Affectionately known to travelling Noles as Anita’s, this is a favorite of locals, travelers and foreign students alike.  It is here that I would first lay eyes upon the love of my life, a little dish called tortellini alla norcina.  Tortellini, sausage, tomatoes, truffle cream: in a word, everything that is good about life.  I guess you could say that it was love at first bite (pun absolutely intended).  One day, I tasted some tortellini from a friend’s plate by chance, and was so smitten that I returned to the same restaurant the next night.  I needed a whole plate of this pasta for myself, sharing was simply not an option.

Tortellini alla norcina—the goodness can just not be conveyed in a photo

As I finished the plate, Nicola, one of the waiters, walked by to ask how everything was.  I looked up at him and, without hesitation or irony, said:

           

            “C’è un posto riservato in Paradiso per il cuoco di questo piatto.”

           

            “There’s a special place in Heaven for the cook of this meal.” 

Gianni, me, Nicola, and Maurizio; the brothers who own Anita’s

This is what the plate looked like after eating norcina.

He laughed and called his brothers over so that I could tell them what I had said and everyone laughed.  Honestly, I don’t know what came over me at that moment. I was just so overcome with emotion.  It was a sublime, divine, experience; something that I only imagine could be compared to falling in love or a divine revelation.  From that day on, the brothers at Anita’s always brought me tortellini alla norcina, without even asking.  They understand that there is only one dish in the world for me.

Believe me when I say, the churches in Italy are beautiful, but if you are looking for a religious experience, you should try searching the restaurants in addition to the cathedrals. 

First Year Abroad in Florence

By Christine Lacayo

My freshman year of college I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy, for an entire year. Because of this memorable experience, I now work for International Programs to help give students the same opportunity I had.

I was originally going to be a South Carolina Game Cock but once I received a letter in the mail from Florida State stating that I could go abroad for my freshman year and receive in-state tuition upon returning to FSU, I forgot all about being a Game Cock and starting thinking about where life outside of America would take me.

Me with Friends in Arno

Here are only a handful of memories, nights, and friends I met that I miss everyday:

I miss getting lost in a beautiful city, I miss trying to figure out the word for ice for a swollen ankle and then realizing they don't sell ice in Italy, I miss eating gelato everyday and going to Venice 5 times, I miss going out and meeting Italians with my best friends Ina and Annelle, mi mancano Valeri e Gordon, I miss hearing "ciao bella" when I walk down the streets and meeting a guy named Matteo, I miss hearing that obnoxious ambulance siren every 20 minutes, I miss waking up to church bells and tuna and apple pasta picnics on the Arno, I miss walking down abbey road and meeting interesting British boys on the metro, I miss sleeping on a 16 hour bus ride to Prague, I miss getting stuck in a mini bus for half an hour because the Swiss snow was too intense for those tires, I miss getting hit on by a crêpe vendor, I miss being cordially escorted by Parisian policemen to my hotel and visiting Jim Morrison’s tomb at the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. I miss that life. My only regrets are for calling it a night too soon.

Living and studying in Italy as a freshman allowed me to mature in so many ways. I lived in the cradle of the world’s greatest art, which helped me gain an appreciation for Art History and Architecture that I never would have expected. I realized I wasn’t just a car ride away from home: I was on another continent and I had to become more independent. I traveled to many beach towns near Florence on my own, like Cinque Terre, which stands for “Five Lands.” These five villages on the Italian Riviera coast are located about two and half to three and half hours from Florence. While changing trains about three to four times, I remember getting on the wrong trains and getting lost, but that is how you learn that missing trains and getting lost in a foreign city is what traveling is all about.

Michelangelo's Tomb with Statues

Studying in Italy for an entire year, straight out of high school, helped me grow into a more global citizen. I learned I could integrate within different cultures easily, I could adapt to cultural differences quickly, I learned to modify my behaviors in ways that were more appropriate with the Italian culture, and I learned to interpret different behaviors and values that I was unfamiliar with before traveling to Italy.

Venice with my Mom

Upon returning to Tallahassee, students like the idea of having “two freshman years.” When I came back to FSU I had already established my group of friends in Italy that were like family to me. Many of them were older so they helped me get acclimated to the FSU campus. Going abroad as a freshman was a great way to transition from a high school student into the college life, and I believe everyone should have the opportunity to study abroad as early as possible.

Restaurant Suggestions in Florence

By Christine Lacayo

Although all programs in Florence provide meal tickets for most days of the week, I enjoyed eating at some of the other local restaurants. Below are some of my favorites.

Il Gatto e La Volpe- Via Ghibellina 151/r. This great Osteria serves big portions for very cheap prices. The breadsticks here are to die for and it has some of the best tasting pasta and pizza. Many American students come eat here and, apart from the food, students always return only because the friendly waiters make your evening so much more enjoyable.


Trattoria Anita- Via del Parlascio 2/r. The three brothers who own this little trattoria are very sociable and love for you to practice your Italian with them! They are open for dinner as well as lunch and they have a fantastic lunch menu. My favorite antipasto here was the bruschetta.


Gusta Pizza and Gusta Panino- Via Maggio 46. This restaurant is on the other side of the river. You should definitely venture out to Gusta Pizza because they serve the best pizza you will ever try!  Gusta Panino is right next to the pizza place and they serve delicious pastas and salads.


La Loggia degli Albizi- This little café serves great pastries, coffee, cappuccinos and lunch as well! Located a few doors down from the study center.


Antico Noe- Volta di San Piero 6/r. Located right around the corner from the study center. Here you can get the best panini you will ever try! There are about 16 or 17 different panini and they all taste amazing! You stand in line and there is menu of all of the different panini, feel free to make up your own! Try to go straight from class the line gets long quickly during lunch hours.