Let's Talk subscribe. High school exchange students are not allowed to make life-changing decisions such as getting a tattoo or Wedding Photo Credit: Oberports Photography. Before coming to the USA from Lake Como , Italy , multiple people gave me the same piece of advice: avoid dating anyone here as every exchange student is ultimately destined to return home before summer. I am usually one to follow advice, but I made a big exception in this case.
Liz and I started dating 50 days before my departure. My last few weeks in West Virginia were a whirlwind of memories, experiences, and warm feelings but, among all this, one thing was increasingly clear: this was not the end of a journey, and this would not be my last time in West Virginia. After a super cold winter I decided to try my hand at a sport. My story tends to spark questions. Was it easy? Was it a good decision? Has everything worked out? Let me share my story first.
What was my first impression? My definition of rural changed. Immediately, I realized that my rural home in Lake Como, Italy feels more like a metropolis compared to the average Appalachian town. I was fortunate enough to have been assigned a tremendous host family who had already hosted exchange students in the past. They already knew how to ensure I would be immediately welcomed with open arms and have a smooth transition to my new life.
I could not have asked for a more welcoming, warm, and generous host family , as they took me under their wing like a son and supported me in my endeavors every day. Even after six years and countless Walmart trips, I still feel a little rush of that same excitement every time I step foot into one.
I will never forget the first thing we did after we got out of the airport: a big trip to Walmart. Often taken for granted by most Americans, I have yet to meet a foreign person whose jaw does not drop the first time they visit a Walmart. There is just nothing like it and, even after six years and countless Walmart trips, I still feel a little rush of that same excitement every time I step foot into one.
