Ciao!

The countdown is on.  I leave for Rome in less than a week.  My program does not start for two weeks, but I am going over early so I can get my bearings before things get hectic with school.  I already have most of my clothes packed and am going to spend the next week relaxing and tying up all of my loose ends. 

Over the past month, I have learned a few things about how to manage my money while I am abroad (can you tell I’m a finance major?).  I found out that most banks and credit card companies charge fees to use their cards internationally, but there are a few that do not.  I opened up a checking account with TD Bank because they do not charge any transaction fees when you withdraw money out of an ATM or use your debit card to buy something.  This was a huge discovery as my old bank wanted to charge me a 3% fee on anything I debited and a $5 fee if I took money out of an international ATM.  TD Bank will even refund the ATM surcharge that the Italian bank imposes on me.  Also, I found out that Capital One does not charge any transaction fees on any charges I make while I am abroad.  This will also save me 3% on credit card transactions.

I also learned that I can suspend my cell phone service while I am abroad.  This will save me a lot of money as I intend to purchase a pay as you go phone once I arrive in Rome.

On another matter, all of the IES participants got their roommate assignments and living arrangements.  My apartment is literally a block away from our school which definitely made my day.  Also, our apartment is very close to the Castel Sant’Angelo.  I specifically remember visiting the Castel Sant’Angelo when I was in Rome about 7 years ago and thinking how beautiful it was – now I’m going to be living across the street from it!

I will be living with two American students and one Italian student.  One of American students attends Connecticut College and the other one goes to Seton Hall University.  We do not know who the Italian student will be yet.  All four of us are going to sign a contract that we are only going to speak Italian in our apartment.  I am really excited for this as I will have the opportunity to use Italian in a different context.  My goal is to try to master the Italian language as much as I can.

Thanks for reading my blog.  The next time I update, I will be in Roma!

Arrivaderci,
Mike

Location: Cortlandt Manor, NY