It may be unknown to others, but spread all over the country, all over the world actually, there are thousands of students from all over the world coming here to learn a new language, to experiment a new type of life, possibly with new friends, with a new family, and a new school. I am one of those students. I am an exchange student.
My name is Laura, and I am from Italy. I decided to come here a few years ago, and last year, in September, I started to fill out all the documents needed to apply and win a scholarship. I won the scholarship to go to the United States, in August, two months ago, and I left Italy, leaving for a great adventure full of emotions and challenges.
Many people had ask me why I chose Rhode Island, but actually I did not choose where to stay. They chose me to be here. So, I will stay here, in North Providence, cheering for Cougars throughout the rest of the year.
Once I arrived here, I noticed some little, silly differences that, because they are so silly, sometimes make me laugh. It is good to laugh. I laugh because of my own mistakes sometimes. This experience here, alone, is helping me to understand this. I laugh when someone makes me notice that I have an accent, or when I ask two or three times for someone to repeat the same thing.
Compared to the life I was used to, my life here is not very easy. As I say there are lots of differences, sometimes little, sometimes not so little, but also many similarities. The school represents perfectly how things are so different and so similar at the same time. In Italy they have more school days, more subjects, no lunch and always the same group of kids to stay with. But, much like it is here, we have homework, teachers to deal with, and tests and exams.
Being an exchange student is a wonderful, unique experience. You are literally launched in a new world, in a new way to live. You can face challenges, and find out that you are strong enough to overcome them; but you can also taste new flavours trying food from all over the world, especially in a country so multicultural as the U.S. is, and find that you really like food you would never have eaten before starting your year as an exchange student.
The people I have come to know here are changing me into a better person; thank you for every smile shared with me.
By: Laura Barilari