I just spent a great week in Rome. Our son, Andy, is there for a semester abroad, and Anne, Jackie, and I dropped in for a peek at his experience. Andy and his schoolmates — most in their third year at Notre Dame — are becoming citizens of the world. As twenty-year-olds would, they have a different focus than older travelers. But even so, their lives are being enriched.
With Andy and his mates, I enjoyed seeing Rome through a different lens. I learned Italian clubs welcome the American kids with hip-hop. Then, well into the wee hours, when they’re ready for the tourists to head home, they switch over to techno. Several of the students came for a semester and (apparently undeterred by the techno) decided to spend the rest of their school days here. Rather than spring break in Fort Lauderdale, they head for Sharm El Sheikh — I never imagined all that MTV hormone activity on the Red Sea in Egypt!
The kids muscle three days of travel fun out of each weekend, hopping a plane (Andy just landed a $30 round-trip ticket to Sofia, Bulgaria) or sleeping on a train for someplace new.
It’s fun for me to see the budget traveler and tour organizer showing itself in my son. Last month, he led a gang of six friends to Gimmelwald, borrowing ski gear from our friend Olle and sleeping on his floor (and working to keep the one higher-maintenance kid happy). As soon as school’s out, Andy and his gang have their sights set on hiring a small boat with a captain for a low-budget Aegean cruise. He explained to me how eight kids sharing the rental cost is no more expensive than settling into a cheap hotel in Athens.
These are mostly Midwestern kids whose worlds — because they’ve traveled — are suddenly broader. They are insisting on fresh garlic for their bruschetta, marveling at how Italians are cynical and fatalistic about their politics (bringing back Berlusconi), and drinking tap water to afford a better wine. The boys celebrate, as if winning the lottery (at first I wrote “landing a prizewinning tuna,” but that seems a little crass), when they come home with the phone number of an Italian girl.
Andy says the rigor of the class load here is light. But as a dad — paying the tuition — I’m thrilled with the education he’s getting (and a bit envious that I never had a study-abroad experience in my college days).
Another great post that all us parents can relate to, tuition and wanting the best experiences in life for our kids. You read my mind, I always wonder if I had been able to do a semester abroad how different may my life have been, kids are so lucky today and half of them don’t even realize this. I am so glad Andy is helping his friends broaden their minds and experiences it can only help us all as the new generation gets ready to take over and hopefully continue to connect through globalization.
Great blog Rick….sounds like Andy is enjoying his Italian experience. We really enjoyed his blog a few years ago…why not start one up now, telling us about his “new” european adventures ? Your children do seem to have your talent of writing–so Andy please start writing, it would bring back some memories….
My “tween” is off to Budapest in May with her school’s orchestra. And if she makes “honors orchestra” there is a possibility of Singapore next year! At the ripe old age of 11, she has almost every European country under her belt already. Speaks one foreign language and can stumble by with a few words in others. I am dumbfounded (“gobsmacked” as our Brit friends say.) These kids take it all for granted. Good for them, I say. Wish I had had those opportunities. My heart was squeezed the other day when I heard that a colleague’s kid had called from university in the States to say “Mom, now I get what you and dad did for me. Thanks.” Almost broke my heart to hear. Hope my kids say the same thing in 10 years.
We got into this early. Our youngest son studied in Bonn and received a masters in Krakow. He’s now been in Berlin 2+ years, been in Europe for 5 years, and will marry his German “Sweetie” (footnote to Jim H)in May. I guess it’s gone full circle. I agree with Thomas, they’ve seen it all, take it for granted, but more power to them.
Thomas, same experience. I started taking my son through Europe alot starting when he was 9. It was just something he took for granted. It was a vacation to him, a learning experience for me. At 17 he told me he was tired of visiting Europe and I flipped out. So I went by myself when he turned 18 and joined a Rick Steves Best of Europe tour and had a blast, met the best people in the world and still travel with a math teacher who was my roomie from the tour. NOW that he is a junior college and taking a history major, he turns to me and says “Boy I sure miss traveling to Europe, I didn’t realize how much I had experienced and learned ” Now that makes my day.
