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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Experience with host families?

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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Anyone has experience with a host family for a period longer than 5 months? I just arrived to Rome and they don't even speak english...
7 years ago
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CluckaChuck
Posts: 1541 - Karma: 734
Get them a copy of Rosetta Stone
7 years ago
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TomWallnuss
Posts: 115 - Karma: 417
what kind of exchange is this?
7 years ago
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,317
And you didn't have the foresight to learn some basic Italian before going to Rome? Hmmmm
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
TomWallnusswhat kind of exchange is this?


TheHamburglarAnd you didn't have the foresight to learn some basic Italian before going to Rome? Hmmmm


It's 5 months of Italian in an international school (which means I'm with students from all over the world), so I didn't have to know any Italian before I would get here, because that's all I will be doing the upcoming months. Since all students are from different countries, I expected a lingua franca, and English would be perfect for that.
7 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52617 - Karma: 174,524
Walk around with a tablet and make them type their feelings into good translate. Just say things like fugetaboutit, and hey tony, in really shitty accents for 6 months. You don't need to actually learn the language. They'll know what you mean. It's all in the inflection anyway.
7 years ago
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weedoo
Posts: 650 - Karma: 1,850
Just talk in an italian accent and use that thing they do with their hands and hope for the best
7 years ago
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
They're just pretending. Italians are assholes like that
7 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8017 - Karma: 26,918
.Hugo.They're just pretending. Italians are assholes like that


Gauranteed they all speak perfect English
7 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52617 - Karma: 174,524
I've run into that with French people. Can tell you to speak French, in perfect english, but won't even try to converse with you. You could speak any language in the states, and if for some reason I understand, I'll do my best to converse.
7 years ago
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KneesSalsas
Posts: 39 - Karma: 41
theabortionatorI've run into that with French people. Can tell you to speak French, in perfect english, but won't even try to converse with you. You could speak any language in the states, and if for some reason I understand, I'll do my best to converse.


Tu peux parler français s'il te plait ?
7 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,047
Mama mia thats a spicy meatball is the only phrase you need to know
7 years ago
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poonis
Posts: 255 - Karma: 1,461
just do the thing italians all do with their hand and you're set
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7073 - Karma: 26,621
Reminds me of that one Simpsons where Bart's host family tries to turn him into a slave to make cheap wine.
7 years ago
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,985
watch them Romans bro
1 wrong move and they will stab you in the back 23 times
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Thanks for looking out for me bro
icedwatch them Romans bro
1 wrong move and they will stab you in the back 23 times
7 years ago
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,049
I do, lived with host families in nicaragua and costa rice for 2 weeks each. And lived with 3 host families in thailand for a year. Got any questions?
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Cool dude! Yeah, I'm just wondering how you make it as easy as possible? They took me and my friends' alcohol and we're over the legal drinking age, those kind of things. I want a nice relationship with them, but also be able to do my stuff. And they don't speak english or any other languages I speak. At least that will help me learn Italian I guess
coolflash8I do, lived with host families in nicaragua and costa rice for 2 weeks each. And lived with 3 host families in thailand for a year. Got any questions?
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7073 - Karma: 26,621
FIRATCool dude! Yeah, I'm just wondering how you make it as easy as possible? They took me and my friends' alcohol and we're over the legal drinking age, those kind of things. I want a nice relationship with them, but also be able to do my stuff. And they don't speak english or any other languages I speak. At least that will help me learn Italian I guess

Did they think your booze was a gift? If someone showed up with bottles at my house I would totally think it was a gift and add it to my bar. Of course I'd assume anyone staying at my house would get into my bottles but that's why I'd expect them to bring me a host gift. I've never stayed with any one family for more than a few days but it was always pretty cool. Did a band tour to the middle east when I was 18 and the guy we stayed with in Israel gave us beers and told us about smoking hash in Egypt. Seemed like most Mediterranean culture is pretty relaxed.
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Ahah I gave them cheese for a gift, the gin and beers were ours. We put them in a cabinet in my friends room and apparently they opened the cabinet and threw it out.
OregonDeadDid they think your booze was a gift? If someone showed up with bottles at my house I would totally think it was a gift and add it to my bar. Of course I'd assume anyone staying at my house would get into my bottles but that's why I'd expect them to bring me a host gift. I've never stayed with any one family for more than a few days but it was always pretty cool. Did a band tour to the middle east when I was 18 and the guy we stayed with in Israel gave us beers and told us about smoking hash in Egypt. Seemed like most Mediterranean culture is pretty relaxed.
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Your story is cool though man, I'm getting that same feeling in Rome except for the old host woman
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7073 - Karma: 26,621
FIRATAhah I gave them cheese for a gift, the gin and beers were ours. We put them in a cabinet in my friends room and apparently they opened the cabinet and threw it out.

