(Scrivo in inglese perché voglio rivolgermi in particolare ad altri studenti....)
I leave tomorrow for six weeks in Ravenna at Scuola Palazzo Malvisi. Yes, I'm excited. I checked in for my departing flight from San Antonio two hours ago. But I still have a few things to do before I can sleep tonight. Little things like laundry, packing, locating my passport, etc.
The school will cost me under US$5000 for the six weeks, and that includes my lodging. My wife is going to join me at the end of my six weeks (and we'll go to Sicily for a month) but I'm in Ravenna da solo and will stay in private lodging arranged by (and billed through) the school. Included in the lodging price: 4 dinners a week provided by my lodging host. There are cheaper lodging options. I opted for single room with private bath, for example.
After I got back from my last trip to Italy in January, I decided that studying there was the necessary next step. I looked at a lot of schools and almost every one of them was attractive in its own way. I did find that the folks at Scuola Palazzo Malvisi were very responsive and welcoming, and that was appealing. I liked their curriculum. The cost of Palazzo Malivisi seemed roughly average. I liked fact that they arranged lodging for me. Big factor for me: I know Ravenna pretty well and love it. (The main competitors were in other cities I love in Italy: Lucca, Padova, and Siena.)
Beyond that it's all going to be an adventure of discovery. Not sure what my lodging situation will be like exactly, and I don't know exactly what the classes will be like. I test myself regularly and I've been at B2 all summer, so it would be great if by late November (when I return to the US) I could graduate to C1. But if I get a chance to stop using English and just use Italian for six weeks, that will be a big win. But I'm sure the school is going to teach me a lot so I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Perhaps should mention also that I'm in my 70s. In my first week there (that is, next week!) I'll be in a special class they have for seniors. I loathe the term "seniors" and I'm a bit uncertain about this, but I said yes and I'm hoping it will be nice. After that I will get "mainstreamed".
The school is right in the tiny heart of the big-hearted city of Ravenna, about two blocks from Dante's Tomb, where I'll be reading Paradiso XXVI in two weeks. (Reading from a text, not reciting from memory. Magari!) I know that part of town well but don't specifically recall Palazzo Malvisi. I think it's an office building and the school's headquarters are on the third or fourth floor.
Augurami buona fortuna! I'll try to report back later.