We took our six-year old to Italy and France this last summer. She didn’t really get it when we were in the midst of all the travel but as the year has progressed she keeps making reference to our trip and the things she saw. We intend on making this a regular family tradition so hopefully she won’t tire of it as others have stated. Our two-year old son is already excited for his first trip (two years away). He loves to watch Rick’s show and gets excited when the sites he knows as European come into his view. The Eiffel Tower is his favorite (mine too). We are trying to raise little travelers.
Rick, it’s been ten years since taking both my teenage kids to europe. One had just graduated, the other had struggled through his sophomore year. We visited for a brief month, touching Paris, Rome, Milan, Naples,then back via Germany, Amsterdam and Switzerland. A too quick “what day/country is it?” trip. Yet both my kids found a true joy of Europe, its people, sights, and attitudes. Your books were my constant guide/helper, from places to stay, to what to see. It really brought us close, opening all our eyes in ways still valuable today. Thanks again for sharing your family travels, so we too dared such travel.
Hey Rick. Great post. Glad to see that Andy is smarter than I was in college. I had a boyfriend and wouldn’t dream of leaving him (and our #1 basketball team) to study abroad. Boy, I wish I had 5 minutes to go back to that silly young girl and get her to study abroad. I’ll definitely be encouraging it in my children; and not just Europe either. I know from your earlier posts how enriching Asia, India and Latin American are. One question I hope you’ll address. Your post is timely in another way with the record spike in the Euro this week. I’d love to hear how poor college students are stretching their money in daily interactions in Europe. I’m going to Italy in May and would love a couple of extra budget pointers.
Great post Rick
Hi! I hope Andy enjoys the rest of his time in Rome.
Hey, Rick, it would be interesting to hear Andy’s thoughts on the culture shock of returning from Rome to South Bend. I took my first trip to Europe while at Notre Dame, and the contrast after returning from London could not have been sharper (or more depressing…). If you find yourself hungry for something a little different and more cozy next time you go for a football game, the best local restaurant nobody ever heard of is Papa Joe’s. Its a really unique mom-and-pop restaurant buried in a residential area of Mishawaka. Just the sort of place that would be in your guidebooks, if it was in Europe.
Rick, we have visited Italy 8 different years, and spent at least one night in 63 different places in that wonderful country, including twice in Sicily, and in Sardinia. There are three rules for travel in Italy, Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy. Here are a couple of Writing Gems about our love for that Country. === Italy is crowded with beautiful, friendly, congenial people who welcome us, confuse us, charm us, disturb us, enrapture us, discombobulate us, and ensure that we have a fascinating vacation. === Most Countries have “Traffic Laws and Regulations.†Italy has “Traffic Hints and Suggestions.†=== An Italian shopping street, alive and colorful with bright window displays while the stores are open, often becomes drab and colorless after hours when they close the shutters. === I was sure some of the Italians weren’t going anywhere. They just liked to “participate†in this kind of line. === The Italian said, “We are not well organized. We do a great job of designing and building, but have yet to hear about maintenance.†=== And there could be a million more.
Rick I was reading this article about you teaming up with the ACLU to legalize pot from February 14th Seattle Times… http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004181467_marijuana14m.html.. and am wondering what Andy and his friends thinks about this? Notre Dame is a pretty conservative school, anyone give you a hard time about this?
I feel so young reading the comments after this post because everyone is talking about their children and here I am enjoying my study abroad experience in Florence right now. This post is a really accurate summary of the study abroad experience and it just amused me to read it tonight! :) Rick Steves’ guidebooks are a favorite among my roommates and they are so helpful when trying to pack as much into a weekend as possible or make sure we don’t miss anything important in Florence.
Now Erin as a parent speaking your post is exactly what a parent would want to hear. Have a great time and study hard.
