Construction Maison

What inspired you to go abroad? I was inspired to go abroad after attending a study abroad fair at my university. I always knew studying abroad was an option, but I had always kind of looked past it, thinking it was too expensive or just not possible for me. But in my second year of college I walked through the study abroad fair and after talking to some of the representatives of different programs, I realized I needed to be a part of the experience. I had never left the United States and I knew I wanted to change that. The view while walking uphill to Acropolis in Athens, Greece Why did you choose CIEE? I chose the CIEE Global Institute Rome Open Campus because of my love for Roman history and art and my past experiences with CIEE. I was lucky enough to go abroad in January 2016 for three weeks with CIEE in Seville, Spain and after such a successful experience with the program, I chose to go abroad for four months in Rome. What was your favorite part about Rome? Where does one beg...

Natalie Marra benefited from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), a provision in the District that provides strong protection for tenants to avoid a forced move. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) Four years ago, when her apartment building at 1921 Kalorama Road NW in Washington was up for sale, Natalie Marra, a resident for more than 30 years, was determined to stay in the home she loves. “It took almost two years of tough negotiating, but there was a core group of seven of us in the tenant association that worked with a lawyer to make sure our rights were protected,” Marra says. “We negotiated the right to live in our apartments under rent control for the rest of our lives. Believe me, none of us ever plan to move now. Why would we? We have great renovated apartments and low rent.” Marra and her neighbors benefited from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), a provision in the District that provides strong protection for tenants to avoid a forced move. Elder...

BRIT tourists are experiencing a Europe-wide backlash against their boozy antics as party hotspots across the continent crack down on drunken debauchery . Thousands jet off from UK airports every year to destinations on the Mediterranean to blow off steam and enjoy the summer sunshine . Boozy Brits have been accused of wreaking havoc across southern Europe But some are better behaved than others and despite the amount of cash they bring in, their presence is not always welcomed by locals. Many residents take offence at seeing their streets filled with foreigners fighting, vomiting, urinating and getting frisky. Some also complain of holidaymakers driving locals out by either pushing prices up or making their towns and cities unbearable to live in. To add to the trouble, tourism to resorts in southern Europe has skyrocketed this year amid security concerns in other destinations like Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey. The sudden spike in numbers has sparked a backlash against visitors – man...

Samantha Madison ROME — The apartment complex slated to be built at the site of the former Dewitt Clinton School is getting larger. Rome's Common Council conducted a workshop with DePaul Properties last week, where representatives told them that they have expanded the project to include more units because of public feedback. The new plan is to have 80 apartments of new housing with a 66- unit apartment building and 14 townhomes. There will be 60 one-bedroom apartments and 20 two-bedroom units. Of those, 70 units are adaptable, which will be able to support those with mobility issues. The original plan was to have 60 units with 56 one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments. Dewitt Clinton Apartments took another step forward at the Rome Common Council meeting last week, where after a public hearing where no one spoke, the council approved a zoning change. The vote changed the property to be a residential planned development district , which is considered an...

Italy is known for some of the best foods in the world. It's home to some of the greatest bread, pasta, gelato, and wine, as we all know, but there are a lot of other delicious dishes that are lesser known, yet equally amazing. This past summer I got the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Italy, making my way around several parts of the country and trying a ton of amazing foods that honestly, I now wish I would've eaten more of. You simply have  to visit Italy at least once in your life — I insist. I understand that the number of food options can be overwhelming and you might be unsure what to eat in Italy. So, the following is a list that my fellow Spoon members and I have put together for you on 50 of the foods that you absolutely must try there (although, I'd certainly advise you try more if you can). 1. Tomatoes Tomatoes ( pomodori ) are a huge part of Italian food culture , as they're the backbone of the most terrific sauces, soups, salads, and more. The mos...