Hi All, My son will be studying for a semester in Rome through Temple University's Visual Arts program starting in September. The classrooms are located at Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, 15 and he will be living at Residence Medaglie D'Oro Viale delle Medaglie D'Oro, 73. I am familiar with the class site, Villa Caproni, but not so familiar with the residence. Anyone have any knowledge or info that we should know about before we put him on a plane ? Also, if you know of any apartments or hotels nearby in case we want to visit while he is there. Thanks for all your help, Jeff
I would start on the Italian language as soon as possible. The more Italian he knows or can even begin to assimilate before he goes, the better off he will be, in all aspects.
He might also consider picking up the latest copy of Living, Working, and Studying in Italy by Larner/Ward, and getting logistical information about Rome itself from more specialized guides.
I would think the school might be able to suggest lodging possiblities for visitors as well.
Thanks for the responses. We got to Rome in 2006 and had a look at the school. Mike took a semester of Italian in the spring, so he has a start anyways. Nan, I'll definitly get him that book - thank you ! Lisa, is that area pretty safe ? We didn't have the address for the residence when we were over so we couldn't check it out. Also, any advice about plane tickets ? I'm thinking two one-way tickets, but that seems a little more expensive. Can I get a round trip ticket over 90 days ?
I am not sure if this will help ,but here is a public transit map round where your son will be living. The pink dot in the upper left is approximately where he will be staying. Viale Medagile must be a big strett becase3u there are 3 buss lines that run down it. All three go past the Cipro Metro stop, so he could go other places in Rome along the Metro from there. 907 ends at the Cipro stop. 991 ends at the Ottaviano Metro stop. 913 bus line goes a long way. it eventually goes south along Via Cicerone, crosses the Tiber and ends near the Mausoleum of Augustus/Ara Pacis.
There is what I think is a regioal train station near where he is staying Stazione Proba Petronia. I am not sure is there is service from the airport to that train station like there is from the Trastevere and Ostiense Train Stations.
Posts: 3618 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
I'll have to get to work on the plane tickets soon after the new year. Right now I can't find too much beyond a return date of 12/1. He'll probably want to travel a week or so before he returns, so we're looking at 12/21 or 22 for a return flight. Passport is in order, so a student visa shouldn't be too much trouble. Dragonpat, Thanks for the public transit info. Looks like the residence is in a pretty good spot for him to get around. He won't be so much a tourist so if there are markets nearby, he should be set!
He won't be so much a tourist so if there are markets nearby, he should be set!
I am not sure about the markets nearby that location. I( have never been that far west and north in Rome. I have been to the Ottaviano Metro stop and near the Cipro metro stop. I didn't look for grocery stores when I was there. I stayed near the Colosseum and know where the grocery stores there were.
In the main part of Rome, you never know how far you might have to walk or travel to get something that here is America you can buy at the cash register at the Walgreens and take off in your car. Like a flash drive or a USB cable (maybe not the Walgreens but the Radio Shack next to the grocery store). The areas around Metro stops often have a bunch of useful shops for buying stamps, week or month long transport tickets, and places to get your film developed or your pictures tranferred to a CD.
I only mentioned some of the tourist sites because of a lack in my own mind on how to describe them.
My daughter took a semester of Italian and it was a big help on our trips. I am sure that he will learn a lot more when he is there for a year. I am much better at reading Italian than I am at understanding what anyone says to me in Italian: it looks a lot like Latin.
Posts: 3618 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
You can always mailorder tech stuff. Plus alot of other stuff. Mail order prices can be cheap enough to off set shipping. Plus many places offer COD so you don't even need a CC.
Does your son know about the ATAC web site, the public transportation site that lists the weekly and monthly passes for public transportation. It is also a good way to find the best routes from place to place in Rome. Since he has taken Italian, he should be able use the whole site. There are some pages in English but there is more information on the Italian pages, particularly on the different transport passes.
As for shopping, one of the best, and the most "Italian" of the rione markets is at Trionfale. Due to some (EU?) regulation, all of the rione street markets (M - Sat., 7AM - 1PM) are being put under a roof and Trionfale's is the most ambitious, since it is the largest one. It's market of hundreds of food vendors will be in a multi-story building, with a public swimming pool underneath. It is due to open in April, 2008.
I say "Italian" as the food sold is the most traditional of meats and vegetables. He will have fun just walking through it.
