“You don’t have cholocate-chip cookies here!” This is the major concern of an American
20-year-old girl in Italy.
We came to know this about a week ago, when we went to Florence to meet some Syracuse University students. You think you know the city, and then you go there, in this incredible villa, which seems to be popped out from a XX century novel.
As soon as we got there, we were split in small groups and chatted for a few hours. One thinks it could be intimidating, but once we overcame our shiness we had the best time of our lives!
New York, Washington D.C., California, New Jersey, all the places we are used to seeing on TV suddenly seemed so close to us. Furthermore, we got access to a bunch of backstage fun facts. Who would have ever thought to get a tons of candy by trick-or-treating in just one Upper West Side skyscraper? Or that the Americans could be shocked by the idea of having school on Saturdays? Believe it or not that is how things work there!
Having the chance to dream of America - even though for half a day - was so amazing that we did not want to leave when our time was up.
Getting in touch with a new reality felt weird at first, especially when we realized those people we are so envious of, envy us.
“We are so pissed off not to be able to watch your TV shows here! We are so jealous of your clothing chains!” we told them.
“They are not so popular in America” they said back, confessing their jealousy for our beautiful cities and lifestyle. At one moment we figured out that everyone seemed to want the other’s opportunities and it was so funny that we all laughed about it together (except for when they told us that they like pasta for breakfast. That was not funny at all...).
T.G.I.F.! Katy Perry sings in one of her most popular songs. But when they found out that this expression was not that suitable for us they looked disappointed. And you know why? Because they can rest one day more than us. (So unfair!)
When we left we were extremely sad, that is true, anyway we did not give up. We asked them for their Facebook and the very next day we were in contact again.
Let us face it: we have always been dreaming of America. We would have never lost such an opportunity to keep in touch with this incredible world. We have been stuck here for eighteen years, at least now we have found a place in which a part of our dreams can come true.
Hope the same for you all!
Nicola Simonetti
Sara Marzo
III Liceo Classico
