Thursday, May 9, 2013
Italians Love Their Soccer
This past Sunday, Jueventus, one of Torino's two professional soccer teams won their 31st championship for the second year in a row. Torino celebrated like crazy. On my way to eating Mexican, I witnessed part of the celebration in Piazza Vittorio and saw the team's bus drive by.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Peanut Butter Costs How Much?! Dealing With Being Homesick Abroad
After being abroad for almost four months, I am starting to really miss certain comforts that are much easier to find in America. I've been fine surviving without them, but there is nothing like waking up to a warm breakfast burrito or a to-go cup of chai . Whether you miss your family, dog, car, friends, or food, being homesick is completely normal and expected, and here is a guide to dealing with it.
Family and Friends:
Thank goodness of modern technology. No longer do we have to hope that the postcard we sent at the beginning of the semester might arrive home before we do. Video chat like Skype and Facetime, and apps like Viber, make communicating with your friends and family very easy. Granted, your internet might be temperamental/non-existent in your apartment, but there are plenty of cafes with WiFi (and the school has internet). Of course, sending postcards is still nice, too.
Make new friends! My program has about 65 students and many of us are also friends with students in Erasmus (European study abroad), and then of course there are so many Italians you can meet and befriend. It may be daunting at first. I still remember how terrified I was the first day, not knowing anyone, but you just have to keep an open mind and be up to going out and getting to know others.
Your Pet:
Although you might not be able to cuddle with them, there are adorable and beautiful dogs everywhere in Torino and around Europe. Seriously, it is almost ridiculous. Be careful though...it can be really hard to resist not stealing one.
Food:
The two top foods I have heard people talk about missing are peanut butter and Mexican. There is peanut butter here! It does exist! But it is expensive. For me, Nutella is a perfect replacement.
There are Mexican restaurants in Torino (in fact, I'm going to one tonight for Cinco de Mayo). The taste is not what we are used to in America, but it is still delicious non the less. I like the one in Piazza Vittorio.
If there is a snack, you feel like you can not live without, bring some with you. I didn't want to waste the luggage space.
Find new food! I've fallen in love with these hazelnut pirouette-like cookies from LIDL (a European grocery store), and I may or may not be stuffing my face with some now...they are very dangerous.
There is other food here, so don't worry about getting sick of Italian food. We have a lot sushi, middle eastern, and kebab places, and can anybody really ever get sick of gelato?
When you first order a coffee, you may be surprised to find about a gulp's worth in an "espresso" cup. To-go cups are basically not existent and the biggest coffee you will probably find is a small cappuccino. But, in Torino we have a Starbucks look alike called Busters, and they have to-go cups in varying sizes along with frappes and bagels!
Your Car:
Enjoy walking and the public transportation! Depending on where you live in the states, you probably don't get the opportunity often. As much as I miss blasting the radio and having the convenience of a car, I love how much I walk! I get that much more time to enjoy the city. I know a lot of students who prefer the metro to the bus, but I usually choose the bus of the metro because I can see more of the city riding it. Now, I'm just worried I might forget how to drive.
Stores that Stay Open Late:
There is nothing like a Target here. No late night grocery or convience stores. It is just about a matter of getting used to it. Make sure you do all you necessary shopping during the day. Most stores close at 7:30, grocery stores at 8. If your hungry at night, go for kebab or slice of pizza. Spend your night roaming the city and experiencing the night life.
TV and Movies:
There is a movie theater downtown that shows a movie in English once a week. But why not go see an Italian movie for fun! There are plenty of websites that allow you to watch american TV and movies, although a lot of those sites can be sketchy. Netflix and Hulu don't work. But why not read a book instead, or spend your time outside in the city especially if the weather is as beautiful as it has been. And honestly I haven't really had time to watch TV even if I wanted to. There is always either school work that has to be done, I'm traveling, or enjoying Torino and my friends here too much.
And If You Just Feel Really Homesick and Don't Know What To Do:
Cry. It's okay, most get homesick at some point for any number of reasons. Don't be afraid to let your feelings out. Your roommate or friend might be feeling the same way. So watch a sad movie, stay in bed all day, take a really long shower, and eat comfort food. It helps to take personal days even while abroad. You can't be expected to be always on the go and experiencing life even when you are living in an amazing city.
Distract yourself. Go for a walk or run. Take a bus or a train to someplace new. Visit a museum. Get lost. Try new food. Spend time with friends. Draw. Write. Photograph. Dance. Cook. Read. Study.
And there are always people to talk to, whether you skype family or friends back home to vent, reminisce with friends here about what you miss from home, or talk to someone in the program office.
Remember you are going to be home before you know it so try to enjoy the experience of living in a city abroad as much as possible. I already know I am going to miss Torino terribly.
