Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life in Torino October 04, 2022

By (Marketing, University of Nevada, Reno) - abroad from 05/23/2022 to 06/30/2022 with

USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
One thing I learned from my time abroad was to have more fun and know that not everything needs to be taken seriously. I was very intimidated by the language barrier when I first got to Torino, but after forcing myself to go out on my own, I learned that it wasn't as scary as it seemed and that it was actually fun to try to figure things out on my own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

During my time in Torino, I had hurt my ankle, and because I was in a new country I was a little unsure of what I should do. I contacted my resident director, who was very helpful, and she gave me some options (going to the hospital, going to a local doctor, etc.). I ended up going to the local doctor, and it was a little different than going to a doctor in the US, but overall, it was a good experience.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would choose this program again for a number of different reasons. One, Torino is great city, as it offers so many things to do, and it is also in a great location (close to Milan, Lake Como, South of France, etc.). Second, everyone at USAC and the school I attended was very helpful. The resident director was always available and willing to help with whatever I needed, and my professors were very insightful and encouraged me to actively participate in class to learn the material. Third, the community you build while you are there is amazing. For a lot of the other students, myself included, it was our first time abroad, so we were learning all these new things together. By the end of the program, we became very close, and that community was something that I appreciated a lot.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Because I was only there for five weeks, I was not required to learn Italian. However, being in a city such as Torino, where there are not a lot of English speakers, learning Italian would have made living there a little easier, however you can still get by without it.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Traveling
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Housing preferences could have been taken more into consideration
  • Group flight process could have been better
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? One thing I wish I knew before going on this program is that language is not as scary as it might seem. The first couple of weeks I was in Torino, I was a little scared of doing things on my own because I didn't speak the language. However, eventually I forced myself to go out on my own, and I found that despite the language barrier, people are willing to help you out and try to understand you.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.