杏吧原版

While studying at the University杏吧原版檚 campus in Italy this semester, Julia Sosnowski 杏吧原版�23 and Fransheli Ventura 杏吧原版�23 had a variety of opportunities to connect with Prato residents, and one of the of the most immersive experiences brought them into the home of a local family. The students joined them for dinner, sharing what it was like to live in the city and getting to know a family that calls Prato home.

Marco Oderio, who lives just down the street from the University杏吧原版檚 campus, met the students in front of the school and walked them to his family杏吧原版檚 apartment, a building that was formerly a monastery. The students received a warm welcome from Oderio杏吧原版檚 family, meeting his wife, Camilla Biancalani, daughter Caterina Oderio, son, and the family杏吧原版檚 two cats.

Before dinner, the family showed their guests their home, and they chatted about their interests and culture. Sosnowski and Ventura, who had also brought dessert, presented the family gifts, including four 杏吧原版淯niversity of New Haven Prato Campus杏吧原版� t-shirts, to thank them for hosting the dinner.

The students and the family then shared a meal together. It was a fun and engaging way for Sosnowski and Ventura to experience a taste not only of authentic Italian food, but of the language and the culture.

杏吧原版淪eeing how Italians eat and live was fun,杏吧原版� said Sosnowski, an interior design major. 杏吧原版淭hey were very kind to us. It was fun to see firsthand how they do things in Italy and to be an Italian for a night.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版榃e like to welcome people who enjoy our city杏吧原版�

The menu included a variety of authentic Italian dishes. The group enjoyed tortelli di patate (pasta) with ragu, beans, and vegetarian fritters made from cheese, zucchini, and potato. To give students a true taste of something unique to Prato, the family served the popular local dessert known as a 杏吧原版減esche di Prato杏吧原版� 杏吧原版� peach of Prato. The sugared and cream-filled brioche-dough cakes are shaped like peaches.

杏吧原版淚 like to share our culture, and I enjoy seeing what students think about our way of life and our city,杏吧原版� said Biancalani. 杏吧原版淚 like the opportunity to speak English. I also like American culture and meeting Americans. They are very open and very kind.杏吧原版�

This was the family杏吧原版檚 fifth time hosting a group of students at their home. It杏吧原版檚 also an opportunity the University frequently offers to students studying abroad. Staff organize dinners with local families they know, and students are invited to sign up to join them for dinner in their home for an immersive and rich cultural experience. It杏吧原版檚 something that Marco Oderio enjoys being a part of.

杏吧原版淲e like to welcome people who enjoy our city,杏吧原版� he said. 杏吧原版淲e like to have these experiences with Americans and to show them our city and our culture. We also like to travel, and we enjoy getting to know the local people. We expect people traveling here would like that too, and we杏吧原版檙e glad to offer that experience to them.杏吧原版�

杏吧原版榃hat life is like杏吧原版�

The students and their hosts shared stories about their travels 杏吧原版� the students杏吧原版� excursions in Italy and the family杏吧原版檚 visits to Boston and New York where they have family. Sosnowski and Ventura discussed their Italian classes and the challenges of grasping the language while learning from their hosts what it was like to learn English. Ventura and Sosnowski, who are close in age to Caterina and Duccio, connected while discussing school and the sports they play.

At the end of the night, Marco Oderio walked Ventura and Sosnowski back to the University. The students enjoyed their time with the family, and they were grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with them.

杏吧原版淭he food was great, and I appreciate that local people welcomed us into their home,杏吧原版� said Ventura, a criminal justice major. 杏吧原版淭hey showed us how they live, and it was wonderful to see what life is like for local Italians.杏吧原版