No, unless you have a favorite pillow or sheets that you want to sleep on; otherwise, everyone is provided with a set of linen and bath towels. We have linen exchange once a week. We will cover the linen exchange procedure, including the assigned day of the week for the linen exchange, during our Student Life Orientation upon your arrival at Bernardi.

Pack lightly! Do not pack more than you can easily carry. Don't weigh yourself down with items such as a hair dryer that can be purchased in Rome for a very cheap price. Start planning what you will pack by reading online the baggage allowance guidelines of your airline; also, be aware that on flights between European cities (for those who might be planning to travel around Europe), the baggage allowance may be even less. Airlines often charge a penalty fee for overweight or excess baggage.

For the cooler temperatures (i.e., mid-October, November, December, January, February), you may want to bring a winter jacket (not too heavy), a few sweaters and long-sleeved shirts. For the warmer temperatures (i.e., end of September to mid-October, end of March, April, May), you may want to bring T-shirts and light long-sleeved shirts. Also bring jeans and one or two dressy outfits (dress/skirts for women, a suit/khaki pants for men) for special occasions throughout the semester. If you need anything else, there are many shops (inexpensive ones) to renew your wardrobe. Italians don't typically wear shorts, only when they go to the beach, so if you want to bring a pair of shorts with you, you can just wear it when you go to the beach or running (along the river or to Villa Borghese). Bring clothing that does not require special care in cleaning. Outfits should be casual and comfortable. As you will be walking a lot, bring comfortable walking shoes and slippers to wear in the residence. Pack whatever type of clothing you feel most comfortable in, just be practical. Stick with basics that can be paired together to create several outfits.

You will be able to buy anything in terms of health, hygiene and beauty products in Rome, so don't worry about bringing stocks of shampoo, shaving cream and soap from home. You just might not find your favorite brands. Bring the basics you use every day in travel-sized containers. There are grocery stores all around the city that have everything from food items to health and hygiene products, detergent, etc and some of them will even accept your 'meal tickets'; also, prepare a medical kit with a few over-the-counter pain relievers (i.e., Advil, Tylenol, etc.), cold medication and vitamins. For contact lenses users, you may want to bring a supply of all the necessary solutions. You also may want to have an extra pair of glasses.

If you need prescription medications on a regular basis you should carry a note from your doctor stating your medical condition, the purpose of the medication, dosage information, the brand and the generic name of the medication. This is especially necessary if you will be carrying insulin or if you are allergic to certain medication. Bring enough of your medication to last your entire stay abroad. Prescriptions written in the United States cannot be filled in Italy, and medications cannot be mailed from the United States.

No. All the rooms have hangers. If the ones provided are not enough, you can buy more when I organize the trip to IKEA.

That's a misperception. It is not hard to find school supplies in Rome, but they might be a bit more expensive than if you were to buy a notebook or a couple of folders from Target or Wal-Mart. Do bring index cards from home. Those might be hard to find.

You should be able to buy the right adapter for Italy, if you go to Best Buy or Radio Shack (or a similar store). Carefully read what the box says and make sure it converts the power from 220 volts (European) to 110 volts (American) and vice-versa.

Buy a plug adapter from the United States — it will be one less thing to worry about in Rome; again, make sure that it converts the power from 220 volts (European) to 110 volts (American) and vice-versa.

In Italy, the current is 220 volts whereas in America it is 110. The difference in electrical current is so great that if you plug your American appliance into an electrical socket in Italy, it may explode, short out, melt or cause a fire. You should be very careful, as not all travel appliances are multi-standard. Italians have at least three different types of plugs and sockets. If you can't find dual-voltage versions of your favorite appliances (e.g., hair dryer, curling iron, electric razor, etc.), you can buy transformers to convert the electricity and adapter kits for the different sockets at your local hardware store before you leave home; however, you are better off just buying an inexpensive hair dryer, curling iron, etc. in Rome. Adapters are really made for occasional, not daily use. They do not always work, and the kits can be expensive and heavy to carry.

