Giorgia from Italy.

When I just arrived to Arkansas, I was alone, far from my parents, my big warm family, my friends, my classmates, and the comfortable lifestyle I had always been used to have. Everything was new and different. Especially different from what I expected. My high school was an all girl Catholic high school and Little Rock was not exactly the big cliché American city I had seen in the movies before. I was lost and without any friend. Looking back right now, makes me just smile, which I have not stop doing during this year. This has been full of good moments and success for me. I came without anything. Now I can tell I have everything I need and a lot more. I am self confident, I am not afraid to speak up in front of people, I learned how to listen, I am open minded and I know how to speak English, which in Italy, where I am from, is one of the most important thing to know. The most important thing though is that I have wonderful relationships with my host parents, my host sisters and many beautiful long lasting friendships.

I reached all the goals I wanted. How I did it? I have been blessed to meet my host family. They supported me everyday, during hard times and good times. Most of all they have loved me from the first moment I met them, making me feel part of their family since the very beginning. I felt so much loved that I have not even miss my real family during Christmas time, but do not tell them that. They are always going to be part of my life, because we are a family and the family is always there for each other. My American sisters are just amazing. We just had the best times together. It is going to be so hard to say goodbye since we are so close now. I will miss our everyday life together. I remember how awkward it was at the beginning between us, we often laugh about those first moments. Well, now we are exactly like real sisters. We have worked together everyday to build the great relationship we have today. They introduced me to the country southern music that I absolutely love now, but that I really didn’t like that much at the beginning. We even went to a Jimmy Buffet’s concert! We traveled together and we share treasured memories that I will keep forever in my heart.

After I had a really hard time to make friends here in Little Rock, I finally met the best group of people which I am able to call Friends today. We just have so much fun together. I never stop to learn from them about life in general and about the American culture. They took me camping for the first time, and I had my first “smore”, that I recommend to all the future exchange students, it’s something you can eat just in America! We went playing with the snow and had memorable snow fights! We climbed Pinnacle at six in the morning to see the sunrise, even though we were too late! The best thing is that we can make even the simplest things special and fun, because we are together. There are always lots of smiley faces ready to make everybody in a good mood. They always made me feel part of the group and loved me for how I am “so Italian” and therefore different sometimes. I made the greatest friends. I will miss them immensely. I know, though, that we will keep in touch and I am ready to come visit them and my family soon, and to have them over in Italy. Also, who knows, maybe in the future our path will cross again, maybe just for a summer trip together. I know I will keep each one of them in my heart forever.

Also, my American high school, Mount St. Mary Academy, has been the best experience for me. Everybody has been just wonderfully hospitable to me during my time here. I never felt left out but always part of the “big family”. I met the most amazing teachers that helped and supported me during the all year. I learned so much, about life and a lot more. I have been involved in sports and feeling part of a team helped me to “fit in” at the beginning of the year. I will never forget my coaches and my teammates. I have been part of Mount wonderful graduation ceremony, which will be always part of my best memories.

Another amazing experience I have done, is going to Search, which is a Catholic retreat for junior and senior in high school, lead by our peers. It was the turning point of my experience and meant sp much to me, it helped me discover the person I want to be, and meet all the amazing friends I have. It helped me grow up in my Catholic faith. When I decided to go I had no idea I was going to become part of the Search family, made of over 9,000 people. I have met a small portion of it but I know that all of them are always going to be ready to help me on my times of need. Also I have been selected to be part of the team that lead the weekend for the next Search, and I will give a talk about my changes throughout the year and my stronger Catholic faith. It is just a great honor and a wonderful opportunity for me to share what I have learned and gained.

Obviously a great part of my year has been being part of AFS. I can say that I have a friend in every country of the world. I have learned not to judge people for their differences and how wonderful traditions and cultures are. It helped me to appreciate even more my own country and also realize that some things need to be changed. More than anything it made me realizing that we are all the same, even though we look and act differently. Being foreigner in a big country like the United States, made me and the other exchange students from all over the world come together and bond with each other, since we had that same fear, problem or even small success in common.

Giorgia Rea was hosted by Bill and Debbie Harris during the 2007 - 2008 school year.