<p>Hi Jaesmom, Our D took the group flight and it was perfect, especially since that meant transportation was arranged all the way from New York to the final destination in Arezzo. We are lucky, however, because we live in NYC. Maybe you can find out from Oberlin about how others are getting to NY?</p>
<p>Take the group flight. The airport in Rome is huge and bustling. It would be really intimidating for most kids. Knowing our daughter was with the group reduced a lot of stress for us. It will also give her the opportunity to get to know the other participants.</p>
<p>My son also took the group flt…which was alot easier, as far as all the little details went. He came home with 2 cars full of kids (we’re in NJ) from Oberlin…and we took two carloads of them to the airport 2 days later:). I wasn’t nervous about him traveling abroad, but it was nice that they had each other to keep an eye out.</p>
<p>I think sending our son was one of the best things we’ve done for him!! He grew so much in alot of ways:) Too bad the dollar was pitiful last year!! lol. I haven’t looked but I think the kids going this year will fare a bit better.</p>
<p>My daughter did not take the group flight, but flew from Newark to Milano on her own. We live in northern NJ and flying out of Newark is a lot easier than getting her to JFK or LaGuardia. She had a night in a hotel in town, then caught the group bus back at the airport the next morning. She had no problems, but this was before the program moved to Arezzo and she was not lugging her bass, having arranged to rent one locally. It also helped that we had spent a few days in Milano on a trip the previous year, so she was at least somewhat familiar with the public transportation system there.</p>
<p>All, this year the flights are going in and out of Florence, not Rome. I believe that they are going on Lufthansa via Newark and Munich to Florence. If you haven’t gotten information on the scheduling you should contact Anna Hoffman at Oberlin (<a href=“mailto:ahoffman@oberlin.edu”>ahoffman@oberlin.edu</a>) for details. She is happy to put parents on her mailing list.</p>
<p>Also note that they are trying to get the students to have student visas this year. That entails a fair amount of paperwork and a personal visit to the consulate in the students area.</p>
<p>I think it seems like a wonderful program and an opportunity to get immersion Italian. The housing choices include a dormitory setting with a cafeteria, and two types of apartment settings, including one with breakfast.</p>
<p>Hope this helps – will be happy to report on how it all goes!</p>
<p>Wow, this is great information, thank you all! I will contact Anna Hoffman. I have been wanting to, but have been trying to let my girl take the lead in getting me the info. I will feel much better having the information straight from the source. We live in Indiana, so it’s not too far to drive to Cleveland to get the flight from there. I really would feel a lot more comfortable with that. My girl is one who is all full of confidence and swagger, not a care in the world, and when she gets off the bus/train/plane, she is immediately on the phone to me, “now, what do I do again?” There’s a lot of difference from trying to find a LCT schedule from the Greyhound station in Elyria to trying to get her to Arezzo from Rome or Florence!</p>