You can use the ones we have in our library at Bernardi. Some guides might be outdated, but if you would like to buy an updated travel guide, feel free and you can just donate it to the Bernardi library when your semester is over.

Students typically carry a backpack or a messenger/satchel type bag to school. Either one works. One must always be cautious and careful of the pickpockets in crowded areas or when using public transportation.

Yes, that is fine. I have seen students use all kinds of bags for traveling — anything easy to carry on the plane and while traveling would suffice. Tip: The hand-baggage regulation size for Ryan-Air, a popular, inexpensive European airline, is less than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm in dimension and no more than 10 kg (roughly 20 lbs) in weight.

We have plenty of dictionaries in our library at Bernardi that former students had left behind and that anyone can use at any time; however, if you prefer to have your own dictionary you can certainly buy one from home. No, you will not need a specific dictionary for Italian class. Any dictionary (i.e., Webster's, etc.) would be just fine.

You can buy an umbrella here in Rome (starting around € 5).

It is very important to have a positive attitude once you are in Rome. Realize that a lot of things will be very different from what you are used to back home. This is a study abroad program; you are here to experience a new culture and a new way of living, so make the best out of this experience. Keep in mind that things at Bernardi do not operate the same way as on the St. Paul campus; thus, your collaboration and understanding are greatly appreciated. Be happy and content with what you are given to eat, to live in and to experience.

You will need a lot of patience and strength, especially during your first month while you are in Rome, in order to adapt to the Roman way of life. We will be talking a lot about that during our orientation and throughout the semester.

All the paperwork for your Permesso di Soggiorno (Residence Permit) that Catholic Studies prepared for you including six passport pictures with you (white background). These are separate documents from the paperwork and photos you have to turn in to the Angelicum (Sister Helen).

A key chain into which you can insert your key card and not lose it (all rooms/bathrooms and the front gate are card operated). A lost key is €5.00. A key chain that works well would be like the plastic, wallet-type holders that St. Thomas students get when they live in the dorms, or an ID-holder key chain.

You will accumulate a lot of pocket change, so you may want to buy a little coin holder to keep your change in when you are out and about, besides your wallet or purse. Keep in mind, that at the grocery store and other small shops, you may be asked for the correct change so be sure to have enough pocket change with you.

Favorite movies on VHS or DVD

Headphones in order to do your Italian homework online.
Laundry bag (from Target).
A small compass (at least for the first month to easily orient yourself and not to get lost in the city).
A three-ring notebook, pens and pencils, although you can buy these in Rome.
Discman or MP3 player, your favorite CDs, batteries.

Please do not bring any bad or negative attitudes with you! Rome is not for whiners and complainers. Leave all that behind you.

No need to bring any snacks or food items from home. Maybe a jar of peanut butter if you think you will crave it over the semester. Many open markets in Rome sell fresh fruit and vegetables, as do stores such as Castroni and a drugstore at the train station (Termini), which also carry American products.

Life at Bernardi is wonderful! We will cover life in the 'house' during our Student Life Orientation upon your arrival to Rome.

On some days, your first class might begin as early as 8 or 8:30 a.m., and on other days late morning or early afternoon. You will receive a detailed class schedule from the dean of your college and you will have a thorough academic orientation during your first couple of weeks in Rome.

Rome is full of churches. There is an early morning mass at the Angelicum that starts at 7:50 a.m. There also is an early morning mass at St. Peter's that starts at 7 a.m. (You can take the tram #19 or simply walk.) The closest church to our campus is Cristo Re; the Mass is in Italian. We also have a chapel in the residence that is open 24 hours a day where you can go to pray or reflect.

For various reasons, such as safety, security and program expectations, we lock the front door of the residence at 11:30 p.m. on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Internet connection in student rooms is not available; however, we encourage you to bring a laptop, if you have one, for academic work in your rooms or in other public areas in the building. Students can access the Internet in the computer lab.

Yes.

