The University

We have had very positive interactions with Bocconi.  I realize how difficult it must be to go to some place abroad without the support of an institution.  There are many new things to experience in Milan but Bocconi feels like home.  Registration was yesterday and the buildings were filled with students.  Bocconi is a business school offering courses for undergraduates, master's students, and some PhDs.  Ken is familiar with the economics program; many of these undergraduates come to the U.S. for their PhDs.  The students and faculty are 10% international.  Courses are offered in economics, finance, law, business, political economy, public policy, but no humanities. The building that houses Ken's program, public policy, is what might be called post modern, designed by an Irish firm, Grafton Associates.  It has been described as: "a succession of open spaces, stairs, and concrete elements that seem suspended in air.  Wide glass panels and openings convey natural light to the basement."  We both really like it.  Ken will let me know how well it functions.  Ken has a good size office and the department administrators have been very accommodating.  We had thought we could take Italian through Bocconi but that program is no longer offered.  There is a gym - we first have to get clearance from a local physician (and before that have to sign up with the national health service).  There is also a private gym located nearby which we will visit.

Friday, a Bocconi administrator will meet us in city center and will walk us through some final bureaucratic steps.  I use the term final but really can't predict what remains.