Lame. Does your host family not drink? I thought everyone is Rome was a drinking Catholic. Does she know Jesus made wine? (:

I'd be respectful no matter what though different types of people everywhere. If you really don't hit it off I think most of those long term programs have a way to switch families.
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
I know, I'll switch when my friends leave. It's fine honestly. Also she said she'll kick you out when you bring girls home but I'll find a way
OregonDeadLame. Does your host family not drink? I thought everyone is Rome was a drinking Catholic. Does she know Jesus made wine? (:

I'd be respectful no matter what though different types of people everywhere. If you really don't hit it off I think most of those long term programs have a way to switch families.
7 years ago
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,049
FIRATCool dude! Yeah, I'm just wondering how you make it as easy as possible? They took me and my friends' alcohol and we're over the legal drinking age, those kind of things. I want a nice relationship with them, but also be able to do my stuff. And they don't speak english or any other languages I speak. At least that will help me learn Italian I guess


So all my host families were cool with drinking and smoking. Best advice I can give is keep doing your thing and they will eventually learn. When my host family figured out i was hooking up with a girl they tried to stop it but i explained to them how it was a waste of their time, and i was going to do it anyways. Also learn the public transport system so you can go around and drink/smoke/fuck at places other than your home
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Public transport is in my pocket, for all the other stuff I'll just hit up different places if my friends
coolflash8So all my host families were cool with drinking and smoking. Best advice I can give is keep doing your thing and they will eventually learn. When my host family figured out i was hooking up with a girl they tried to stop it but i explained to them how it was a waste of their time, and i was going to do it anyways. Also learn the public transport system so you can go around and drink/smoke/fuck at places other than your home
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Got kicked out
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7073 - Karma: 26,621
FIRATGot kicked out


Nice. Hopefully just that host family and not kicked out of the program. BTW how's the skiing over there?
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
OregonDeadNice. Hopefully just that host family and not kicked out of the program. BTW how's the skiing over there?

Yeah luckily not out of the program.

There is no skiing, I'm in Rome and there are no indoor slopes and mountains (relatively) close by don't have park or good freeride options. Fortunately I'm able to go to the alps for at least two weeks. But that's in the end of march and then again in april (Verbier), so slushy spring conditions most likely.
7 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,047
FIRATYeah luckily not out of the program.

There is no skiing, I'm in Rome and there are no indoor slopes and mountains (relatively) close by don't have park or good freeride options. Fortunately I'm able to go to the alps for at least two weeks. But that's in the end of march and then again in april (Verbier), so slushy spring conditions most likely.


have you gotten robbed by gypsies yet? fun times
7 years ago
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weedoo
Posts: 650 - Karma: 1,850
FIRATGot kicked out


So why did they kick you out? Were they just mad you drank or something?
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Nope, no one will try to rob me. Two of my friends have been though (one got mugged other one got pickpocketed)
TRVP_ANGELhave you gotten robbed by gypsies yet? fun times
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
Honestly I don't really know. Me and my roommates never really connected with them. Also I we destroyed a bed on accident
weedooSo why did they kick you out? Were they just mad you drank or something?
7 years ago
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weedoo
Posts: 650 - Karma: 1,850
FIRATHonestly I don't really know. Me and my roommates never really connected with them. Also I we destroyed a bed on accident


Aaaa, well shit happens. That still sucks though
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
It's fine, we wanted to move out anyways. Just sucks that we're moving to a house that's further away
weedooAaaa, well shit happens. That still sucks though
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
It's fine, we wanted to move out anyways. Just sucks that we're moving to a house that's further away
weedooAaaa, well shit happens. That still sucks though
7 years ago
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FIRAT
Posts: 534 - Karma: 1,350
TRVP_ANGELhave you gotten robbed by gypsies yet? fun times


Yesterday I got robbed (pickpocketed)
7 years ago
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labubu-craze
Posts: 838 - Karma: 2,986
FIRATYesterday I got robbed (pickpocketed)


Well fuck.
7 years ago
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,867
Lol if sketchy dudes try to tie bracelets on you tell them to fuck off, even if they insist they're free. Has happened to me in milan and paris. They target people speaking foreign languages. I also have velcros that cover the zippers on my backpack so it makes a sound if someone tries to open it, and I constantly check my pockets. Put your backpack in front on busses and trains too.
7 years ago
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