Dear CISabroad,
This is a note to express gratitude for the great work Joe Debiec and CISabroad did placing my daughter Claire R. in a study abroad program this semester. Claire was in Cairo at AUC. She evacuated to London and regrouped with her new friend, Jackie, while deciding what to do next. The International Programs Office at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst connected us with Joe and he really bent over backwards to help. I remember having a discussion with him while I was at JC Penney's (the convenience/tyranny of the cell phone!), and I was feeling particularly distressed. Joe has a very calm voice, and he offered me various options that he thought he could work out for Claire. By the end of the conversation I was feeling relieved and upbeat. After what was probably a lot of work on his end, Joe finally got Claire AND her new friend placed at the Florence Univ of the Arts, in a beautiful apartment. Claire was able to get into the courses she wanted and needed to be in. Joe also guided Claire through the visa difficulties. Since Claire and Jackie can only stay in Florence for 90 days, they could not arrive until well after they left Cairo. This inconvenience presented an opportunity: Claire and Jackie visited Paris before they arrived in Florence, where they are now happily ensconced. We just spoke to the girls over Skype last night. They are on their way to Venice, to Carnival, this weekend. What an adventure they are having! Joe found a way to make it all happen for them. We are very grateful!
Warm regards,
Christina P. and Peter R.
Parents
