Orientation in Rome
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A five-day orientation program is held at the beginning of each semester in Rome, followed by a three-day orientation excursion the weekend afterward. Attendance throughout the program is mandatory for all students.
The JFRC's five-day orientation program offers incoming students a sampling of the best that Rome has to offer. This introduction to the Eternal City is followed a few days later by a three-day tour to nearby cities in Italy to deepen students' immersion. Cultural workshops and Italian language sessions led by JFRC faculty and staff members help students become well-versed in the native tongue and culture of their new host country. Students gain a clearer image of the life and history of Italy by visiting cultural and historical sites, and gathering together as a community for authentic Italian meals.
Past trips have included walking tours of lesser-known Italian cities such as Gubbio, Orvieto, and Matera. Traditionally, orientation draws to an end as the community comes together for the Mass of the Holy Spririt at Sant'Ignazio church in the historical center of Rome, followed by a community dinner.
Orientation Specifics
Students who travel as a Loyola group through a group ticketing option will arrive in Rome Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Group-ticketed students will be taken by bus from Leonardo da Vinci airport to the JFRC. Students who travel independently (even if on the same flight as the group) should be prepared to take taxis to the campus and are due in Rome on these same dates and no earlier.
The purpose of the orientation excursion in and around Rome and to regions of Italy further afield is to introduce students to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Italy, to capitalize on specific aspects of the academic program of the Rome Center, and to familiarize the students with their surroundings. An effort is made to help students feel secure and at home in their new environment and to involve them in the cultural, economic, and social life of Rome. Tours, lectures, and activities are also organized throughout the year to continue the learning process and involvement in Italian and European culture.
