Here are some general rules, tips, and expectations to help you become accustomed to your new home!
Apartments in Roma
The apartments used by The American University of Rome housing program are different from college dormitory and apartment living in the United States. As a result, your behavior and demeanor must reflect this difference. As members of a community, you will have responsibilities to the city where you live and to your neighbors. You should strive to enhance the quality of life and safety of the neighborhood you share.
To help maintain good relations with your neighbors, keep in mind that you are part of a community and your actions affect your neighbors. Although your residency is temporary, recognize that most of your neighbors are living in their primary residence which they own. Please be sensitive to the lifestyle of your neighbors. Most residents enjoy the arrival of American students and you should do your part to foster that relationship. Most residents work full time and many may have families with young children, so keep excessive noise to a minimum at all times.
What can you expect to find in the Roman Apartment/Condominium?
Each apartment is equipped with basic furnishings and supplies, including single beds, bed linens and towels, a closet/clothing storage space, basic cookware and tableware (there is no meal plan for this program – students cook for themselves), a table and chairs and a furnished sitting area. Desks, when available, are to be shared by all occupants. Each student is expected to provide his/her own paper and cleaning products as well as replace light bulbs. Most apartment units are provided with a washing machine. It is anticipated that all apartments will have access to wifi internet.
Not All Apartments Are the Same. In Rome, not all apartments are created equal. Although the apartments vary in location, style and size, all of them provide the essentials. Please try to understand this fact and accept it as part of your experience in Rome. Do not immediately compare your apartment with those of other students.
Your program coordinator will email to you the American University of Rome housing forms and you will be able to make roommate requests on these forms.
Housing placements and roommate confirmations will not be available until arrival. You will receive this information during orientation.
Apartments in Barcelona
Apartments in Barcelona are fully equipped shared living spaces that students may live in jointly with other students – American or international (4-6 per apartment usually). Students who choose to live in an apartment do not get meals included, but have kitchen and cooking facilities.
Each apartment will have the following:
- blankets, bed linens and pillows (students should bring their own towels)
- fully equipped kitchen with a stove-top range, refrigerator and sink
- communal living space or kitchen with a table and chairs
- shared bathroom which includes a toilet and a bathing area
Barcelona Housing FAQ
I am arriving early, can I move into my housing before the specified move‐in date?
No. Due to liability issues, the specified arrival date is the earliest you can move in. If you arrive early, you should arrange for your own accommodation until the official program starting date.
Can I contact my roommates before I arrive?
Due to privacy concerns, we cannot release the names of your roommates before the program begins. However, the best way to find out who you will be living with is to join the CISabroad Spain Facebook page, and post on the wall to see who might be living with you!
Does the apartment have sheets and towels?
Your housing will provide sheets/bedding. Towels will not be provided. We suggest you bring a towel so you will have one upon arrival, but towels will be easily purchasable once in Spain, and the onsite staff will assist you as needed!
Can I stay in the apartment after the program is over?
Students MUST completely move out of the program housing by noon on the day their program ends without exception. We are happy to provide you with a list of
inexpensive hotels and hostels where students have stayed in the past if you plan
to stay beyond the program dates, otherwise it’s best to buy your return flight for
the program departure date.
Do Barcelona apartment buildings all have elevators?
Elevators are now fairly common across the city, but many older buildings simply
don’t have the space for them. Although an elevator is guaranteed for 90% of
apartments, in case your building doesn’t have one, you will not be placed in an
apartment in which you have to climb more than two flights of stairs to reach the
front door.
Please note that although CISabroad makes every effort to provide your preferred form of housing, we cannot guarantee that all personal preferences are met. We have carefully selected safe and adequate housing for each student and each living arrangement is distinct and special in its own way.
Every housing placement is different with different pros and cons. Your accommodations will be different than what you’ve come to expect in your home country. In general, be prepared for a relatively small living space in an older building with very basic amenities. Now is the time to open your mind and get ready to experience something different; this attitude is in the spirit of your decision to study abroad. Please also remember, that when you are abroad, you will be representing your home institution and your home country; behave appropriately.
There are no housing changes allowed during the first 2 weeks of the program. There is a natural adjustment period to life abroad and making any housing change decisions during this time is usually premature.
Cleanliness:
Keep your room and the common areas clean; this is especially important when you are sharing a bedroom, apartment, residence, or dormitory.
Noise:
In order to avoid disturbing the neighbors or housemates, please use headphones when listening to music, or keep the volume low, and please keep your voices down. By law, quiet is imperative between 9:30 or 10:00 pm and 8:00 am, and again after 1:00 pm until 3:30 or 4:00 pm; please respect this law by keeping noise to minimum.
Utilities and use:
- Always turn off the lights when you leave the apartment and when you are not in the room.
- Apartments are not provided with air conditioning; instead, keep cool the Italian way –during the day, Italians traditionally keep their shutters and serrande closed against the heat of the sun. In order to cool the apartment you might also consider buying a fan.
Safety:
- You should lock the apartment door at all times. Also, when leaving the apartment, make sure the windows are closed and locked. Neither the study abroad company nor the housing company will not be responsible for any stolen items.
- If the keys to the apartment are stolen, lost or misplaced, all locks to the apartment will have to be replaced at the student’s expense, including key copies for all apartment members.
- If the keys are left inside the apartment/bedroom and the locksmith has to open the door for the you, you will have to pay for this service.
- It is strictly forbidden to throw any object or substance from windows, balconies, terraces or roofs. This includes keys, cigarette butts or anything else big or small.
Guests and Alcohol Policies:
- Disrespectful behavior related to alcohol consumption will end up in dismissal from the housing and you will have to find your own housing at your own expense.
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the apartment.
- The consumption of drugs, as well as keeping or dealing with them, is absolutely prohibited.
- Overnight guests are not prohibited.
Financial Liability:
- You will have to pay for any damage done to the apartment (doors, walls, floors, furniture, kitchen supplies, washing machine, etc.).
- If extra time is needed to clean the apartment, or if items are damaged or missing, you will be charged and those charges will be deducted from your housing deposit. Housing deposits will be returned 8-12 weeks after the program has ended
Helpful tips for living with other people:
- Respect other people that live in the building.
- Remember that you are not on a college campus and not in your own home. Respect the property and get out of the “college campus” mentality.
- Talk to your roommates if they do something that bothers you. Talking it through is the easiest way to solve a small problem before it gets bigger.
- Talk to the staff if a problem arises and you cannot work it out with your roommates.
Warning process:
- If any of the above rules are broken, you will receive a first verbal warning. This warning will also be written and sent to your sending study abroad program and your home school.
- The second infraction of any of the above rules will result in you being evicted from your apartment. You will need to find a new place to live at your own expense.
- Please read through all of our behavior policies noted in the CISabroad Policy Handbook, linked inside of the attachment to your acceptance email