Some Bologna Facts

The university I am attending (Universitá di Bologna) is the oldest university in Europe and still one of the most important. It has educated some very notable people including Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch and Umberto Eco. Several nicknames for Bologna include: “la grassa” which means “the fat” because it is the culinary capital of Italy. It is known for tortellini and mortadella. It is also called “la dotta” or “the learned one” because of the famous university. And lastly it is also nicknamed “la rossa” meaning red because of the red rooftops and the political situation in Italy.
Bologna is the capital city of the region, Emilia-Romagna. It has a population of almost 400,000 people. It is a large college town but not a big tourist city. Its large square is Piazza Maggiore. Its main church is San Petronio. And I learned while watching Samantha Brown‘s travel show on Bologna that the church is one of the biggest in the world and that during construction it was intended to be larger than St. Peter's in Rome, but Pope Pius IV was jealous and ordered that the arms of the church be reduced, constructing buildings immediately on either side making it impossible to be large than St. Peter’s Basilica. It also boasts Bologna’s Two Towers and is known for its porticos that run everywhere in the heart of the city. It also is home to a large transportation hub- the Bologna train station (which made news when it was attacked and bombed by terrorists in 1980).

An excellent way to see the city is through this virtual tour!  

These are initial trivial facts and I can't wait to actually know the city!

About BCSP

BCSP is the program I am enrolled in and will be in contact with while studying abroad in Italy. The acronym stands for Bologna Consortial Studies Program. 
The program is an IU-sponsored program but also includes students from the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Some students participate in the full academic year option but I choose to partake in the spring semester option.
BCSP's on-site staff includes an academic resident director, a program coordinator and a housing and exchange coordinator.
There is only one other student from IU coming with me for spring semester 2009, I met her in my Masterpieces of Italian Literature Class. She is now my best friend and we are both very anxious to go!
I will be taking a PreSession class through BSCP in the month of January, this counts as three credits. Then the rest of the semster I will be taking 12 credits, 6 of which I will be taking as one class from Universita di Bologna and then two classes from BCSP: Advanced Grammar and probably the Theater and Visual Arts class. Once onsite we attend several classes and choose the one that works. You do not register for classes, only the final exam which is an oral exam with the professor (the only grade for the class!)
The program provides accommodations at a hotel for the first week while I am supposed to be finding my own apartment in the city. I have never looked for an apartment in the U.S. let alone in a foreign country in a foreign language! This is said to be one of the hardest parts of the experience but the most rewarding- everyone does find somewhere to live :) To the left is a picture of a previous students balcony view! And flyers to find apartments.

To Do List Before Departure

I have completed these:
Response Form
Agreement and Release Form
Prepayment
Advising Appointments
Orientation Meeting
Register in OVST
Get Passport
Apply for Visa
Buy Luggage
Medical History Form
Buy Travel Backpack

Have yet to do these:
Make debit card international

Buy: travel pillow, travel towel, travel alarm clock, ear plugs, new socks, extra camera card, luggage locks, luggage tags, underamour shirt, power lugs and convertors, passport cover, journals

Packing List

I have started to create a tentative packing list. I have two American Tourister new suitcases, and will have my carry on. To help I will wear my winter coat and my largest winter boats. Below is my list, feel free to comment on things that should be added!

Shoes:

• Black boots
  
• Brown highheel boots
  
• Brown winter boots
  
• Black heels
  
• Brown heels
  
• Brown puma shoes
  
• Shower sandals
  
• Black slippers

Pants:

• Jeans: 
  
• Straight
  
• Bootcut x2
  
• Wide leg
  
• 2 black
  
• 1 brown
  
• 1 navy

Skirts:

• Brown
  
• Black

Dresses: 

• Blue sweater
  
• Black nice

Weather Wear:

• Umbrella
  
• Black wool coat
  
• Scarves, hat, gloves, earmuffs
  
• Black trench
  
• Black and pink zip-ups
  
• Brown vest
  
• underamour

Jewelry
Water Bottle

• One pair of pajamas
  
• Socks: white, tall, thick
  
• Underwear
  
• One pair of sweats
  
• One pair of black workout wear
  
• Dress shirts: black, red, teal, blue
  
• Sweaters: yellow, brown, green, red
  
• Long sleeve shirts: tan, black, white 
  
• Tanks: white, black, brown, navy
  
• Going-out shirts

Toiletries:

• Hair:
  
• Defrizz gel, hairspray, brush, headbands, bobbypins, ponytail holders, clips
  
• Shower:
  
• Razor, conditioner
  
• Toothbrush, small toothpaste
  
• Contacts, solution, case, glasses
  
• Face topicals
  
• Moisturizer, matrix, lotion
  
• Makeup x2
  
• Tweezers, nail file and clippers
  
• Makeup remover, face wash

School supplies:

• Pencils, pens, highlighter, sharpie, scissors, little stapler, tape
  
• Dictionaries, ref books, tour books
  
• journals
  
• Computer, cord, case
  
• Camera, ipod, cards (extra), cords
  
• Travel alarm clock
  
• 
  
• Power and plug converters

Bags/purses:

• Coach wristlets
  
• Black coach school bag 
• travel backpack

• travel pillow, travel towel, ear plugs, luggage locks, luggage tags
  

I am planning on buying these once i get there: cellular phone, sheets, pillow, and shower towel, hair dryer, straightener, shampoo and body wash. 

And my spring/summer attire will be coming with my parents in April.

This is the list offered in my program handbook:
clothing that is easily washed and drip-dried
one good outfit for special occasions
warm winter coat and sweaters
raincoat and umbrella
CD or MP3 player with 110.220 switch and your fav music
sturdy, comfortable walking shoes (be prepared for lots of walking!)
bedroom slippers
washcloths and towels
camera
travel alarm clock
calculator
travel backpack
dairy or journal
good Italian grammar book for reference
addresses of family and friends back home

Student Advice: "Don't bring a lot of extra clothes because you won't use them. Italians dress nicely but often weat the same outfit several times in one week."


If they dress nice there how am I suppose to pack clothes that are easily washed and drip-dried and how do i wear comfortable walking shoes that are dressy? hmm