Sunday, July 8, 2012
Now that my study abroad session in Rome has come to an end, it is time to reflect on the experience.
One of the most common answers people give when asked what they regret not doing the most when they were in college is “study abroad.” I now can see why. Over the past six weeks, I studied in Rome, and I had the experience of a lifetime. This had been in my plans since Fall 2010, and it took a lot of paperwork and follow-ups to finalize this excursion. Despite how tedious the bureaucratic process was, it was worth it all. When I first arrived in Rome, I had no idea who my roommates were or even how many of them there would be. I was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t like them, but it turned out they were the best roommates I could ask for because of our similarities and because we always looked out for one another. I usually took some time …
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Take a peek at my weekend in London and see what attractions are worth your time in the jolly English capital.
London: It’s a city full of history, culture, cuisine, shopping and, of course, people who drive on the left side of the road. I recently spent three nights in London and would like to share with you what should be done in this entertaining metropolis, especially if visiting is in your future plans. London’s main airport, Heathrow, has a reputation for being notoriously busy and hectic. I did not get the slightest impression of this at all. From the time it took for me to get off the plane, clear customs and board the train to downtown London, it was only about 20 minutes. Travelers’ horror stories claim that it took them hours to do what I did, but keep in mind I did not need to claim any checked luggage. Once in the center of London, it …
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Need help with planning your next trip to Europe? I give a brief overview of what to do when planning a vacation in Europe.
My aunt Patty recently asked a good question in the comment section in last week’s study abroad article. She asked how do students manage to travel while abroad and what types of transportation seem to be the most popular. This week I am going into detail on this topic and I hope this will help in any of your future European endeavors. Traveling to other cities while based in Europe can be simple, if you put your mind to it. Where you are in Europe could affect how much plane and train tickets cost. For example, a train ticket from Paris to Rome will be significantly more expensive than a train ticket from Paris to Brussels. To get us all on the same page, let’s assume your home base is Rome. Next question is where would you like to go? Is…
Monday, June 4, 2012
A small recap of my time in Rome so far and some advice on how to handle money while traveling.
It’s a little hard to believe that I’m approaching three weeks since I arrived in Rome, and it is really feeling like home now. After about a week of sightseeing and acclimation, I could confidently give directions and navigate without worries. Many people who take vacations to mega-cities such as Rome never reach this comfort level because they don’t spend enough time there to become immersed. At least a week, maybe even a week and a half, is needed to get a good grip on the environment. I will be in Rome until next Thursday the 14th, at which time I will be venturing to London to see how the city is setting up for the upcoming Summer Olympics. I will then return to Rome for finals week. Some students at school are planning trips every …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
In this two-for-one column, see what you should do to balance studying and sightseeing while abroad and check out a recap of a weekend trip to the Campania region of Italy.
Trying to balance schoolwork and free time in a brand new environment can be difficult, especially if the environment is Italy. Whether you plan to study abroad for five weeks or five months, it is crucial to remember that you are overseas for an education first, with entertainment coming second. I am taking a three-credit course about the history of the popes, and it meets Mondays and Wednesdays for four hours per session. There are a couple of classes on-site, meaning we will be taking field trips to ancient Roman locations. It is inferred that the material we learn from these trips will be on the final exam. So far, there hasn’t been any homework and the two tests for the entire summer are take-home tests. Although it sounds easy so far…
Monday, May 21, 2012
Greetings from Italy! Get a student's perspective on studying abroad as I take a class in Rome for five weeks and see what the city has to offer.
Buon giorno from Italia! For the next five weeks, I will be taking a class at John Cabot University in Rome and, at the same time, seeing all of what the Eternal City has to offer. Feel free to follow me in my adventures and see what college life is like overseas. I arrived in Italy early Thursday morning, at around 7 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET). After waiting in a snaking passport control line for about a half hour, I cleared customs without a problem and made my way over to the school’s check-in location. Before I go into that, I was really surprised at what customs in Italy actually was: nothing. You hand the customs agent your passport through a glass booth, they look at you, stamp a page and hand it right back, no questions asked. I …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
It's finally here: move-out week. Can you believe it? If you're having issues packing things up, feel free to read on.
If you’re feeling a sudden chill, a chill that may symbolize the daunting task of packing your belongings for the summer, don't be alarmed whatsoever. That means you have still kept your sanity and know that thousands of people like you are being faced with mounds of "stuff" accumulated over the school year. Not only are you going to have to fill boxes upon boxes of memorabilia, but you are also going to be thrown right in the middle of the horrific battlefield that is the elevator. And if your hall does not have an elevator, I hope you have the upper body strength to last the whole day. As for how many boxes you need for move-out, I'll help you out by saying that I got myself two extra-large boxes and four large boxes from the local …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
This week, we'll go over the steps you should take when considering a professor as a letter of recommendation candidate for either a job position or scholarship.
As a semi-continuation of my job search and interview column earlier this month, this time I’d like to discuss the proper approach one should take when asking a professor for a letter of recommendation or requesting to place their name on your reference list. Before we begin, I would like to thank my aunt Janet, who is a nursing instructor at URI. She helped come up with the idea for this week because she is constantly receiving recommendation forms to fill out and letter to write. Firstly, think of a class in which you contribute to discussions on a regular basis. This way, the professor will already sort of know who you are when you formally introduce yourself to him or her. It’s best to ask about the recommendation in person rather than…
Sunday, April 29, 2012
This week, I select three college movies that every high school junior and senior should watch, either just for the laughs or the lessons.
OK, it’s Saturday morning and as I’m sitting in my room thinking of a decent movie to watch, the idea of creating a mini-list of worthwhile college movies for high school juniors and seniors to watch suddenly clicked in my noggin’. Keep in mind these movies, as most Hollywood productions go, are an exaggerated image of the college experience and it is incredibly doubtful you will ever go through what these “students” endured. Below I have selected three college movies for you to watch before you step foot on campus either this coming fall or the following. I will point out what is realistic about each movie’s plotline and what is embellished, which is quite a lot. Also, feel free to add your own list of movies in the comment section, as I …
Sunday, April 15, 2012
April is the time of the school year when businesses are searching for young talent to fill their open positions. It's up to students like us to impress these employers so we can gain the necessary experience for the future.
April is the time of the school year when job interviews take place most frequently. Applications are spilled all over the Internet and on bulletin boards on college campuses, as eager businesses yearn for young talent. It’s understandable if you chose not to take a part-time job this year if you are a freshman; some students find the transition easier if they don’t need to work. But as the settling-in process comes to an end, it may be time to think about applying for an on or off-campus job for this coming fall. Finding out what you would like to do as a job is, without saying, a hugely critical step in the application process. An internship with the town or city hall, writing position with the school newspaper or a cashier gig at a …
PATTY BILYO
1:41 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. more ›