Wow, this was a great read! Thanks for this Rick! Like so many others on here, I am jealous that I didn’t study abroad. In college, I was actually nominated as a Rhodes Scholar nominee. I didn’t know much about it, thought the idea of going to school in England was awful, and never filled out the application after being nominated. If I only knew then what I know now. I didn’t really have a chance to win but to think I never even considered it bothers me. I am thankful that I have a love for traveling now and will share that with my kids. My first child is due in June and I can’t wait to take him to Europe! Thanks for all of your stories about your travels with your kids. As Rick says, traveling is an education that you can never get in a classroom. When I was in Rome a few years ago, I met A LOT of American kids going to school there. Maybe that will be my son one day, just like Andy.
Oh yea, Erin – :P (yes, I am jealous!)
I love reading your blogs. My daughter spent a summer away from the University of Georgia, at the University of Innsbruck. It was a life-changing summer. She took has learned many of your budget traveling ideas and was often the tour leader. My favorite email from her was sent one weekend from Paris, “Mom, does life get any better than this?”
Rick, you are so fortunate to have a son following in your footsteps. Most of us guys would love to pass on our life to them. I know, I know, it validates our choices and values, but I can only rejoice when occasionally my son parrots my words to his son. I raise my glass to you and your family. Keep on keepin’ on.
Rick I don’t know if you have seen this UTUBE parody some kids did on your show,, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnVOU3w7WBs… clearly their parents have made them watch one two many PBS Rick Steves Europe
Rick, I agree with a previous poster. If I had to do it all over again I would have hopped the first flight to Europe as a 20 year old and backpacked across Europe for months on end or studied abroad. Yet, I am very lucky to have been to Europe using your guide books through 7 European countries. They always save me time and the food recommendations are usually spot on. When is Andy going to crank up his Blog again? Fred in Atlanta
With the Euro at its peak right now our trip to Italy in four weeks is going to have to be similar to Andy’s! Judy
Rick- Thanks for sharing your happenings via this fun to read blogs. As you may remember, Sidar Duman at SRM Travel is very well connected to the Aegean/Turkish coast sailing scene. Maybe he could help Andy and his fellow Irish seafarers. Even though the 12 of us that sailed with Sidar last summer were mostly older, it is easy to visualize hip hop’rs having great fun also. After all the Bodrum clubs can be heard over 3 km offshore. Serefe.
Please delete the link to utube. I did not find it funny. Yes it’s a spiff but Rick does not come across as portrayed.
We felt so sorry for the young lady we talked to in Ajaccio, Corsica, when she said, “Yes, I’ve been to America, I visited New York City.” We enjoyed Paris 9 trips, Rome 4 trips, Berlin 4 trips. but the 100 places in France, the 80 places in Germany, and 63 places in Italy, where we have spent the night, complete the story of each country. As much as we enjoyed Rome, Paris, and Berlin, given the choice of only little towns, or only the capitals of those countries, we would choose the villages, in our RV. A clerk in a grocery or bakery in Europe, is thrilled to meet an American. A waiter and a bell hop are thrilled to get a tip.
Bonnie, it is a parody and celebrities are subject to these things all the time-ever watch SNL? I am sure Rick has a thick skin about these things, these are kids for goodness sake. Did you notice how the kids went to great lengths to get a similar shirt style and color, pants and rucksack that he uses in all his PBS videos. No kids that age are going to enjoy watching his videos, if they did you would raise an eyebrown and go what is wrong with this picture, but what does it say to us-one his parents must watch the programs and thus he is exposed and enough so that he knows how to mimic Rick and it took alot of effort for them to get the clothes and “script” together. If you read the comments the kids loved it and asked for a Rick Steves 2. This is how creativity is born
Well I just watched you on YouTube and boy you have come a long way Baby!!! I remember when my Brother in law from Bellevue Wa told us about this guy named Rick Steves and we should plan our first trip to Italy from his books! And no body Iknew in California had ever heard your name! Well now you even have the teenagers paying attention to you (in a teenager way!) I view this as a sucess! Judy
I too am a student on exchange in Europe, I’m typing this from my bed in Rouen, France. It’s only been two months but already this has been the best experience of my life. I highly recommend suggesting your children go on exchange, or yourself if you are a student it can be a life changing experience, and actually a great way to have access to cheap travel . I’ve yet to spend a weekend in my town since the first weekend I arrived.
