Alumni Network - Study Abroad in Florence, Italy with Panrimo

Highlights: I think the highlight of my trip was the day trip to Sienna that was offered by the program. Sienna is a lovely medieval town. Thus, it contrasts really nicely with Florence, which is more of a Renaissance city. Everything about Sienna was charming, from the town square in the shape of a sea shell, to the beautiful cathedral and other churches. The streets are small and narrow, and they are lined with small shops and mom-and-pop-type family run restaurants. It has a small-town feel, compared to the big city of Florence, and is a nice place to just walk around, have a gelato, and get lost for an afternoon. Best of all, it’s very easy to just hop on a train to Sienna from Florence at any time. It was definitely one of my favorite places in Italy.

I think what made this study abroad experience unique was the flexibility and freedom that I had. I had to go to class for a couple of hours four days a week, but other than that I was really free to spend my time however I wanted. If I decided to hop on a train one day and go somewhere, I could. The program provided enough structure that I didn’t feel lost or uncertain, but not so much structure that I felt like everything had been planned for me. The possibilities in Italy are endless, so having the freedom to explore them was wonderful.

Morning: Usually in the morning I woke up around 9:00 am, took a shower, and caught up on emails with my family and friends back home. After some breakfast I often went for a walk. Some days, I went to visit one of Florence's countless museums. Other days, I walked up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo to take in the beautiful views of the city. However, there were also some days when I just walked the streets to do some window shopping and people watching.

Afternoon: In the afternoons I had class for a couple of hours at Santa Reparata International School of Art. The class was a Modern Italian History course, so it usually consisted of a lecture. However, on some days my professor took us to a museum instead of lecturing, and on a couple of occasions we watched relevant Italian movies. These things kept the class interesting and I really enjoyed it over the course of the four weeks.

Evening: In the evening I often went to the grocery store to buy things for dinner. The Italian way is to buy groceries every day, so that the food is always as fresh as possible. I usually ate dinner at the apartment to save money, but sometimes my roommate and I would go out to one of Florence’s many, many restaurants, where the food is always good. At the end of the evening I usually read for a little while before taking a shower to cool off (most Italian apartments do not have A/C, and during the summer it can be hard to fall asleep at night because of the heat).

What does the future hold for Panrimo - any exciting new programs to share?

Dom: Part of my job is to create new programs. In 2015, we’ll introduce Galway, Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland.

We have a partnership with Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and their Masters of Program Design & Assessment program. We collaborate to get the most out of every program for our Panroamers!

Which study abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Dom: Underrated - Iceland. You are at the forefront of Environmental Studies and all Engineering disciplines. Swimming in a volcano crater and the Northern Lights?!?! Are you kidding me?!

Overrated Destination: The playground in your head - the seesaw, specifically. You don’t have to go back and forth on whether you can afford to go. You can go! You may need to do some work.

There’s loads of free money out there! Get off the seesaw!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful organization?

Dom: Students come first - ALWAYS. Only a few years ago we were students traveling abroad and wishing someone would have given us personal attention.

We know the struggle that goes into finances, safety, courses and logistics. We have taken our personal experiences and created Panrimo is that image.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Dom: Russia with my wife. And I’m not saying that because she’ll read this. From the moment we got off plane in Moscow to visiting her family in Kstovo and Nizhny Novgorod - I was welcomed with open arms and plenty of snow! ....always a full belly and a reason to celebrate (with plenty of vodka).

What changes would you make to the study abroad industry?

Dom: There is this myth out there that studying abroad should cost $20k for a semester/quarter.

Students shouldn’t have to pay US institution prices when they’re studying in Europe - especially when there’s an exchange agreement in place. Students shouldn’t be ok with paying $20k because they expect to pay that in the US. And Panrimo program costs reflect that.