Overall, I loved my study abroad experience. In all of my classes, I had hands-on interaction with the community. For example, in my Sustainability of Food class, I worked with three local Italian restaurants to implement a to-go box program. Also, all my professors were great. They were so friendly and I had the opportunity to create close relationships with them. My apartment was in the center of the city and was less than a five minute walk to class. Since Perugia was a small city, I was able to interact with the locals. Some downsides were that I lived with American students and I went to a school with mostly only Americans. Therefore, I didn't practice Italian as much. Also, to travel to other cities out of Perugia was difficult.

Overall, the program at the Umbra Institute is very nice and makes sure that you are given everything that you need. The academics of Umbra are much less rigorous than at CU, except maybe the internships. The workload is minimal, but the classes are interesting and fun, especially with field trips. It's good if you want to travel a lot because you won't be worried about getting behind, but not good if you want a challenge academically. Housing was good, although the apartments varied in size and location. It's all a lottery for how good of an apartment you get, but they are all well-located and no more than a 5-minute walk to the center and the school. They miss a lot of amenities of the U.S., like clothes dryers or microwaves, but this is all a part of Italian life and should be expected no matter where you go. That being said, Perugia is a wonderful place to study; it's the kind of place one imagines when thinking of studying in Italy. It is perfectly located in central Italy, making it easy to travel, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. It's really easy to get to Rome or Florence, but also to nice Tuscan towns like Cortona. The best part of Perugia is that it isn't touristy at all - it gives a good idea of what Italian life is really like and allows you to get really good at your Italian. The bad thing about the program is that it is almost exclusive to Americans, so it is hard to interact with locals. Umbra sets up tandem, which is a language exchange with Italian students, but that's one of the only easy ways to interact with locals. You have to try hard to befriend and hang out with Italians if you want to do that. Walking is the main mode of transportation, though the minimetro is nice for getting down the large hill; train is really the best way to travel. And volunteer if you can - volunteering with UNICEF was a great experience, and so were the classes with service learning elements, so try to get involved in one of those.

I loved the town I was in and the school. It was a nice change of pace to have smaller classes and get to learn about different subjects.

Courses with Umbra are amazing- each is very interesting in its own respect, the teachers understand very well that you are abroad and adjusting to an alternative lifestyle and the Italian language courses are exceptional for beginners and fluent speakers. Perugia could not have been a more welcoming and genuine town to live in in Italy. We were able to create relationships with residents in town, we were close to Florence and Rome on weekend trips and loved everything about Perugia. I CAN NOT emphasize enough how incredible of an experience Perugia is and highly encourage any student to look into the program.

-The best courses to take are the food courses
-Location is great because it's a "college town" of Italy but small enough that you get to know your Professors
-Great interactions with locals, everyone is friendly (esp. if you try to speak Italian) and it's very easy to find new interesting bars etc.
-Volunteer at the Orsini farm! You won't regret it.

The courses at the Umbra Institute were exactly what I was looking for in a study abroad program. They all related to Italy and gave me a great insight into the culture and history of the country. I visited many towns in Italy, but Perugia still stands as one of the most beautiful ones I visited. It sits on top of a big hill that looks out for miles and miles from the edge of the town center. The school is located right in the middle of town next to the main fountain and church steps where tons of people gather for lunch or just to hang out with friends. The locals are extremely friendly, even more so if you're able to communicate with them in their native tongue, and they always appreciate you trying. There are two other universities in the town, so I met a bunch of other people from around Italy and the world. Most classes offer some kind of field trip as well as volunteering opportunities. Some of my friends worked with a local group to create a garden above an abandoned warehouse.

The courses were interesting. We got to work with some local companies while also learning Italian everyday. Perugia is a beautiful city located right in the center of Italy, so it's great for traveling.

School wise, choose one or two courses that are helpful towards your major, but for the most part choose classes that interest you and give you a better understanding of the place that you are studying. Take classes about food or art and choose classes that have field trips or class activities outside of the classroom. I studied in Italy and took a class on food; we got to take trips to different restaurants and wineries and had class all-you-can-eat meals. In Italy, if that isn't getting the most of the country then I don't know what is!

Choose a location that both interests you and challenges you. Don't always choose a place simply because you know someone who went and had a good time; you want to go somewhere that you'll love for its own reasons. I chose to get away from the typical Italian study abroad locations and I could not have been happier. And don't be afraid to go alone, you will make amazing friends and gain a lot from stepping outside of your comfort zone!

Make sure to find a "local" spot that you can become a regular at. Whether its a local bar, a coffee shop, or even a grocery market, the locals will begin to recognize you and become your friends. We had waiters at our favorite pizzeria know our orders by the end of the semester, and the old couple who owned a small grocery store would often throw in some complimentary goodies when we shopped there.

I took four courses including Italian, Pagans and Christian, The Business of Wine in Italy, and the Business in the European Union. Perugia is located in central Italy in a small medieval town, perfect for anyone looking for the authentic Italian experience. We became friends with the Italians living in the town, the shop owners, and our professors. Through the classes I took, I was able to make incredible connections with wineries all over Italy and the Umbria region in particular. Absolutely incredible experience!

The staff were great. It's a small program so you will get to know every one of the staff members and they will become your friends and mentors just as much as the other students on your program. They are always very easily accesiblr and helpful with everything from apartment issues to where the best gelato is!

We lived in apartments organized for us by the school. It was nice that we didn't have to worry about housing. The quality of the apartments varied, some with less than others. But overall my apartment met my needs and gave me a good Italian experience. The only big complaint would be the questionable internet connection.

The Arcadia orientation at the Orsini Farm was amazing and unique. We learned the ropes of the program and living in Italy while also learning how to make homemade pasta. The orientation ended with a delicious 5-course lunch (including the pasta we made). I loved the optional activities that Umbra made available to us. I did the Pizza Workshop and Wine Tasting and I attended every Tandem.

Academics were great. There is a perfect balance of class time and free time. While the courses were challenging at times, the teachers are so interactive and helpful. They are so knowledgeable about their country and the Italian culture.

I was able to interact a lot with the locals. With living in a smaller city, you are able to establish friendships with the locals. One advice to future students is to get out of your comfort zone and don't stick with only American students.

I went to tandem every week, which was a language exchange set up by Umbra. Other than that, it was hard to interact with Italians unless you actively sought them out outside of tandem. Sometimes there are Italians in our classes, but if you befriend someone at tandem, definitely try to pursue them outside of tandem if you can.

Perugia is the perfect place to interact with locals because it is small, with a lot of younger people, and not very touristy. We made friends with restaurant owners, baristas, and kids our own age. Don't be shy and try to meet as many people as possible!

This experience will stay with me my whole life. It taught me how to travel, how to be completely on my own, and how to meet people much different from me. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience.

This experience has changed my life. It has shown me that there is a world far beyond the confines of the Unites States. There are cultures to see, stories to hear and things to see. I will forever be interested in the idea of living abroad at some point in my life as it presents more challenges and opportunities to grow than I can even begin to explain. As stated earlier, I would tell ANYONE, and I mean anyone that they should study abroad and most definitely look into Umbra Institute in Perugia.

I was very nervous and hesitate of studying abroad. However, I am so happy and grateful to study abroad. I would tell every student if they have the opportunity to study abroad during their college career to go.