There is also a wholesale flower market about 1 block away from it which is open to the public on Tuesday mornings. It's where the most florist and also street rose vendors get their supplies.
And Via Candia is a good zone for stylish clothes at good prices.
I think he couldn't do much better in terms of shopping!
You can always mailorder tech stuff. Plus alot of other stuff. Mail order prices can be cheap enough to off set shipping
Often one needs an item faster than it comes in the mail. I eventually was able to get a flash drive at an office supply store near Piazza dell' Esquilino at S. Maria Maggiore.
When I needed a USB cable, I was able to get one at the Esedra Mall near Piazza Republica. I myself tend to be better at anticipating stuff I need than my high school or college student. With them, all I can say is than God for 2 day shipping from Amazon.com.
That's why it is a good idea to know about the transit options you have to check out when you need something in a hurry.
Posts: 3618 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
The University will take care of most of his technical needs I presume. He has a Mac. Are they as popular in Italy as they are over here ? I imagine so. We did the Goggle Earth thing this afternoon. There seems to be a large green space in the area of the residence. Any idea what it may be?
The green area is Monte Mario, a hilly area that is becoming a park with jogging and bike paths. The area is mid city and a bus ride away from the classroom buildings. Don't worry...study abroad programs here all have indepth orientation programs for just-arriving students. One thing to stress is NOT to bring huge unmanageable suitcases.You see students at the airport with these : better a small bag and knapsack or such to use for weekend travel.
Originally posted by AltoonaJeff: Lisa, is that area pretty safe ? We didn't have the address for the residence when we were over so we couldn't check it out.
I'm not Lisa but we stayed in that area in 2000. It is a lovely residential area. I would consider it one of the safest areas in Rome. Lots of people who work in Vatican live there and a lot of retirees. Not a lot of tourists (they tend to stay south of Vatican) so he will have a genuine experience.
One other word of advice. We all tend to seek our comfort zones. He will be tempted to hang out with his "homies" from the US. Try to encourage him to meet italian kids his age. Italian women are lovely so that would be a good motivator.
A different world view is one of the best things that an overseas semester can give a student.
As far as the italian? Practice with him. When you are serving dinner ask "what is this in italian?" Also you can get L Osservatore Romano on line. Even just reading helps. He may not get the accent right but he'll understand the context in conversation.
Many DVD's come with language options. Particularly stuff that appeals to teens and college age. When you rent (or the stuff you own) a DVD check out the "languages" portion of it. Switch to Italian on the DVD.
If you have DISH or a satellite system switch to the italian channels. Italian commercial TV directly appeals to male adolescents.
Originally posted by Rome Addict: One other word of advice. We all tend to seek our comfort zones. He will be tempted to hang out with his "homies" from the US. Try to encourage him to meet italian kids his age. Italian women are lovely so that would be a good motivator.
As far as the italian? Practice with him. When you are serving dinner ask "what is this in italian?" Also you can get L Osservatore Romano on line. Even just reading helps. He may not get the accent right but he'll understand the context in conversation.
A semester of Italian is not all that much judging from what my daughter remembers, so he will need lots of practice. reading helps, but not a lot in speaking.
Italian women could be interesting and fascinating because they are so different from American ones. They are mostly gorgeous and spend a lot more time on their appearance than American women. he needs to realizes the difference in cultural attitudes. All the unspoken things between men and women is further compounded by the culture divide so that he doesn't get into trouble with his assumptions and maybe her assumptions. I don't know if he can have this kind of conversation with Mom; Dad would be better.
Posts: 3618 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
He will surely need to brush up on his italian speaking skills. As a jealous father, I certainly hope he becomes friends with many Italians his age, both male and female. Believe me, the lore and legend of italian women has not been lost on him !
Believe me, the lore and legend of italian women has not been lost on him
The legend and lore might not be real. Quite the contrary.
Kinda of like the lore and legend of American women in Italy. This was touched on in a thread about an American coed studying abroad named Amanda. American women are regarded as loose and promiscous by one than one foreign culture. Reality probably is that they are not so different from women in many of the developed countries around the world (exclude japan).
Posts: 3618 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
Originally posted by dragonpat: American women are regarded as loose and promiscous by one than one foreign culture. Reality probably is that they are not so different from women in many of the developed countries around the world (exclude japan).
Not all American woman are regarded this way. Just those who act like they are that way (Amanda and her ilk). Big difference.
