1) Tell us a little bit about your life growing up. Do you consider yourself international?
My dad is from Sicily and my mum is from the north of Spain. I was born in Switzerland but lived in Rome for most of my life. I moved to Chicago when I was 11 and stayed here for a year and then went back to Rome. When I was 15 we moved to Chicago for good. However, yes I do consider myself an international. I speak both Italian and Spanish besides English and feel really connected to both Italy and Spain because I only moved to the US recently and I have lifelong friends and family there whom I visit every year. I kind of live in a constant state of nostalgia, and think about my home there a lot.
2) How was your first quarter at NU?
I really liked it! I met a lot of nice people and made friends right away! Even though the classes were pretty challenging, I found them to be rewarding at the end of the day! The best thing that happened to me in first quarter was getting into Stitch! I had heard about it from one of my friends from high school who also goes to Northwestern and I was thrilled to have gotten into the organization when I got to Northwestern!
3) How is America different from home?
I feel the education system here is better established and that there are more opportunities here than back in Italy. America and Italy have very different cultures. I have had some great experiences in both places. But I would say that people here in school are more competitive and involved in lots of things. School back home was relatively less competitive I’d say. So the environment here is very stimulating!
4) What do you think of Greek life in America?
If I compare it so social life of university students back in Europe to the social life of college students in America, the main difference comes from the laws of minimum drinking ages. In most of Europe it’s 18 or less, so that we could go to clubs and get to meet lots of new people. Here the drinking age being 21, kind of pushes college students towards being a part of sororities and fraternities. While it’s not for me and I have not joined a sorority, I think it’s definitely an important characteristic of an American college experience.
5) What would you say is the difference between American and European fashion?
Firstly I feel Northwestern is a very well dressed campus. Even when it’s very cold people wear cute boots and pretty accessories. Also in general America has a more casual outlook of fashion and most people have very similar type of styles. Like it’s more about brands, everyone has Ugg boots and Marc Jacobs bag. In Europe, fashion is always changing. Also there is a broader spectrum of individual styles. Different stores, like Zara for instance, cater to very different types of styles.
6) If there was one thing you could bring back from home, what would it be and why?
It would be the food! Pasta, pizza and cheese. I grew up with great Italian food. We would have a 3-course meal. It would be pasta followed by fish ( or meat) and then fruit. It was good and healthy and made me happy. Food here is good too but I miss home food a lot. Once when I was in Madison my friend convinced me to try out mac&cheese on pizza. I went “ Pasta and Pizza just DON’T go together!”. In Chicago there is a good Italian pizzeria called Sapore Di Napoli. That has good pizza!
7) Tell me one funny thing you noticed about Americans when you first got here?
They say I love you very easily! Like “love ya girl” to people they just met. I have to be honest and say that I’ve started doing that too!
8) Any country you want to live in after here?
Paris! I stayed in Paris for a month doing a senior project my last year in high school. Everywhere I looked it was so beautiful! Definitely want to live there someday.