Welcome to the Ecco. Program in Lecce and Bologna!

Welcome to the E.C.Co. program in Lecce and Bologna!

Please read this letter carefully and keep it where you can easily find it. Also, you may want to share this information with your parents and/or guardian. If you are a student from outside the consortium, please share this document with your school’s office of international study.

First things first

• Very important: in order for your permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) to be processed according to the Italian law, you must bring with you the stamped letter provided by the Consulate. The letter, which may be one- or several pages long, stapled together, bears the Consulate’s official stamps on the front. Please do not forget to bring it with you. Do not put it in your checked luggage. Rather, bring it with you in your carry-on.

Calendar

• For those of you going to Lecce, the dates of the Lecce program this year are August 6 - August 31. • Students attending the Lecce program will leave Lecce the morning of Sept. 1 by train. The train ticket is provided by E.C.Co. Your suitcases will be transported to Bologna with a minivan (this is also a service provided by E.C.Co.), where they will be stored until your arrival. Please note: the storage facilities are not climate controlled. You will not want to carry around a lot of luggage on the train, so bring a smaller bag for this short trip. • The dorms in Bologna will open on Sunday, Sept. 1. The E.C.Co. program in Bologna will officially start activities on Monday, Sept. 2.

Travel

• Carefully review the itinerary for your group flight and airline luggage regulations. Please allow plenty of time for airport security. • E.C.Co. will organize transportation from the arrival airport in Bari to Lecce for all students on the group flight. The bus trip will take approximately two hours. • If you are going to Lecce but you are not on the group flight, please email Resident Director Marco Aresu ([email protected]) with your travel itinerary as soon as possible. • If you are NOT going to Lecce, please let us know when you will be arriving in Bologna. Please email the staff at the email addresses listed at the bottom of this letter, as soon as you know your travel plans. Please keep in mind that dorms only allow check-ins until 5 pm.

Communication

• You may contact Resident Director Marco Aresu by e-mail at [email protected]. You will receive his cell phone number shortly before the scheduled group departure. Please check your college email regularly. • The cell phones of the E.C.Co. staff are: Mariantonietta Dioli 333 914 2062; and Giuliana De Meo 333 229 6265. If you are calling from the United States, dial 011 39 before the number. • Once you arrive, you are required to get an Italian phone number. This is a security requirement and no exceptions can be made. It is also considerably cheaper than any travel plan issued by US providers. You can purchase a cheap phone in Italy or use your American smart phone with an Italian SIM card. If you plan on using your American smart phone with an Italian SIM card, you should contact your provider before you leave the US to check whether the device is, or can be, unlocked for use abroad. The program will facilitate the purchase and set up of Italian phones and/or SIM cards. • You will have wi-fi access at the language school facilities and at the student residences.

Accommodation in Lecce

• At Palazzo Rollo/Fanfulla students share small apartments with a private bath and a small kitchen. There is a large rooftop terrace for all guests. Cooking utensils are provided. • The student residence supplies bedding and towels, which are changed weekly. Students are responsible for keeping the rooms and shared spaces clean and orderly.

Italian Language and Culture Course in Lecce

• The aim of the Intensive Language and Culture course in Lecce is to strengthen your oral and written communication skills and to acquaint you with Lecce and the region of Puglia. The Bologna language courses will build directly on the Lecce curriculum. • You will take the written placement exam online before departure, and the oral placement exam upon arrival in Lecce on August 7th. Then, you will be placed in one of the two classes depending on your level of proficiency. Classes will meet Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 13:00, including a 15-min break. A few required course activities, such as film screenings and individual conferences with the instructors, will be scheduled on some afternoons. • The language course will be graded and you will receive 0.5 credit for it.

Cultural activities in Lecce

• Field trips within the city of Lecce, both guided and individual, are an integral and vital part of the language course and your Lecce experience. • E.C.Co. will also arrange several outings to cultural destinations throughout the Pugliese peninsula. You will receive a schedule of events upon arrival. • E.C.Co. will also organize a few beach trips. Should you wish to go to the beach on additional days, there will be public buses that you can take (info on buses will be provided). • Check out these Salento websites to discover the numerous cultural events in the region: http://www.salentonline.it/ http://www.lanottedellataranta.it/

Health matters

• Southern Italy is very hot, and you should take proper precautions. Hydration and adequate sun protection are essential. • If you have a health issue that you wish the program to be aware of, please inform the person you feel most comfortable telling. If you are from an E.C.Co. consortial school, this may be a professor at your school, the Director of International Studies, or any E.C.Co. staff member. If you are from outside the consortium, you should feel free to tell Emily Gorlewski, International Programs Specialist at Wesleyan, or Resident Director Marco Aresu. • Medications and eyeglasses: since dosages, as well as brand names of medications may be different in Italy, it is advisable to bring all your medications with you in the amount sufficient for your entire stay. If you wear glasses, you should consider bringing an extra pair or, at least, your prescription; contact lens and solutions are sold in Italy, therefore you need to bring only a limited supply. Contact lenses are sold in Italy without prescriptions. Please be aware that Italian customs will charge a tax on glasses, medications, lotions, creams, etc. if they are mailed to you in Italy. • Should the need arise, we will help you contact a doctor and/or a therapist who speaks English. Please keep in mind that there may not be an English-speaking therapist available in Lecce, so if you need regular ongoing therapy during the 3- week language program, you should make prior arrangements with your therapist at home.

Accommodation in Bologna

• We are currently working with the UniBo housing authority (ERGO) on housing assignments. ERGO will assign the rooms by lottery. This lottery system is comparable to those used on the campuses of the three consortial institutions. The living quarters are all similar to the ones in the US. We hope to be able to inform you of your room assignments by the end of August. Academics in Bologna

• Your enrollment at the University of Bologna (UniBo): In the coming weeks, you will receive an automated message from the University of Bologna, indicating that you need to complete the on-line registration with the University to secure enrollment. This UniBo message is sent to ALL foreign students coming to Bologna, and some of the info, such as immigration procedures, housing, language courses, do NOT apply to E.C.Co. students. Please complete the on-line registration. If you have questions, please contact the E.C.Co. staff: Maria Antonietta Dioli [email protected]; and Giuliana De Meo [email protected]. • ECCo Courses: In Bologna, you will take two additional language courses: the required Intensive Italian for Academic Purposes in September; and the Writing Workshop during the semester. Both courses are taken for grades and you will earn 0.5 credit each. Following the intensive course, E.C.Co. will offer 4 in-house courses, all conducted in Italian. Courses include Art History, Theater and Italian Society, Italian Literature, History of Science (the specific topics and syllabi will be available at your arrival in Bologna). You will have plenty of time to explore these courses upon arrival. In the meantime, you may want to consult the syllabi from the previous academic years at www.eccoprogram.it. • UniBo Courses: We strongly encourage you to enroll in one of the many courses offered by the University of Bologna. Consult with your advisors on your home campuses to find out what courses would best suit your major. You may also want to take a look at the University of Bologna website at www.unibo.it, but know that you will receive plenty of advising at E.C.Co. and you will have time to explore courses before you choose. You should plan to stay in contact with your major advisor concerning course selection while you are in Bologna.

We look forward to seeing you in Italy!

Marco Aresu ([email protected]) Giuliana De Meo ([email protected]) Maria Antonietta Dioli ([email protected])