We serve a typical Italian continental breakfast at Bernardi. This includes cereal (e.g., plain cornflakes, Coco Krispies and All Bran flakes), milk, juice, coffee, tea, fruit, pastries, different flavored yogurt, bread or a roll, butter, cheese, jam and fresh fruit.

You will be able to download pictures from your digital camera onto the computers in our computer lab.

We currently have CD burners in all computers. We do not recommend that the students save their pictures on the hard drive because it occupies lots of space. Many of our students in the past posted their pictures on their Web sites, too.

An ATM machine is located near Bernardi, and many ATMs are located throughout Rome. One of the best ways to deal with money is to use your cash card to withdraw money instead of using your VISA card, especially given the current euro-to-dollar exchange rate. For example, if the currency exchange rate is €1.00= $1.27 and you buy something with your credit card that costs €15, keep in mind that when you receive your credit card statement, it will probably show $20+ due to the day's currency exchange rate. In addition, be sure you check with your bank about the amount of money you are able to withdraw at one time and how much ATM fess abroad will be. Let your bank know that you will be overseas for a period of time.

Often, students are very resourceful, and they find inexpensive hostels, restaurants, etc., online when they make their travel plans, so it is really up to each person's personal budget and how good the student is with budget management. (I can help/advise students individually on this.)

Any time in the Spring semester is great to have visitors. The weather is nice and sunny. You will have a two-week Easter break, which is always a great time to have friends and family around; however, if you plan to travel during your two-week Easter break, then it will be better for your parents or friends to come at other times during the semester.

Plenty! You are in Rome! The city itself is a laboratory of so much history and culture. We strongly encourage you to discover Rome: Visit museums, monuments, art galleries and churches, and integrate into the local life. Travel by train to the many beautiful towns and cities around Italy.

We have a whole bookshelf of travel books in our computer lab area where you can get information about Rome and other places in Italy or Europe. Many students in the past have done a great deal of traveling over their Easter break. You can find a lot of info (i.e., flight deals, traveling sites, hotels, etc.) online. This will be a great experience for you to learn how to book flights, find good deals on airfares, reserve a hotel, find cool places to eat and sleep, etc. on your own. We can also recommend a travel agency or travel Web sites to you.

(Your name)
University of St. Thomas-Bernardi Campus
Lungotevere delle Armi, 16
00195 Rome, ITALY

That's the same whether your family sends you something via FedEx, UPS, DHL or the regular post office.

The rooms at Bernardi do not have a direct line, so incoming calls will have to go through a switchboard, and a staff member will connect the caller to your phone extension. Please let your family members and friends know that when they call the campus to be aware of your phone extension, which is simply the same as your room number. If no one answers the main switchboard (particularly during evening hours), a voice mail will come up; the caller can then simply dial the extension of the person he or she is trying to reach. The phone will ring directly to the student's room. We have two phone numbers that you can give out to your family and friends: 06 3260 0548 and 06 3260 0556. If someone is calling from the United States, the prefix is 011 39. Since you all have already received your room assignment, be sure to let your family and friends know of your phone extension.

If you have time, but it is not crucial, you can try to learn the Italian vocabulary words for food items, directions, transportation, numbers and money.

The cheapest way would be to purchase an international calling card either from the United States or Rome. If you buy an AT&T or any other similar calling card in the United States, be sure that it can be used in Rome tocall home. If you buy a calling card from Rome, we recommend the EUROPA card. You can get a student discount on your EUROPA card if you buy it at the Angelicum.

Yes, there is a charge whenever the phone is used, even if it's a local call. Upon arrival at Bernardi, each student receives a code to dial before he or she gets a dial tone. There is no charge to call within Bernardi residence. These charges are recorded by the phone system and billed to a person's student account each month. The only time no phone charges incur is when the student uses the 800 number of his or her calling card (EUROPA) to make a local, long distance or international call.

Is there a fixed charge every month regardless of the amount of calls?
No.

Is there a charge to the student account when parents call their son or daughter on their calling card?
No.