Melissa’s Journals

March is probably the month I was looking forward to the most. I would even call it the highlight of my exchange year, as many exchange students do. By this point, we feel fully integrated into the language and culture, and going back home is the last thing we want. Still, every day I’m reminded of how little time I have before I must pack my suitcases back and say goodbye to everyone. I think that is precisely why I’ve been making the most of my time in Cremona. I’m going out with people I’ve never talked to before, trying that restaurant I always walk past, and spending more time with the people I’ll miss the most.

Someone I will definitely miss is my history of art teacher. She is very passionate about her job and has been one of my greatest supporters since the first day of school. When she learned I was Mexican, she asked me to give a presentation about Frida Kahlo and the meaning behind her artworks. This month, I finally presented it to the class. More than the satisfaction I felt afterward, it was the part before that I enjoyed the most. I had never done detailed research on Frida Kahlo until then. It was the perfect example of how sometimes, outside your country’s boundaries is where you learn the most about your own culture. Of course, I also enjoyed speaking in front of everyone about such an important Mexican icon. Many of my classmates had already heard about her but didn’t know about her tragic bus accident, which is what led her to express herself through paintings, unable to get up from her bed. I loved being the one to explain this to them, and I especially loved seeing how much more confident I became at giving presentations. It’s surprisingly beautiful how much a few months abroad can change you.

This month I also visited Venice for the first time. My host family took me, along with the host family of another girl from Germany. We spent practically the whole day there, from the early-morning drive to the sunset ride back. It was fun because the other host dad grew up in Venice, so he knew exactly where to take us, and it felt like a personal guided tour. He talked about the city like it was the palm of his hand, a place he knew every part of. I found a particular beauty in Venice because it’s not just an iconic Italian city, but also a city that’s built on islands and connecting canals. You don’t see cars huddling around busy streets. People here get around by foot, bike, and gondolas, a traditional Venetian boat. That’s probably why Venice is such a calm city, despite how touristy it is. The only noise you get is people chatting as they walk by and the water moving around the canals, all mixed with the smell of fresh coffee and gelato shops in every corner. Not to forget the immense number of souvenir shops, which all seemed to include the famous Venetian masks used for Carnevale. I had heard many beautiful things about Venice before coming, and I can agree that it is one of Italy’s most unique cities. It’s a place worth seeing again.

Since I’m saying yes to everything, I thought, “Why not go to one of my favorite artists’ concerts now that she’s here in Italy?” and it became one of the most precious memories I’ve made while on exchange. I still remember when my friend first told me about it, and how it broke my heart knowing it would probably be too difficult for us to go. A few months later, I brought it up to my host mom, and she encouraged me to buy the tickets. We ended up going together with a couple other exchange students. It was perfect because the arena was not that far, and since it was a rather small venue, we were pretty close to the artist. It felt like it was all meant to be. I still look back at it and realize that it was almost like a dream, in general, me living in Italy at fifteen years old. It’s a dream I never want to be woken out of.

The event that marked my month, if not my entire year, was a trip all around Italy that I took with all the other exchange students. It was organized by my Rotary Host District along with a few others from different parts of the country. We all gathered in Milan and transitioned, day by day, to a new famous Italian town. The first day, we walked past Sforza Castle and explored the city on our own, so I got to see the Duomo once again. It was just us, a group of teenagers in a city we barely knew, figuring things out as we went and making stops for thrifting and souvenir hunting along the way. In the evening, we all met up to head to the hotel and have dinner together. The next morning, we went to Venice, giving me a second chance to enjoy the city. I remember having the most delicious take-out pasta that day, which we ate by the water, facing the sun. That week was also the transition from winter to spring, so I could see the difference in the weather getting warmer and the trees getting greener.

We continued our tour around Italy from north to south, passing through Florence to see Le Gallerie degli Uffizi, which contained some of the most beautiful artworks I’ve seen. In Florence, I also tried a cannolo al pistacchio, which has become my favorite Italian pastry. Then, we went to Pisa and visited the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, where we stopped by to take pictures with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We only stayed in Pisa for a short time because, outside of the Duomo and the Tower, there is not much to see. That day was also cloudy, and we had a long bus ride down to Naples ahead of us. When we finally got to Naples, we had dinner at a local restaurant that had prepared dozens of pizzas just for us. I had the opportunity to try authentic Neapolitan pizza: a warm, freshly baked dough topped with tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and basil leaves. It was soft, simple, and unbelievably good. Maybe it was because it was late and we were all starving, but it genuinely felt like the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.

