Exchange in the USA
During summer 2017 I was invited to spend two weeks in the state of Connecticut by an American friend of mine. I was immediately thrilled by the idea and I very happily accepted her proposal, as I had also previously hosted her here in Turin.
The 4th of July
I landed at JFK airport in NYC on the 3rd of July, which means that I woke up the next day – quite jet legged – on the most American day ever: the 4th of July. To celebrate Independence Day we attended a local parade and we then drove to Boston for the annual popular music concert by “The Boston Pops Orchestra”.
Although we were not able to visit Boston, the next day we stopped for a quick walk through the center of the city before heading back home.
Rhode Island
During my stay, I was also able to spend some days in the state of Rhode Island. As a matter of fact, my friend Nora and her family rent a house there every summer. Although you can find nice beaches in Rhode Island, Bellevue Avenue is one of the most interesting places to go sightseeing. Bellevue Avenue is an historic district in Newport, hosting several Victiorian maisons.
New York City
My last two days in the States were a dream come true, as I visited New York City. I still carry with me the vivid memory of the amazing landscape I had the chance to admire from the Empire State Building: I have never seen such imposing skyscrapers. Before heading back to the airport, I was also able to experience how the Italian Culture developed in the USA by dining in Little Italy.
Skills
It goes without saying that my friendship with Nora helped me strengthen my skills in the English language. Along with my cultural awareness skills, I am constantly able to reflect on the complexity of my own mother tongue. As a matter of fact, Nora developed a passion for the Italian language, which she now studies as a minor in college. Sometimes, when she asks me for advice, I find myself having to think thoroughly about the most basic grammar rules we take for granted in order to respond to her questions.
In conclusion, this life-changing experience helped me realize that, in the future, the right path for me might be to pursue a career related to the study of languages and linguistics
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