Family and Friends:
Thank goodness of modern technology. No longer do we have to hope that the postcard we sent at the beginning of the semester might arrive home before we do. Video chat like Skype and Facetime, and apps like Viber, make communicating with your friends and family very easy. Granted, your internet might be temperamental/non-existent in your apartment, but there are plenty of cafes with WiFi (and the school has internet). Of course, sending postcards is still nice, too.
Make new friends! My program has about 65 students and many of us are also friends with students in Erasmus (European study abroad), and then of course there are so many Italians you can meet and befriend. It may be daunting at first. I still remember how terrified I was the first day, not knowing anyone, but you just have to keep an open mind and be up to going out and getting to know others.
Your Pet:
Although you might not be able to cuddle with them, there are adorable and beautiful dogs everywhere in Torino and around Europe. Seriously, it is almost ridiculous. Be careful though...it can be really hard to resist not stealing one.
Food:
The two top foods I have heard people talk about missing are peanut butter and Mexican. There is peanut butter here! It does exist! But it is expensive. For me, Nutella is a perfect replacement.
There are Mexican restaurants in Torino (in fact, I'm going to one tonight for Cinco de Mayo). The taste is not what we are used to in America, but it is still delicious non the less. I like the one in Piazza Vittorio.
If there is a snack, you feel like you can not live without, bring some with you. I didn't want to waste the luggage space.
Find new food! I've fallen in love with these hazelnut pirouette-like cookies from LIDL (a European grocery store), and I may or may not be stuffing my face with some now...they are very dangerous.
There is other food here, so don't worry about getting sick of Italian food. We have a lot sushi, middle eastern, and kebab places, and can anybody really ever get sick of gelato?
When you first order a coffee, you may be surprised to find about a gulp's worth in an "espresso" cup. To-go cups are basically not existent and the biggest coffee you will probably find is a small cappuccino. But, in Torino we have a Starbucks look alike called Busters, and they have to-go cups in varying sizes along with frappes and bagels!
Your Car:
Enjoy walking and the public transportation! Depending on where you live in the states, you probably don't get the opportunity often. As much as I miss blasting the radio and having the convenience of a car, I love how much I walk! I get that much more time to enjoy the city. I know a lot of students who prefer the metro to the bus, but I usually choose the bus of the metro because I can see more of the city riding it. Now, I'm just worried I might forget how to drive.
Stores that Stay Open Late:
There is nothing like a Target here. No late night grocery or convience stores. It is just about a matter of getting used to it. Make sure you do all you necessary shopping during the day. Most stores close at 7:30, grocery stores at 8. If your hungry at night, go for kebab or slice of pizza. Spend your night roaming the city and experiencing the night life.
TV and Movies:
There is a movie theater downtown that shows a movie in English once a week. But why not go see an Italian movie for fun! There are plenty of websites that allow you to watch american TV and movies, although a lot of those sites can be sketchy. Netflix and Hulu don't work. But why not read a book instead, or spend your time outside in the city especially if the weather is as beautiful as it has been. And honestly I haven't really had time to watch TV even if I wanted to. There is always either school work that has to be done, I'm traveling, or enjoying Torino and my friends here too much.
And If You Just Feel Really Homesick and Don't Know What To Do:
Cry. It's okay, most get homesick at some point for any number of reasons. Don't be afraid to let your feelings out. Your roommate or friend might be feeling the same way. So watch a sad movie, stay in bed all day, take a really long shower, and eat comfort food. It helps to take personal days even while abroad. You can't be expected to be always on the go and experiencing life even when you are living in an amazing city.
Distract yourself. Go for a walk or run. Take a bus or a train to someplace new. Visit a museum. Get lost. Try new food. Spend time with friends. Draw. Write. Photograph. Dance. Cook. Read. Study.
And there are always people to talk to, whether you skype family or friends back home to vent, reminisce with friends here about what you miss from home, or talk to someone in the program office.
Remember you are going to be home before you know it so try to enjoy the experience of living in a city abroad as much as possible. I already know I am going to miss Torino terribly.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Trip to Sacra di San Michele
USAC took us on a field trip to Sacra di San Michele, Saint Michael's Abbey. It is a beautiful monastery built in the late 900s. It is at the very top of Mount Pirchiriano. In fact, there is an area of the church where you can see the actual mountain. The bus took us most of the way up the mountain, and the rest we walked while it was raining even though it was sunny out. The view were stunning and learning about the history of the abbey was really interesting.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May Day and Jazz Festival
Yesterday was May Day, which is an international holiday on the first of May, also known as International Worker's Day. It is like our Labor Day. I had never seen as many people outside as I did yesterday. The weather was amazing and it happened to be the last day of the Torino Jazz Festival. The Jazz Festival is six days long and has concerts at the jazz club and all over the city in major piazzas. Yesterday, besides an array of famous jazz performers at Piazza Castello, there was a flash mob. There were so many people that it was kind of hard to see the dancing clearly, but it was pretty cool for my first flash mob. I came back to the piazza at night and the performances and energy was so amazing. If you are here during the festival, go!
