I need advice on packing. I'm not moving until August, but I recently found out from the University that I'm applying to that it would be best to only take 2 suitcases, b/c the appartments are quite small, and with limited space. What is the weather like in Rome on a year-round basis? I live in Texas, so for the most part I'm used to rather warm weather year-round with the occasional wind storm, snow and rain. What neccessity items are recommended to take to rome and what should be left? Is there anything I should think about investing in before I move (b/c of diffrent weather)? Advice and personal experience is appreciated and welcomed!

I'm on my tippy-tip toes dancing on top of the world, care to join me?

I came over in September with 2 suitcases and packed a bunch of cold weather stuff. BIG MISTAKE. I could have bought stuff for winter at the market and saved room for important things. Bring hot weather clothes for your first couple of months, bring jackets etc., to layer. Worry about other clothes when you get here. Instead bring things that make you feel good like photos from home, your favorite pillow, arts and crafts to help pass the first days, a few good books, any snack items that you cannot live without, over the counter cold and flu items, vitamins, etc. etc. HTH

Moving to Italy and Driving in Italy

I agree with Christina but for a slightly different reason: fashion. I came to the US as a student a few years ago and carried all sorts of clothing because I was sure I couldn't afford buying them here. Well, in the end, I'd rather be buying clothes from a thrift shop than wearing something that made me stick out like a sore thumb on campus. The reverse is true too. I worked with some young european once. One of my colleagues actually told them to get rid of their pants because they looked gross to Americans. We had become friendly by then, of course. So there you go ...
You can check the Rome weather history on-line. It's not entirely different than Dallas in terms of temperature variation. Dallas is bit warmer in winter but not by much.

Hi Dani. How long are you staying in Rome? Fall semester only, or the spring, too?

Oh, you are going to have a blast. Study abroad was the best thing that I ever did.

I studied in Florence during the Spring of 2003. What your university recommends (ie. only 2 suitcases) is definately the max. that you are going to want to take. Remember that you WILL be lugging them around. Probably more than you think. And your place *will* be small.

I'd recommend bringing a small bag or using your carry-on for little trips around Italy.

In terms of clothing, bring layers. Lay out your clothes and bring the things that intermix the most. If you can manage it, bring only the things that go with black (or with brown), to minimize shoes and accessories (uh, you're talking to a person that has 35 coats, and who hasnt begun to count purses, ahem).

Bring sweater-coats that you can wear over your fall/spring clothing to mix it up.

Bring one warm coat and one lighter one. Buy scarves/gloves there, because they are plentiful and cheap. Florence has long rainy seasons...dunno about Rome. Bring an umbrella, or buy one from the handy street guys that pop out with handfuls of umbrellas when it rains.

Bring *GOOD SHOES*. Tennis shoes are a must. You will be walking miles and miles...but before long you won't notice.

Bring a bit of dressy stuff (if its your thing). Italians are *stylish* and dress to go out.

Bring more underwear and socks than you think you need, because while you can wear sweaters and pants more than once...well, dragging all your clothes to the wash n' dry is an expletive. And its costly. I bought bar laundry detergent there, and did a lot of washing of intimates in my sink. Saved me cash and time.

Keep in mind that you will be purchasing things. You can always make up for what you dont have. I had zero money, and yet left with a new light-weight coat, a couple of purses, etc.

I brought double supplies of make-up (staples like my mascara), but it depends on the kind of person you are.

I brought a 6 mos. supply of birth-control and lots of tampons, cuz I like my kind. If you use other meds. bring a supply (and your prescription).

BRING TYLENOL or whatever you use because OTC drugs are expensive. BRING cold/flu medicine. YOU WILL GET SICK. Everybody that I knew did. I was hacking up a lung for over a month. My freind had some NyQuil and it was gold. GOLD.

Bring a little album with pics of your family, freinds, house, the landscape of Texas, whatever. Things that are important to you. They'll come in handy if you make Italian freinds and then you try to explain what your life is like in the U.S. And they'll keep you company.

I wish I would have brought recipes with me, and some measuring devices. It's up to you, but you'll be cooking.

Bring a couple of paperbacks if you are a reader. You'll miss relaxing with your own language after a while, even if you love love love italian like me. English books are expensive there, though there might be some kind of paperback exchange in Rome like I found in Florence.

I'm sure I'll think of a million other things. Let me know if you have more specific Q's. I'd love to impart any and all knowledge that I learned the hard way.

Dianna

Thanks for all of the help! all of the advice was very helpful, and I ran across a few helpful tips that I hadn't thought of before. Dianna thanks for all of the advice, it helps to hear that from people who have studied abroad also, I will be keeping in contact. I'll be staying for an academic year at first. Hoping that I like it, I'll be attending the University for all four years. Thanks for all of the help again guys!!!

I'm on my tippy-tip toes dancing on top of the world, care to join me?

