Living Abroad
AIFS in Rome Resident Director, Summer Program
Rosanna Graziani
The Rome Study Center of Richmond
Piazza Sant'Andrea della Valle 6
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone: (39) 06 6813 6104
Email: info@richmondinrome.it
Ciao! I have been a Resident Director for AIFS since 1995; first in Florence, and subsequently here in Rome. I received my Laurea with honors from the University of Florence in English language and literature and then specialized in museum studies at the University of Perugia. I studied abroad myself as a student, spending time in France, Spain and the U.K. I love to travel and, as well as visiting the U.S., I have also been to the Middle East, North Africa and India. My favorite aspect of being your Resident Director is to see Italy through your eyes and hear your perceptions about this beautiful city. You will be able to share your new experience with me and my team and very easily because out office is in the Study Center; we are always on hand to talk about everything from the Italian architecture to the rhythem of life, and to answer any questions you may have.
The Resident Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.
AIFS Campus Staff with First Aid Training
Because health and safety are top priorities at AIFS, at least one member of the staff at this campus has taken a first aid course in order to be available to help any student until a doctor or nurse can provide help. This is just one of many services that we provide to our students.
Housing and Meals
During your time in Rome, you will live in either a shared room in an apartment or as a paying guest in an Italian family. All housing includes Internet access and weekly cleaning. All program arranged accommodation is carefully selected in safe, central, agreeable areas of the city and you will have the opportunity to live like a resident of Rome, to get to know your Italian neighbors as well as discover your favorite places for pasta, coffee or gelato. All apartments are located within a 30-minute travel time (by metro, bus and/or foot) to the Study Center. You should budget approximately 40 euros for an unlimited monthly pass on the bus and underground system.
Student apartments
- Are located in different areas of the city center, in buildings where other Italians live, and are fully equipped with kitchen supplies, bedding, washing machines and Internet connection. Typically, 2 to 7 AIFS students share one apartment.
Homestay
- As a guest within an Italian family you will have a key to the apartment and can come and go as you wish. In respect of the other family members there is privacy for study and yet there is also contact with the Italian hosts. A large number of Italian apartments are occupied by a single person, so you are likely to be housed with a single woman or professional couple. The benefits of living with an Italian family allows you invaluable cultural insight and fast progress with the Italian language. The fee is based on a double room shared with another AIFS student. Internet access is included.
Meals
- The included meal plan is one of the highlights of the Rome program, with over 90% of students rating it “excellent” every summer. Valued at $400 for Session 1 and $550 for Session 2, as well as being incredible value for money, it gives you a unique opportunity to become part of the Italian culinary culture, dining alongside locals in selected restaurants and trattorias or shopping in neighborhood grocery stores. You will receive meal vouchers which can be used in selected restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores, giving you the flexibility to eat out or pool resources and cook in your apartment with your fellow students. Students may choose to opt out of the meal plan and pay a reduced program fee of $400 for Session 1, $550 for session 2 or $950 for Sessions 1 + 2 combined.
Cultural Activities
Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of Italian culture, a wealth of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. Past activities have included:
- Home-made pasta classes
- Wine, pizza and gelato tastings
- Visit to the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum
- Segway tours
- Cinema nights
- Drinks and dinners with Italian students
- Art and “Angels & Demons” tours
- Various exhibitions and concerts (jazz, rock, blues)
- Botanical Gardens
- Day trips around Rome (including the beach, hiking and lunches)
- “Underground” Rome
- Opera/Ballets/Musicals
- Handicraft market
- Sewing classes
- Visit to the zoo
- Sailing weekends
- Group dinners
- Farewell dinner
Please note, that students may need to pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.
The Rome staff also offer advice and information on planning visits to other Italian cities such as Assisi, Perugia, Milan, Palermo and many others.