This posting and the comments remind me of your earliest TV shows with wife and kids – Jackie in a stroller pushed by Mom and Andy tagging along with you. Where did all the years go?
Come on Vanessa, are you there to study or just lay around? We’ve been to Rouen several times, and no way could we see much of what there is to see, if we wasted time in bed. Here’s one of my snippets: == As we travel the abbey road in the Seine River Valley in France, from Rouen to Le Havre, we can visit the ruins of several interesting churches and abbeys, and attractive natural beauty. Bridges and ferry boats on this part of the river will permit us to cross when the scenery looks “greener†on the other side of the river. As travelers accustomed to the sights and architecture of the US, when we travel through the Seine River Valley, jaws drop, eyes glaze, and words fail. == About a restaurant on the Siene, we said, == This lovely dining room was in an old, old, half-timbered building whose ceiling beams all ran in approximately the same direction, its walls went here and there. The view of the river and the outdoor cafe looked impressionistic through quaint little panes of ancient wavy window glass. == There are several photos of Rouen at == http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/cat_france.shtml
Vanessa I am so JEALOUS..my friend and I are planning a trip to France in July for 2 weeks starting north and working south and just doing the research on hotels and trains makes me want to be there NOW. Misery loves company, I’m studying for an EU midterm..hope partof your day entails study.
Dear Rick and bloggers, The best experience parents can enrich to their children is to have them expose/immerse to another cultures/languages/foods. Traveling with children starting at a younger age brings tremendous gratification to both parents and their children. It opens their eyes, broaden their horizon, more accetapble the differences, and getting along better….my children benefit so much when we traveled to Europe starting when they were 5 years old. They are now in their teens.
I’ve been very critical of Rick’s political comments on this blog, so I thought it was only fair to praise him for his travel tools we used on our recent trip. My wife and I just returned from a visit to Italy. I guess we were there while Rick was. Rome/Sorento(Capri)/Montepulciano/Siena/Cinque Terre. I downloaded Rick’s Podcasts for all the sites in Rome. I had visited the Forum many years ago but it was so much more meaningful this time with his walking audio tour. We carried the 2007 Italy book around religiously (even on the Cinque Terre trail) and all his recommendations were spot on as usual. Adimo “the wine maker” in Montepulciano even enthusiastically autographed our book after serving us Vino Nobile from what we could make out he said he was in a R.Steves video. A couple rooms with balcony views we will never forget. Room 6 @ Bella Vista in Montepulciano and the top room (#3, I think) @ Rooms di Martina in Vernazza. We spoke with 2 young Itlalian ticket takers/ushers? @ at Siena soccer game and we were making small talk about soccer and American sports. To our surprise they brought up the US presidential election and asked us who we would vote for. As there was a significant language barrier I tried to keep it simple and just told them anyone but Hillary. They surprised us buy sounding enthusistic for Obama. I guess he would get the college vote there too. Thanks for the various sources of media Rick, you made our time in Italy efficient and rewarding.
Rick, On April 5th you have a travel teaching day …is there any way you would consider doing podcasts of the classes? Most of us can’t get across the US for a one day affair but would SO BENEFIT from the lectures.
