Georgia Torre (‘24) works as a lifeguard back in Italy.
Meet Giorgia Torre from Italy
Exchange student Giorgia Torre from Portoferraio, Italy comments on differences between the U.S. and Italy
Welcome to “Walk in their shoes”, a column where we showcase our foreign exchange students and their homes throughout the year.
Giorgia Torre (’24) is from Portoferraio, Italy.
Torre said that at Mead High offers a lot of interesting classes, but of all her classes, her favorite is forensic science. She would love to have a job that involves crime and being part of the police force, which means this class could be incredibly applicable to her.
Torre is part of the Erie High School swim team. She shared she enjoys this sport since she’s “been swimming for ten or more years in Italy and… stopped because of COVID”.
Being an exchange student can be difficult. Torre said, “Staying [here] without all of my friends and my family is really hard.”
She continued, “Getting used to not having my sister and my parents in my house, and not going out with all of my friends every day [were] the most challenging to get used to.”
Torre said her stay in Colorado has made her become more appreciative of things back home in Italy. “Being here made me realize how much I love my family and my friends,” she said. She misses everyone a lot.
Her favorite food in Italy is pizza. Torre said “in Colorado it’s not bad but it’s not like Italian pizza”, the pizza she had back home was significantly better.
After being in Colorado for just a few months, Torre has learned a lot. If she could give herself some advice before moving it would be to “bring more clothes, especially warm clothes”. Torre didn’t expect Colorado to be as cold as it is.
“In Italy I live on an island, so the weather is not as cold as it can be here… It never [reaches] temperatures so low,” she added.
Torre learned English throughout school in Italy. “Even though my English wasn’t really good [when I first arrived], after six months here I can understand and talk with people,” she said. Practicing everyday has made her English improve quite a bit.
Torre hasn’t decided what she wants to pursue after high school, but has a few ideas. She would like to be a police officer for the Italian Armed Forces, but if she doesn’t pursue that path she is determined to work in the forensic science field.
A miraculous sunset
A soft orange painted the sky, reminding me of the summer days gone by. The beating sun poured heat onto my back like a fresh coat of paint on a newly built house. The warm colors of summer swiftly danced as far as the eye could see. The timeless summer was coming to an abrupt end.
Slowly riding my bike down a narrow sidewalk lined with extravagant green and yellow trees, a cool breeze was slowly drying away the sweat trickling down from my forehead. I slowly stopped at the bottom of a monstrous hill, calling my name, begging to be conquered. As I was riding, my muscles were aching, and my hands started to blister from the handlebars. It didn’t phase me as I continued fighting up the hill. A driving force inside of me craved to see the mesmerizing work of art overlooking the top. I finally reached the top as dark green grass swayed back and forth in a rhythmic pattern; the eternal red and orange hues filled my body with warmth. A titanic wave of bliss and peace drowned out any negative feelings I had.
Something in me changed that fateful evening, something had clicked. No longer was I burdened by the weight on my shoulders. I felt reborn in a sense. The motivation and hope created by that sunset inspired me in a way nothing else ever has. I felt free from all the doubts and self-inflicted problems that I faced. Nothing could stop me from changing. This experience was and still is a pivotal moment in the development of my character. No more was I faced with issues from my past, I was focused and determined to move forward at all costs.
I felt free for the first time in my life.
Kadin Lengner is a senior. They enjoy working out at the gym, hanging out with friends, and taking showers. They are looking forward to working on the podcast this year and writing album reviews.