My name is Ilaria. I’m an exchange student from Italy. The city where I was born is quite a distance away from here. I was born and raised in Italy. My city is called
Campobasso is located in southern Italy. It’s a tiny city, and I love it for that. I remember the moment I landed in Austin, I walked out of the airport, and the first thing I saw was the tall buildings, the river, and the exhausting heat, but it was all beautiful. And from that moment, I started enjoying my exchange year.
The Body: The Biggest Differences
The School Day
I left from the other side of the world to arrive here, without knowing the people or the place. At first, it was difficult to understand a language that wasn’t my own, the traditions of another country, the food, and the school. But after a while, it became a habit. I remember the first day of school, when I got lost in the corridors many times. My school in Italy is small; here I found myself in a huge school with thousands of people walking to their classrooms.
The school system is very different. In Italy, I’m at school from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., I come home, have lunch, and do my homework. In Italy, there are oral exams, and grades range from 1 to 10. If you receive a poor grade, there’s no way to change it.
In Italy, you choose the school; each school has different subjects. In Italy, we stay in the same classroom all day with the same 25 students while the teachers rotate. Here, I have to race across campus every period, and I get to choose electives, a concept that my friends back home find amazing.
Social Life and School Spirit
The biggest difference is definitely school. Here, everything is focused on school. After class, there are football or basketball games. In Italy, after class, you go home, study, and then in the evening you meet up in a bar, restaurant, or nightclub. Here you get your driving license at 16, while in Italy it’s at 18. Even sports are different; here, you always play sports within the school, in Italy. Not there: there are dance schools, soccer teams, basketball, volleyball, but everything outside of school.
The Little Things
Another big difference is food. In Italy, I go home every day for lunch and eat with my family. Here, lunch is eaten very early and during school hours. Here, people often eat at restaurants or fast food restaurants; ranch dressing and drinks are very common. In Italy, I only dine at fast food restaurants on weekends. During the week, I usually eat at home with my family and have Sunday lunch at my grandparents’ house. I really miss Italian food, but I’m glad I was able to try the food of another culture.
What I’ve Learned
My time in Texas wasn’t just about experiencing a different culture; it also helped me understand my own better. It taught me that “normality” is simply what you’re used to. Although my home will always be Italy, I’ve learned to appreciate American customs as well. I learned the rules of American football, but above all, I learned to appreciate a culture very different from my own. In a few days I’ll be returning to Italy, but this city, this school, will always remain in my heart and in my thoughts.