The next day, we explored two other iconic cities near Naples: Pompeii and Sorrento. I think these are two places people don’t mention often, but they deserve more recognition. In Pompeii, I saw the ruins of what remains from an ancient Roman city, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius centuries ago. It was fascinating to walk between the walls of what used to be people’s homes, finding the meaning behind every structure and the beauty behind in cracked brick. Sorrento was another kind of beauty. It’s so close to the sea, which is already a bonus for me. In every shop, there were prints, drawings, and stamps of lemons flying around. I even tried their lemon sorbet; a sweet, icy treat served in a lemon shell. We stopped after lunch on a street overlooking the ocean, letting the strong breeze mess up our hair.

Afterward, we came back to Naples and got a tour of the city the following morning. Walking around Naples was my favorite part of the trip. I hadn’t realized the difference between the North and the South until we got there. It was almost like the South was more vivid and colorful, and every street had some artistic touch to it. The walls were painted, the shops were decorated with hanging lights, and the public squares were filled with people chanting or just tourists walking by. Naples was a mix of chaos and authenticity. No one was in a rush; we were simply drifting through the crowds, flowing along with everyone else. One thing that stuck with me was the smell of fresh pizza on every corner. I didn’t miss the opportunity to have pizza Margherita for lunch that afternoon, which I carried around the rest of the day like my most precious souvenir. Along with the pizza, I bought a charm shaped like a little red horn called cornicello, which is known to bring good luck and protection against the evil eye.

The last city we visited was Rome, the eternal capital of Italy that brings you back in time. I have to admit that it deserves all the praise. We got there at night and headed straight to dinner. They served us carbonara and tiramisù for dessert. It was creamy, soft, and so delicious. We started wandering around the city the following morning, and it all felt like walking through an enormous open-air museum. It was my first time seeing the Colosseum in person. It looked even more massive than I had imagined. As we arrived, we joined the thousands of people who had come to participate in a 5K walk to the Circus Maximus. Afterward, we took a guided tour of the Vatican City, which was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We visited the museums and stepped inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Just when I thought I had seen everything Italy had to offer, I found myself standing in awe all over again, overwhelmed by the scale and beauty of these places. When we finally stepped back outside, it had gotten darker and the sun was starting to dip behind the cathedral, casting a warm glow that made the whole scene look like something painted by hand. I still can’t fully wrap my head around the fact that I’ve seen some of the most breathtaking places in the world with my own eyes.

Although leaving was the last thing I wanted, the final day of the Italy Tour ended up being the one I enjoyed the most. We were dropped off at Piazza del Popolo and given time to explore the city on our own. Together with a couple other exchange students, we wandered through the streets of Rome, looking for vintage shops before stopping for lunch at a place that served me the savoriest calzone I’ve ever tasted. Our last stop was the famous Trevi Fountain, the sight I had been looking forward to the most since the very beginning of the trip. It did not disappoint me in the slightest. It looked so majestic and gorgeous in person, far more impressive than any picture could ever capture. By this point in the trip, I was convinced that Rome is a city worth visiting, and one I absolutely have to return to.

Fortunately, all good things come to an end. I’ve realized that this is precisely what makes them beautiful. There is no pleasure in sunny days if cloudy ones never come. In the same way, I know I will leave Italy soon, but it’s just a reminder to enjoy every last bit of it, every late-night conversation with my host mom, every after-school hangout with my friends, every lunch at the nonna’s house, and every quiet walk home from the train station. I am forever grateful for all Italy has taught me. It uncovered a new version of myself I hadn’t seen before. I’ve learned to say yes to life and let go of beliefs that no longer serve me. I ’ve proved to myself that if I can adapt to a whole different culture, I can overcome any challenge that comes my way. I can’t imagine experiencing my exchange year in any other place or with any other people. I believe that, in the end, everything turns out the way it’s supposed to. I’m not sure what life will feel like once I return 'home,' but I know that a piece of my heart will remain here in Cremona.