The experiences you have while studying abroad can really last a lifetime. In this blog I usually don’t post anything personal from myself, but I thought that I would write an entry about the impact my international experience made on other people. While we always think about what this experience will mean to us, we often do not consider how it will affect others.
I studied abroad for a year as a high school exchange student in northern Italy. I had a wonderful host family that consisted of a mother, an older sister and younger brother. While these relationships are ones I will always treasure, this story is about my cousin Luca. I first met Luca right after I arrived at my host family’s house. He came over to meet me with his parents and older brothers. Luca was four years old at the time. He had never met anyone who did not speak Italian and couldn’t believe that there was an American living with his relatives. He laughed at me as I struggled to use Italian words and couldn’t roll my “Rs”. And he got frustrated when I couldn’t understand his child’s garbled Italian.
Over the year I lived in Italy, Luca and I spent a lot of time together. He helped me learn Italian and I taught him a little English. I introduced him and the rest of the family to American traditions like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and chocolate chip cookies. I showed him photos of Ohio (where I am from) and helped him (and the rest of the family) learn what Americans and the United States is really like rather than what they see on TV. When I left after my year was done, Luca cried and begged me to co
me back soon.
Over the years I have returned to visit my host family. I have watched Luca grow from childhood through his teenage years and into adulthood. The last time I was back visiting my host family was in 2004 and there was Luca, 29 years old, waiting to greet me with a wide smile and big hug. As we talked and reminisced, he admitted that he could not imagine his life without his American cousin. I've included a picture of Luca (left) and his older brother Marco from my last visit, when the whole extended family got together for dinner during my stay.
My experience abroad played a formative role in my life. But it also played formative roles in the lives of my extended host family – my host siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. It is something we all need to remember – your experience abroad is not limited to you. You can actually make a much bigger impact on others than you ever thought. Enjoy your experience and make sure to take every opportunity to engage with the local community and others. It really does make a difference!
- Ann Halpin