ISS UE 1
Bachelor’s
May 4,2015
IMPORTANT DATES
JUNE 5 - FORMS & GROUP
APPOINTMENT VISA DOCUMENTS DUE
JUNE 12 - PRE-DEPARTURE
ORIENTATION; POUGHKEEPSIE,
NY
JUNE (LAST WEEK) - FRESHMAN
GROUP FLIGHTS ANNOUNCED
JUNE 22 - GROUP VISA APPT.
AUGUST 1 - FINAL FORMS DUE
AUGUST 28 - FRESHMAN GROUP
FLIGHT DEPARTS FOR ITALY
AUGUST 29 - FRESHMAN
ORIENTATION BEGINS
ARRIVAL;
AUGUST 31 - TRANSFER ARRIVAL;
ORIENTATION BEGINS
Florence Factoid
Florence is considered the birthplace of
the Renaissance. The Renaissance art
movement broke away from Byzantine
art tradition, by using perspective to create
a more realistic, 3-dimensional effect.
The Renaissance featured notable artists,
such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. Inventors such as
Leonardo da Vinci and scientists such as
Galileo Galilei revolutionized the fields
of health and science.
The proliferation of art in Florence can be
largely attributed to Lorenzo de’ Medici,
after whom the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici is named. Lorenzo, was a great patron
of the arts, protecting great artists and
thinkers, such as Botticelli and Leonard
da Vinci.
Today, Florence houses 72 museums,
many of which are art galleries, in which
are housed some of the most famous
works of art. While in Florence, be sure
to explore at least some of the incredible
art collections these galleries have to offer. Immerse yourself!
Welcome to Marist Italy!
We realize that you are still completing
your last months of high school or
your current college semester and fall
seems far away; but times flies, and
before you know it, you will be standing in the airport waving goodbye! So
even though you are concentrating on
finals, prom, and graduation, you will
also need to be aware of deadlines and
activities that will prepare you for your
next adventure!
Marist Mondays is a bi-monthly newsletter published by Marist Italy and
sent to students via their Marist email
accounts. (Be sure that you have set
up your email account and that you
are checking it daily!) This newsletter
contains reminders, tips, and other
information that will help you as you
prepare for your time in Italy. Be sure
to read this as it contains important
information!
Important things to consider at this
point in the planning process include:
1. Passports—If you do not currently
have a passport, order it now! It may
take up to 6 weeks for a passport to be
processed.
2. The Visa Process—All students who
do not have an E.U. passport are required to obtain a Schengen visa. U.S.based students may participate in a
group appointment taking place the
week of June 23rd (detailed instructions on the visa process and group
appointment option are found on the
pre-departure website).
3. Booking Flights—Marist Italy will
offer a group flight option for freshmen out of the new York metropolitan
area. Please note that since airline
tickets can only be purchased a minimum of one year in advance of the
return flight date, the group flight
option is expected to be released
during approximately the 3rd week in
June. Traditionally, the group flight
travels on Lufthansa with a connection
in Germany (there are no direct flights
from the U.S. to Florence), but all airlines are reviewed for the most
economical option.
4. Pre-departure Website—Once you
have submitted you original signed
conditions of participation document,
you will receive a link to the Marist
Italy pre-departure page. This website
contains a wealth of pre-departure information that will answer the bulk of
your questions. Note - that the website
also contains important forms that must be
submitted, and deadlines by which these
documents must be completed. You are
expected to visit the website and read
the content.
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5. Each Marist Italy program has a staff member designated to be your
pre-departure contact. The undergraduate pre-departure contact is
Christie Alfaro, Assistant Director of Marist Italy Programs. Her
contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.
ALUMNI ADVICE
Benvenuti a Marist Italy! We look forward to working with you!
Pre-Departure Resources
As you prepare to head to Italy,
you will likely experience a series
of different emotions from anxiety
to exhilaration. Don’t worry—
you are not alone! We have developed a series of tools to help you
navigate these feelings and the
many questions that may arise as
you prepare for this experience:
 P r o g r a m P r e - d e p a r t u r e
Webpage – Each Marist Italy
program has its own webpage
designed to help students
quickly access the most important pre-departure information. This site also contains
a check list of all predeparture requirements, as
well as a list of forms and information that you will need
to provide to Marist prior to
your departure.


Pre-Departure Handbook –
For students interested in
more detailed information on
specific subjects, there is the
pre-departure handbook.
This handbook contains more
detailed information on preparing for and navigating living abroad. All students are
urged to read the handbook!
Pre-Departure Orientation
Day – On Friday, June 12,
Marist will hold a pre-
departure event at the New
York campus.
This event
allows students and their
families to meet the Marist
Italy staff, other students who
will be participating in the
program, and program alumni. The day will feature a
series of workshops and
sessions that will address various pre-departure topics
ranging from security, academics, to housing and beyond.

Program Contact – Each Marist Italy program has a staff
member assigned as a predeparture liaison. Your program contact can assist you
with individual questions and
concerns and can be reached
via phone or email. Marist
Italy also has academic advisors, housing and residence
life staff, and an amazing support staff to help you navigate
various concerns that may
arise.
Be sure to take the time to use all
of the resources above. Each resource contains its own brand of
information – all of it will help
you have a clearer picture of what
you can expect while you are in
Italy!
“ During the amazing orientation week that we
had, I grew extremely close with my two roomm
ates and the rest of the group. Their support ma
de it much easier to be so far away from home.”
-Heather Staats,
Italian is easy, just try! The locals like it when
you try to speak with them. There are so many
things to see and do in Europe, but do not forget
about Italy! Sicily, Sardinia, Rome, Venice, Ver
ona, Milan, Cinque Terre, and Pisa are always
on the table. Take a side trip to a town you
never heard of and I bet you’ ll love it!
-Taylor Groo
“ Whether four hours of 4,000 miles away from
home, I would be embarking on new experiences a
nd adventures. What better way to kick off my
college experience than Florence? I knew it woul
d provide me with incredible opportunities that
Poughkeepsie could not.”
-Robin Miniter
“ Hands down the best thing about Italy is that
wherever you go, you will most likely have the be
st meal of your life. The art’ s amazing, the cult
ure’ s amazing, but the one thing I will never get
over is how great the food was. I still rave over t
his pear ravioli that changed my life.”
-Nicole Amoral