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| Piazza San Carlo (not a good representation of the amount of people) |
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| Jazz Festival at Piazza Castello |
Monday, April 29, 2013
Sun-tanning and Seafood Eating in Sardinia
My cousin, Rebecca, has been spending her junior year of high school in Viterbo, a small town about an hour and half from Rome. She came to visit me for a few days at the end of March and this weekend we met in Alghero, Sardinia! Sardinia is the other big island off the west coast of Italy above Sicily. I read that Sardinia had the most beautiful beaches in Italy. Unfortunately, april showers struck, and we only had one beach-going-weather day. Despite the bad weather, Alghero was beautiful and this weekend has made me want to come back and discover more of Sardinia.
We arrived Thursday evening (I flew, but it is possible to take a boat from someplace like Genova). It was cloudy, but still warm and plenty humid. Rebecca and I walked into the center of town along Via Lido which overlooks the beach. We ate dinner outside at a restaurant on one of the main shopping streets, Via Carlo Alberto. I had to try one of the most famous dishes of Sardinia: Spaghetti ai Ricci. The waiter looked at me funny when I ordered it and said, "You know ricci is Sea Urchin?" And I said, "Si!" So yes, I ate spaghetti with the red goo of a sea urchin. And it was pretty delicious. Of course we ate gelato for dessert and walked back to our hostel as it started to drizzle.
Friday was beautifully sunny and we wore shorts! Alghero is famous for Neptune's grotto, a stalactite cave. We took a boat which took 30 minutes and cost 15 euros. You can also get there by bus which is 4.50 round trip. The trick is that if you take the bus you have to walk up and down 600 plus stairs. Once we arrived, we kind of wished we had taken the stairs, but the boat ride was really nice. To get into the caves you have to pay 13 euros. So it was an expensive journey, but I'd say it was worth it, probably more adventurous and money better spent if you take the bus, too.
We had planned to rent bikes so we could visit a beach a bit farther from our hostel, but all the bike rental places closed around noon. So we brought our towels out to the beach right in front of our hostel. As soon as we laid down, the wind picked up and soon we were dusted in sand. After about an hour trying not to eat sand, we decided to rent beach chairs for 3 euros each. An hour after that the rain clouds came out. Still, the time we had was sunny and lovely.
When we went back to our hostel, I found out that a 10 page research essay that I thought was due next week was actually due this Monday. So I freaked out for a bit and I freaked out about the rain that was coming, but I decided to forget it and go out to dinner in sandals and a summer dress to spite the weather. We found a delicious place to eat and I ordered pesto pasta with mussels, which is something I would never have done a month ago, but after eating mussels in cuisine class and realizing they weren't as disgusting as I remember them, I decided to give them a chance. The dish was really nice, and the meal was made even better with the tiramisu and friendly service. It was raining when we walked back, but I didn't even care.
Saturday began with drizzle, which disappeared into sun, and turned back into drizzle. We walked more of the old city center and visited the Coral Museum. It was very small but included interesting information about the biology and history of coral (Sardinia is known for its Coral production) and had many pretty rocks and gemstones on display. If you are deciding between spending time at the beach and visiting the coral museum, obviously pick the beach, but if its a rainy day, the museum is a nice option.
After a last lovely dinner of seafood, we watched the Goonies, one of my favorite movies of all time, and life was great.
We had planned to rent bikes so we could visit a beach a bit farther from our hostel, but all the bike rental places closed around noon. So we brought our towels out to the beach right in front of our hostel. As soon as we laid down, the wind picked up and soon we were dusted in sand. After about an hour trying not to eat sand, we decided to rent beach chairs for 3 euros each. An hour after that the rain clouds came out. Still, the time we had was sunny and lovely.
When we went back to our hostel, I found out that a 10 page research essay that I thought was due next week was actually due this Monday. So I freaked out for a bit and I freaked out about the rain that was coming, but I decided to forget it and go out to dinner in sandals and a summer dress to spite the weather. We found a delicious place to eat and I ordered pesto pasta with mussels, which is something I would never have done a month ago, but after eating mussels in cuisine class and realizing they weren't as disgusting as I remember them, I decided to give them a chance. The dish was really nice, and the meal was made even better with the tiramisu and friendly service. It was raining when we walked back, but I didn't even care.
