Orientation Information

ISA Florence students fly into Rome where they are met by an ISA Director. They then travel together to Florence and participate in the 5 day on-site orientation run by the Kent State University in Florence staff. The arrival orientation is designed to provide students with practical advice for living in Florence; it covers academic, cultural, and security issues and also includes a tour of the city. Some specific activities include:

- A walking tour of the city to identify the location of banks, the post office, public offices, and the train station
- Orientation meetings held by both staff and faculty to address practical as well as academic issues
- A security briefing by police to cover safety issues
- Visits to local markets to explore what is offered and discuss food shopping
- An orientation session regarding the "Permission to Stay" (Permesso di Soggiorno) documents that all students are required to complete once in Italy
- An orientation session to address life in Florence, specifically, the different kinds of shops (libraries, book shops, stationary shops, etc) and where to find useful, everyday items
- Introductory lectures about the city and its history by faculty members