Dani you are going to have a great time that is for sure. I too came as a student 9+ years ago and now I sit in my house in the hills and look at my two little girls and my Italian husband and I thank my lucky stars that Nonino changed her mind at the last minute and ended up coming to Siena instead of going to Udine. You never know what fate has in store for you so just keep dancing cause it will be something to dance about

Moving to Italy and Driving in Italy

Thanks for all of the advice and comforting words. It's been a little frustrating, the process is a little hard to handle, but I'm determined. This is a BIG dream of mine . Hearing advice from everyone in here is very reassuring that I am doing the right thing and to keep me in a sane mind set. Thanks for all of the help. I am POSITIVE that I'll be needing more help

Hi Dani
Here's my story...I was intent on moving to Italy also...at the age of 29! I was fed up with my life as a sales rep...sick and tired of meeting losers...and trusted my intuition and set out to move to Rome for 6 months to learn Italian. Well, I ended up in Germany for a year initially, then finally made it to Rome.
I didn't know anyone there (before I left the U.S. I did a lot of research about Americans moving overseas and what I had to do when I got there)...the first thing I did was look for a place to live. I stayed in a cheap apartment for a few days...then went directly to the English book store in Rome (I forget where it was).
Anwyay, they have a big bulletin board for expatriates...rooms to rent, jobs, etc. I ended up renting a room in a big apartment with about 5 other people (another American girl, and some Europeans). It was fun...different, but a good experience.
Well, to make this part of the story short...I ended back up in Germany before returning to the U.S. (after 2 years on the run!) and on the night before my departure (actually hours before my plane was to leave in the morning)I met my husband, Juergen.....he's my soul mate and the love of my life!
Since his parents are still in Germany, we visit there often...and because of my trip to Europe, I now sell European textiles and represent several companies...from Germany, Italy, Scotland, and England. I also have two little boys now too.
Everthing happened because I was brave enough to make the move.
It will be the best thing you'll ever do in your life...it was for me...and you know what is even more freaky?
One time, years before my move to Europe, I went to Greece for a vacation. When I was there, a gypsy fortune teller came up to me and told me that I would "go far from where you live and it will be the best thing that will ever happen to you." she also said" Remember the name, Juergen, because he will be the ONE!"
Can you believe that? Well, it's totally true.
Her predictions came true! It's been 10 years since my move, but my husband and I talk about it often...and how brave I was to do it!
You'll love your time there...but I have to tell you...I didn't have any warm clothes when I left (It was May when I first moved to Europe and ended up in Rome the following year in springtime too so it was nice) but during one Christmas in Rome, I thought I was going to die of cold!!!
The heating wasn't that great, drafty windows, marble or tile floors and not too many rugs...I wasn't prepared at all!
Hey, if you have any good friends, I would enlist them to send you some things that you've pre-packed ahead of time.
I did do this...I put some boxes into storage and gave my best friend the key...and marked all the boxes with the content.
I kept a list of which boxes contained what and when I needed them, I contacted my friend and told him to ship a certain box.
I did this because I didn't know how long I was planning to stay...and I didn't have unlimited money to go shopping over in Europe either.
I did find a winter coat in a market in Florence...not something I would necessarily buy in the States, but I didn't care because I was so cold!
Believe it or not, Italians may love fashion but they don't have "gobs" of clothes either...just a few good things that they wear all the time...
Mixing and matching is the key, I would say.
Bring a black wool blazer(a light weight one), jeans, European-style trendy sneaker- shoes that can look dressy and casual at the same time (your feet will kill you if you wear heels on the cobblestones), maybe a good pair of loafers, a simple black dress and low, chunky heeled dress shoes, a sweater that you can wear with a lot of things, t-shirts, a few sundresses, and a few skirts (italian women wear skirts!)...and bring a nice sweat suit or two..in case you do something sporty! Khaki pants, capri pants..socks and underwear. That ought to do it!
I was hooked on reading USA Today while I was over there and the International Herald Tribune too...you probably can get used English books at that book store I mentioned above.
Take some photos, maybe your own pillow..but don't bring too, too much...you'll just be bogged down with stuff and it will cramp your style.
I was dying for pancakes and syrup...couldn't find that over there! and peanut butter (American style)..they last a long time if you do bring them in your suitcase.
I always bring "comtrex" with me when I travel...it doesn't have a lot of side effects that some cold medicine have.
Well, that totally enough for now...I'm happy to help you!
Good Luck,
Rachelle

Thank you for everyone's advice. This helps to push me along day by day. I will admit that the process alone has become tiring, but then again I'm also dealing with this process while still going to school and working part-time at a local restraunt. The application decision will be made soon, so I've been a bit restless. I shoulsn't have too much to worry about, I meet and exceed all of the schools requirements, but the closer the day of finding out comes, the more flustered I get. I have put so much into all of this, that if it does not happen, I will have lost so much . I'm rather scared. I'm only 18, and I'll be living in a foreign country alone... that would be frightening for almost anyone. Graduation gets closer as John Cabot gets closer, and I can't help but feeling that I've grown up too soon. Part of me is happy where I'm at, another part can't wait to get to Rome, while the other part of me wishes I was 5 again. To hear all of these positive things about moving to Italy has really helped me out alot, not only in preparing what to pack, but preparing myself mentally also. Thank you all for helping me get through this with your advice, and comforting words. This site has been a great life saver to me. I thank God for the day that I ran into Christina on Fodors.com or else I never would have found this site or any of the soothing words I have thus far heard. THANK YOU!!!!