Hirodai Ambassador Activity Report
Kan Saito, 3rd year student, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
[Study destination] University of Turin (Italy)
[Study abroad period] August 2023 to January 9.
[Type of study abroad] Long-term study abroad at a partner university
I am currently studying abroad at the University of Turin in Italy.
It's February now and the temperature is gradually rising. It's still a little cold in the mornings and evenings, but I feel like spring is coming soon.
This time, I would like to write about my interaction with students from the University of Turin and my experience in Milan during New Year's Day.
First, it was held before the first semester classes started.9At the monthly orientation, there was an explanation about volunteer recruitment.
The program is recruiting volunteers to support Italian students who are studying foreign languages, and whose native languages are English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Russian. I was there.
""language cafe"This activity is called ``Conversation for 1 hour once a week.'' For example, Italians who want to learn English get together, and international students whose native language is English join the group and practice their English by having conversations about various topics in English.
They weren't recruiting Japanese speakers, but I felt a little disappointed about that, so I contacted them directly and asked them to do the Japanese version as well, since I'd like to volunteer as well.
I then received a reply saying that they didn't know if people would come because there had been no demand for it, but if it was okay, they would give it a try, so I decided to move forward with it.
As a result, 7 people, including myself, signed up for this Japanese version."language cafe" He participated in the. The maximum number of participants is10I was very happy that 7 people came together.
However, to be honest, I don't really like speaking in front of a large group of people, so while I was happy, I also felt that this was a test.
In what waylanguage cafeI will briefly explain what will take place and I will decide in advance the topic of conversation for the day.
Things like ``best trip/worst trip I've ever had'' and ``impressions of food in Italy and Japan.'' When we post it on the website, the participating students check it out, prepare an episode that fits that topic, and discuss it on the day of the event.
At the beginning, after everyone had finished talking about the episodes they had prepared, there was silence and the atmosphere was a bit awkward, but as the episodes went on, they gradually got closer to each other and started talking about what they had prepared. Not only that, but I also asked questions to the other person, which made us even better friends, and the conversation became lively and fun.
Gradually, I started to think that an hour passed by in the blink of an eye.
Well, I decided to go to the countdown for New Year's Day, so I went to the Duomo in Milan with a Japanese friend. Honestly, I think it was the worst trip. with everyone"5!4!3!2!1! ! I was expecting him to shout something like ``,'' but for some reason that didn't happen.
After researching, I found out that a countdown is held in Milan every year.2024It seems like the year was special. I still don't know why. And above all, it's dangerous! Maybe you were excited about the New Year, 5,At one point, a group of six Italians approached us and threw firecrackers at us.
Throwing firecrackers at others happens all over the place, and I wondered why people do it. When I asked my Italian friend about it, she said it was because it was funny, and I was so surprised that I couldn't close my mouth.
However, the person said, ``Even as an Italian, I don't want to go near Milan during New Year's.'' He feels a little regretful that he went to the wrong place. However, I heard from a friend from Naples that Naples was even more extreme and felt like a war. If you have the courage, why not go to Naples during the New Year?