The Traveling Diaries No. 23

"The Burden of the Budget"

by Angelic Roman 

Relax and read on!

So, I noticed that the number one thing that anyone can say upon my eager tale of study abroad   

(forgive me, it was a great experience and I just can't stop talking about it) is that they would love to do something similar if they had the money. Well, I decided that a full break-down of how I did it would be something worth posting in addition to some great resources for people to check out. 

So, the number one thing that helped me was the award of The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship  as I've stated before in a previous post. (You can find this here). The Gilman Scholarship awarded me $5,000. Now the City College of San Francisco program fee is less than half of what it might cost at a  U.C.   (insiders tip: The classes for both CCSF and UC students are taught in the same school by the same teachers!)

The CCSF cost is currently about $6,300. This, of course, is only the program costs and does not include airfare or meals. 

For an additional amount you can pay for home-stay in some of the programs, which includes meals. Additionally, you can pay about $700 for single-room occupancy. 

So the Gilman helped cover almost all of my program cost. Before my trip I also started working a seasonal job, which included holidays and managed to earn a little over $2,000. In addition to this, I also took advantage of the scholarships listed on the CCSF Scholarship page. 

And there are so many more resources out there to help you achieve your dreams! I would encourage anyone to check out www.studyabroadfunding.org. 

Plus, while abroad I would recommend anyone to check out http://www.helpx.net to see what exchanges are available ( this usually is volunteer work for room and board). 

There are a bunch of resources out there and my best advice to ask anyone who has studied abroad to see how they did it as well as talking to your Study Abroad Coordinator. PS: Even if you are not a CCSF student, you can enroll specifically for the Study Abroad program. 

The Traveling Diaries No. 22

"I Musei"

by Angelic Roman

 In my contemplation of the beautiful San Francisco museums ( my particular favorite being the Legion of Honor) I realized that my "Traveling Diaries" section really was missing a post on the various fashion museums in Florence. Other than the Salvatore Ferragamo museum, I failed to post my wonderful experience with the Gucci museum as well as the Galleria del Costume located in Palazzo Pitti. Hence, I shall endeavor to give a quick summary on the museums and why, if you're ever in Florence, you can't miss them. 

Gucci Museo 

photo takes from wwd.com

photo from trendhunter.com

The Gucci Museum is located in one of the main Piazza's in Florence, known as the Piazza della Signoria (where Michelangelo's famous David once stood). You really cannot miss it, even if you were trying to, because it is so marvelously advertised with giant banners and a very exclusive Gucci cafe. For those who don't know, Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921. The museum itself offers a wonderful taste of Gucci heritage on three levels and the entrance fee is 7 euros. It was really through this experience that I learned the complete history of the Flora designs Gucci commissioned for the famous Princess Grace Kelly. The museum offers a look at the various range of products that the Gucci brand has come to encompass (including a stunning car). 

You can find out  more information here. 

Galleria del Costume 

photo taken from museumsinflorence.com

The Galleria del Costume is located inside Palazzo Pitti just beyond the Ponte Vecchio. (Bonus: if enrolled in CCSF Study Abroad admission is free as part of a student package) The Galleria offers a look into fashion history and the intricate past of Florence's fashion up until the 18th century. For any fashion designers, this would certainly be a place of inspiration. Here you can see some costumes belonging to Eleonora of Toledo ( these are actually rare pieces from the 16th century). Overall, it is a wonderful representation of Florentine fashion and fashion history.

You can find more information here. 

Amidst the City No.2

"From White Walls to Peacock Walls"

by Angelic Roman 

Being back in San Francisco has filled me with wonder. After being gone for three months, I missed my beautiful city. I missed the sloping hills, the smell of the bay breeze, the action of downtown, and of course my favorite local artists. So when I heard that Charmaine Olivia's new works were going to be on exhibit at White Walls and Shooting Gallery, I had to attend the opening. Of course, it did not disappoint, I always love going to art galleries and letting inspiration fill me. It feels lovely to be back home. 

The Traveling Diaries No. 21

"The End of a Beautiful Journey"
by Angelic Roman 

One of my goals upon graduating from high school was to study abroad in the second spring of my college semester; I can't believe I did it. Studying abroad has been such a stepping stone for me, it has   opened the doors of a new language, a new culture, and a new side of the fashion business. I shall proudly display this experience on my resume and take it back with me. But of course, it couldn't have been remotely possible without the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship.

I was fortunate enough to receive $5,000 to help me fund my dreams and when applied to the City College of San Francisco Study Abroad program, it cut my costs in half. Last semester I was running around, working and studying full time, reaching out to family members for donations and working so hard to make it happen. Receiving the Gilman Scholarship helped relieve the burden of that dreaded budget and credit debt I was running into. I can't recommend it enough to people and really, applying is easy!

I've made a quick presentation for anyone who is interested and, of course, feel free to contact me.

 Apply for the Gilman Scholarship here!

The Traveling Diaries No.20

"A Venezia"
by Angelic Roman

It is about a two hour train ride from Florence to Venice, Italy. As I child I often daydreamed about seeing this "sinking city" and exploring its alleyways and beautiful canals. We decided to explore this city without an itinerary. If there is anything I can tell you about finding your way in Italy its this: you will eventually get to your destination, its just going to take longer than you anticipated. Having the chance to simply wander around this magical city without any kind of rush to get to a certain place seemed to be the perfect way to go about it.

This was a shot that I was taking of my roommate when this lady briskly walked past; it ended up being one my favorites simply because of what she is wearing.  The vibrant hue of purple and stack of gold bangles pops beautifully against the panoramic landscape.

Of course, Venice is most famous for Carnevale, in which people dress up elaborately and don beautiful masks. Venice has a very rich history and culture and it is a must-see for anyone in Italy. 

The Traveling Diaries No.19

"Fashion Capital: Milan"
by Angelic Roman

One of the huge bonuses for us on this study abroad program has been the luxury of three day weekends. This last weekend, my roommate and I planned the train ride up to Milan (which took about an hour). We landed in Milan during their design week and so the city was alive with events and fashion. However, I imagine this city is always on a buzz.

One of our first stops was the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the famous shopping mall. It was built in 1877 and is truly a sight to see. As soon as you exit you are greeted with the beautiful Duomo and on the other side the Teatro Alla Scala.

We also got the chance to visit Palazzo Morando or free (thanks to design week) and get a peak at some beautiful 19th century costumes and corsets. Palazzo Morando is located just next to Via Montenapoleone (the fashionable must-see street in Milan).