Well folks, you heard it here first: According to ADALife bloggers Nicky, Alice, Olivia, Maddie, and Emma, the following is a list of everything you need to know to survive a semester at the ADA. Check it out below!

Pictured: Carrie Dickson

Accademia dell’Arte Survival Tips and Tricks:

• Take advantage of talking to the professors outside of class. They are a wealth of information and are always down for a chat over a cappuccino.
• Bring all the socks that you own.
• Take day trips to the surrounding towns on the weekend. Florence, Siena, Cortona, etc, are all just a short train ride away.
• They don’t sell kleenex or soft tissues in Italy, so bring a box or two from the states if you want good tissues.
• When shopping, indulge in the products that are not brand names, they’re usually just as good, for half the price.
• If you have dietary restrictions or special food needs, do not be afraid to ask the staff for help – they are all very accommodating.
• Keep the quiet hours. Don’t be that guy.
• If you like using ink or gel pens, bring some from the states. Almost all of the pens sold here are ballpoint or felt tipped.
• Buy your own mug. It’s always a worthy investment.
• You do not need to do everything when you are in Europe. You do not have to go everywhere and see everything. Most everything has been around for centuries, and will continue to be here for quite a while.
• Budget!
• Take some time to walk around by yourself. Being with a group is awesome, but going at your own pace can be just as, if not more rewarding.
• Stretch before class. It’s always a help if your professor decides to jump straight into work.
• Do not stay up too late. Physical prep the next morning is coming up quicker than you think.
• Horde fruit from the Mensa. It’s hard to get good fruit to last, so take an apple or banana for later that day.
• Buy tupperware and stock up for the weekend from Friday night dinners.
• The Teatrino is your space, meaning it’s the perfect place to let off steam by screaming and jumping around for a while or so.
• Buy laundry tokens preemptively. You cannot buy them from Kristen on the weekend when you remember that you may want to do laundry. Also, plan out clean clothes for a few days, because air drying your clothes takes one to three days – More for the thicker the material. Jeans and sweaters take a good while to dry.
• Bring a portable charger, you will want to be able to take pictures and get directions during long days of exploring
• Make sure you have rain boots and comfortable walking shoes!
• Be prepared to be busy and plan ahead to make sure homework gets does, but you still have time to travel and spend time in Arezzo.
• Keep a lot of cash on hand, the ATM at the BNL in town doesn’t charge an extra fee for most American’s banks
• Say “hi” to the lone dog of Sant’Agostino…he goes by “Mela” (we’re pretty sure)
• Stop by Aurora on the weekends AND during the week, whether for a nice glass of wine or to play chess with an Arezzo native
• Go to ALL the MFA shows! Yay support one another!
• Inexpensive sandwich places for the weekend…Piadina place and Dal Moro (ADA discount included)
• If you’re craving good ol’ healthy food and are missing Trader Joes or Whole Foods, stop by Biolento! They’ve got green juices and a Sunday brunch buffet you won’t want to miss!
• “Hot Chocolate” at Coffee O’ Clock…it’s fudge and out of this world.