
Giorgio Rodia
GR Stories is a way to keep track of what studying abroad actually looks like. The routines that eventually feel like home, the meals cooked in unfamiliar kitchens, the trips squeezed between semesters. I write about school, food, travel, and the less photogenic parts of building a life somewhere new.

25 articles published
All writing by Giorgio Rodia

GR Stories | Becoming a PADI Rescue Diver in Makadi Bay
How I became a PADI Rescue Diver and took EFR Primary and Secondary Care with iDive in Makadi Bay, Hurghada, and what each course really involves.

GR Stories | Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Original Recipe
The original Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe, converted to grams and Celsius for European kitchens, with tips on brown sugar, baking soda and chocolate chips.

GR Stories | Fort Arabesque: Our Villa on the Red Sea
A week in a swim-up villa at Fort Arabesque, Makadi Bay: a private transfer, a separate villa reception, dinners at Club 159, a reef a minute from the beach and an Egyptian massage.

GR Stories | Risotto allo Zafferano: Milan's Golden Risotto
A classic risotto allo zafferano: Carnaroli rice, meat broth, infused saffron and a cold-butter mantecatura, plus the alla milanese version and riso al salto.

GR Stories | Student Experiences Abroad & Study Abroad Blog
GR Stories is a blog about living and studying abroad, written by a team from Italy, Pakistan and Turkey: recipes, schooling, life, experiences and travel, in English and Italian.

GR Stories | The Golden Dunes of the Merzouga Desert
A birthday night at Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: the long drive from Marrakech, quad biking on the Erg Chebbi dunes, an aperitif by the fire and a private dinner in the desert.

GR Stories | The Marrakech Medina
A long weekend in the Marrakech medina: Riad Djebel and Riad K, Jemaa el-Fnaa and the souks, Bahia Palace, Majorelle, sunset at El Fenn and a surprise birthday dinner at Jad Mahal.

GR Stories | The Marrakech Riad K
A review of Riad K, a five-suite riad in the Marrakech medina: our huge top-floor suite K5, an almost private rooftop and fabulous, attentive staff.

Area 51 Alien Center: A Wrong Turn from Vegas to Death Valley
Lost on a dusty detour between Vegas and Death Valley, we stumbled upon the Area 51 Alien Center—a bizarre roadside stop that became the trip’s highlight.

GR Stories | American Burraco: A Card Game for Tables Far Apart
Burraco is the card game of Italian family tables. American Burraco brings it to iPhone and iPad, so you can keep playing with the people you love, even from far away.

GR Stories | Las Vegas Under 21
What Las Vegas is really like at 19: finding a hotel, walking through the casinos, the Strip and Fremont Street, shooting at Freedom Firearms and driving a Ferrari 488 Pista at Dream Racing.

GR Stories | Renting a Boat from Santa Margherita Ligure
A first-hand guide to renting a boat from Santa Margherita Ligure and spending a day on the Ligurian coast — Paraggi, San Fruttuoso, and the underwater Christ of the Abyss.

GR Stories | 3 Unexpected Things About European Universities
Discover 3 surprising aspects of European universities, from academic independence to exam-focused systems. A must-read for students planning to study abroad.

GR Stories | Caprese: Italy's Simplest Salad, Done Right
When three ingredients are everything you have, each one must be worth the effort. A caprese demands the best tomato, the freshest mozzarella, and the restraint to leave it at that.

GR Stories | Escape in the Langhe: Le Marne Relais
A first-hand guide to the Langhe's UNESCO wine landscape, including a candid review of Le Marne Relais and dinner at Al Gatto Verde in Agliano Terme.

GR Stories | Fattoush: Lebanon's Bread Salad, Done Right
A Levantine bread salad that transforms day-old pita, fresh vegetables, and sumac into something deeply satisfying—practical enough for a student kitchen—ready in 20 minutes with no cooking and nothing you can't find at Carrefour.

GR Stories | Rothko in Florence: A Day at Palazzo Strozzi
A day at Palazzo Strozzi for Rothko a Firenze, the most important Rothko retrospective ever held in Italy, and the Florentine masterpieces that inspired him.

GR Stories | Tortilla Española: The Omelette Students Must Know
A foolproof tortilla española (Tortilla de patatas) recipe for international students. Five ingredients, one pan, and the slow patience that turns potato and egg into something extraordinary.

How to Write the Perfect AI Prompt (And Actually Get What You Need)
Learning to write better prompts transforms how students use AI. Not through magic formulas, but through precision, context, and the willingness to iterate toward what you actually need.

What AI Actually Can't Do When Studying in Another Language
Studying abroad in a second language means learning to use AI wisely—knowing what it genuinely helps with and where its quiet limitations can cost you more than you realize.

Bibimbap: How Students Can Cook Korea's Most Iconic Bowl in Under 40'
Easy Korean bibimbap recipe for international students. One bowl, cheap ingredients, ready in 40 minutes. Step-by-step guide with FAQ for first-time cooks.

GR Stories | Renting in Turin: A Complete Guide for International Students
Discover everything you need to know about renting in Turin as an international student — from prices and neighbourhoods to agency fee scams to avoid.

GR Stories | Tiramisù: The Italian Dessert Every Student Should Master
A foolproof tiramisù recipe for international students in Italy. No oven, six ingredients, and the small ritual that makes a foreign kitchen feel like home.

GR Stories | The Perfect Spaghetti al Pomodoro
Discover how to make authentic spaghetti al pomodoro with a rich, slow-cooked tomato sauce, fresh basil, and simple Italian ingredients. A timeless pasta recipe perfected.

GR Stories | Weekend Escape in Portofino
Weekend guide from Turin to Portofino: scenic drives, hiking, where to stay in Rapallo, and Liguria travel tips.