My niece is doing her student teaching in China and has been there for one month now. The experiences she has had already will stay with her forever. This is definitely a “back door” experience. She has a Rick Steves money belt. I would loved to have been able to spend a sememster in another country. What an opportunity young people have to see other cultures. I know she will want to travel in the future. Thank you for such an interesting blog. DB
Both our sons have spent time studying in Europe. Our youngest son completed his third year of university in Freiburg, Germany while the other studied in Bonn and Berlin a few years earlier. Besides greatly improving their German they were able to be immersed in everyday life, not just being a tourist, living in a foreign country including exposure to European bureaucracy! Experiencing the European Union while studying it was invaluable to them both including trips with their profs and classmates to various European cities and parliaments. They exchanged ideas, debated and partied with their international mix of classmates. During their breaks they were able to take advantage of the inexpensive flights within Europe and with Rick’s travel books in hand guided friends through Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, as well as Sarajevo and Mostar. The stories and experiences they have! The ‘Bank of Mom and Dad’ is now getting repaid and their next trips to Europe are never far from their mind. (They still enjoy travelling with us.) Yes, it costs money but the experience they gain is worth it. Students (or parents!) should check out what their university or other organizations of higher education have to offer in form of scholarships, grants and financial support for international study; high grades are not always the criteria, sometimes just asking and applying gets results. Rick, your books are the best. We’ve travelled a lot and you and your crew have never let us down. We saw you again just last month in Vancouver (with our sons and friends) and you are as enthusiastic and upbeat as if it were your first presentation! Thanks. (We still have a 1980 edition of ‘Europe Through the Back Door’ – fun to look at and compare to your most recent books.) Travel safely; your Canadian fans cheer you on. MC
Marianne/Vancouver It works both ways. = = A distinguished gentleman we met in Trier, Germany, told us his sons, who were attending college in the US, would prefer to live in our country, rather than return to Germany after graduation. When we asked why, he stopped, thought a moment, then answered, “Freedom from the neighbors.†We responded, “In Germany you have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and a very good standard of living, so what do you mean by ‘freedom from the neighbors’?†He again thought a moment, then said, “People in Germany are so concerned with what their neighbors are doing — when they wash their car, when they hang wash on the line, stores close early in the evening, and are closed on Sunday. In general there’s a feeling of less individual liberty than many people feel they should expect.†= = We used that as our “Question of the Trip,†and got dozens of interesting responses. (My response word today is = plaid = my favorite color. That didn’t work, so now the password is password.)
Jim, that’s very interesting. I’ve always wondered why some Europeans choose to stay in the U.S. I guess “individual liberty” would make sense . . .
Rick is this your son it is hilarious…… http://ndbike.blogspot.com/2007/11/wheres-andy-steves.html….
prize-winning tuna…Rick, you slay me! :)
Rick with tuition, room and board hovering around $47,000 a year I’ll bet alot of these Mid western kids have been to europe quite a few time before this and are more excited about chasing exotic girls than insisting on fresh garlic for their bruschetta. Kids are kids give them a choice of McDonalds or insisting on fresh garlic for their bruschetta guess what they will take.
Hey there- what a wonderful adventure for Andy. My daughter is also in Rome this year, her junior year as well. She has (as well as done her school work) become fluent in Italian, learned how to cook tiramisu, discovered Caravaggio and Bernini, visited a few other countries and met native contemporaries, and (my fave) ridden her flea market bike in “Critical Mass Rome”. And also has clearly grown from adolescent to open-minded and global adult. We are lucky that our kids have this opportunity. It is surely something that will inform their view of the world for their entire lives.
I too am currently studying abroad and having the time of my life here in Cadiz, Spain! Almost four years ago my parents took me on a trip through Europe with our Rick Steves guidebook in hand, and as I was looking out over the Alps in Gimmelwald I told myself I would come back to Europe someday. I did indeed return and my time here in Spain has been nothing short of amazing. Although I initially questioned the affordability of studying abroad (especially with the euro right now), I made the decision to take out a loan and go for it! It was the best decision I have ever made and I strongly encourage all parents to allow their children to set out on an adventure of their own!
I attended a Junior year abroad program in Florence, Italy in 1966-67, the year the Arno flooded. Our “Bible” was “Europe on $5/day”. What a difference 40 years makes. Now I have a daughter doing her junior year in Rome this fall and another getting married at Lake Como, Italy in September. We are so fortunate to be able to still afford this but It bothers me to see how our country has lost it’s position in the world. My best recommendation for parents wanting an international cultural experience for their kids is to do a Foreign Exchange program between High School and College. They can have a whole year abroad for $5-7K. They’ll have a whole new appreciation for America and will be ready to do college without all the ora of drinking too much.
The tuna decreases because you came to eat though there is a foolish foreigner who eats the tuna too much by the Japanese and is putting the complaint. Remove the responsibility.
Be careful drinking tap water just to save money for wine.