Hello all,
First post! My wife and I will deliver our son to Turin in the spring for a study abroad program that will last 6 months for him. I was wondering if the group has any do’s and don’ts for him ( and us) while he is there? Any advice is appreciated!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17601 posts
DO rent a car and go see the Forte di Fenestrelle. The “Great Wall of the Alps”.
https://mybestplace.com/en/article/fenestrelle-fort-the-great-piedmont-wall
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7389 posts
Here are the most recent discussions of Turin
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=6m&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Turin&utf8=%E2%9C%93
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1235 posts
Hello matthewlanebryan, and welcome to the forum!
Your question is very open ended but I guess my advice for him is speak with the Italians regardless of his confidence in his language skills. Italians love to talk and if you don't talk they assume you're bored or boring and neither is good. Tell him to put himself out there and do his best to connect to locals and Italian culture.
Hope that helps,
=Tod
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Yes it was open ended wasn’t it….sorry. I was mainly asking about cultural items of what to do and not do…..as well as safety issues. Just want his experience to be great and safe!
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
562 posts
I imagine the university will offer guidance for visiting students that would be more useful than what you could get here. If, on the other hand, you're looking for recommendations on what you and your wife should do while you're there, then the RS forum makes more sense.
Posted by
Washington DC
28535 posts
Check locally on the ins and outs of taking public transportation so he doesn't incur a large fine from not having the right kind of (validated) ticket.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1779 posts
Just coming back from giving a lecture at an American university in Florence. After staying there two full days, I would say that the two most frequent errors by American students are:
1. considering their stint as an holiday, or better: an holiday in a place where drinking is easier to young people. Italy is much more than that;
2. bringing the American mindset to Italy and remaining stuck within it. This was particularly clear from student discussions after the lectures, the American academia has its style and finds difficult simply to listen to different styles, even if explained in English. Staying some time in Italy or generally in Europe should bring the student to investigate a different mindset.
Posted by
1645 posts
The area around the University has numerous pedestrian walking areas and little street side cafes. Take advantage of them and order a farinata pancake made with chickpea flour.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
1091 posts
Italians love to talk and if you don't talk they assume you're bored or boring and neither is good. Tell him to put himself out there and do his best to connect to locals and Italian culture.
That really cracked me up, so true! I've been in crowded restaurants where they said no to us, while I stood and chatted with the server and inevitably a table became available. Be nice, smile, chat!
And as a former foreign exchange student at a Germany university for a year, I would say get outside your circle and make some local friends, go to events with locals, say 'yes' to invites with locals... you get the drift.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3113 posts
Our fav in Turino was Eatily, a local supermarket, which is also several restaurants and bars. Several in Turino and also Florence. Great wine cellar. Plus bulk wine by the liter - E1.5/L.
Go to a futbol (soccer) game. Juventus has 2 American players - McKennie and Weah. Also there is AC Milan (Pulisic and Musah) in Milan. Games are cheap and its fun to go.