Saturday began with drizzle, which disappeared into sun, and turned back into drizzle. We walked more of the old city center and visited the Coral Museum. It was very small but included interesting information about the biology and history of coral (Sardinia is known for its Coral production) and had many pretty rocks and gemstones on display. If you are deciding between spending time at the beach and visiting the coral museum, obviously pick the beach, but if its a rainy day, the museum is a nice option.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Food!
I feel like I have been in Torino long enough to offer up my favorite places to get food. Obviously, I don't have the time or money to try all that Torino has to offer, but below are places that are cheap, so good, and consistent.
First off my favorite gelaterias...because gelato is the most important food group and one place is certainly not enough:
Più Di Un Gelato located by the library and off of Via Garibaldi.
Get Pera della Nonna and Stracciatella con Caffè.
2 euros for a small cone with two flavors.
Alberto Marchetti located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
Get Pistacchio and Zabaione (my favorite Gelato flavor!) and get it in a cone, because they have the very best cones (most places serve the carboard tasting cones/charge extra for the nice ones...not here!).
2 euros for a small cone with two flavors.
Another commonly eaten food among students...Kebabs! My favorite place is:
El Shish Kebab off of Via Madama Christina, near the Nizza metro stop.
Everyone that I have taken here (especially Erin) love it!
The owner and everyone working there are super friendly.
They are expanding now!
Get anything. And especially the hot tea, which comes free anyhow!
3.50 for a Kebab, 5 for a Kebab, drink, and fries.
I have recently become obsessed with focaccia. For those who don't know, focaccia is a thickly baked delicious bread that can be just flavored with olive oil or meat or vegetables. The best focaccia comes from the Ligurian coast, but since that is two hours too far away, I happily settle for focaccia from:
Focaccia Tipica Ligure located near Piazza San Carlo, in Piazza Castello, and a few block down Via Po.
If you like zucchini, get the focaccia with zucchini!
2.50 for a piece with meat or veggies on it, only 1 for a plain piece.
Other yummy places I have eaten:
Eatly (famous for the slow food movement) has very delicious margherita pizza.
The persian restaurant on a side street right off of Via Garibaldi near Piazza Castello. I can't remember its name, but I had the best chicken of my life there and I'm not a huge chicken fan.
Alla Lettera on my street, Via Giuseppe Mazzini! Kyra and I ate in their outside seating in the piazza and it was super amazing! A bit pricey but really delicious and fresh Italian food.
Dear Wendy Sweets also on my street. Amazing Cupcakes! Enough said.
I'm sure I am missing something or will find a place within the last week, but here are my suggestions for now!
First off my favorite gelaterias...because gelato is the most important food group and one place is certainly not enough:
Più Di Un Gelato located by the library and off of Via Garibaldi.
Get Pera della Nonna and Stracciatella con Caffè.
2 euros for a small cone with two flavors.
Alberto Marchetti located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
Get Pistacchio and Zabaione (my favorite Gelato flavor!) and get it in a cone, because they have the very best cones (most places serve the carboard tasting cones/charge extra for the nice ones...not here!).
2 euros for a small cone with two flavors.
Another commonly eaten food among students...Kebabs! My favorite place is:
El Shish Kebab off of Via Madama Christina, near the Nizza metro stop.
Everyone that I have taken here (especially Erin) love it!
The owner and everyone working there are super friendly.
They are expanding now!
Get anything. And especially the hot tea, which comes free anyhow!
3.50 for a Kebab, 5 for a Kebab, drink, and fries.
I have recently become obsessed with focaccia. For those who don't know, focaccia is a thickly baked delicious bread that can be just flavored with olive oil or meat or vegetables. The best focaccia comes from the Ligurian coast, but since that is two hours too far away, I happily settle for focaccia from:
Focaccia Tipica Ligure located near Piazza San Carlo, in Piazza Castello, and a few block down Via Po.
If you like zucchini, get the focaccia with zucchini!
2.50 for a piece with meat or veggies on it, only 1 for a plain piece.
Other yummy places I have eaten:
Eatly (famous for the slow food movement) has very delicious margherita pizza.
The persian restaurant on a side street right off of Via Garibaldi near Piazza Castello. I can't remember its name, but I had the best chicken of my life there and I'm not a huge chicken fan.
Alla Lettera on my street, Via Giuseppe Mazzini! Kyra and I ate in their outside seating in the piazza and it was super amazing! A bit pricey but really delicious and fresh Italian food.
Dear Wendy Sweets also on my street. Amazing Cupcakes! Enough said.
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| Squid Ink Pasta with Calamari, Asparagus, and Tomatoes from Alla Lettera |
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| Zucchini Focaccia from Tipica Ligure |
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| Lime cupcake from Dear Wendy Sweets |
I'm sure I am missing something or will find a place within the last week, but here are my suggestions for now!
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