Every year at Jacksonville High School, there are several foreign exchange students. One the students this year is Giacomo Claus who hails from a small town close to Trento in Northern Italy. The town he comes from has about 17,000 inhabitants. When asked what his favorite part about Jacksonville is so far, he said, “I think that Jacksonville is a nice city because it is not too big and not too small.” When he was back in Italy, Giacomo used to practice Bota Hip-Hop and Latin-American dance, and he would compete in competitions. He is not currently involved in any sports, but he is in the fall play. He plans to do a sport in the spring. In his free time, he usually hangs out with friends to chat and have fun, but when he isn’t doing that, he enjoys lying on his bed and listening to music. When asked if he thought the students were welcoming so far, he said, “A lot of students welcomed me during the first days of school and came to speak with me and ask me questions about Italy. I am always happy to know new people and speak with them.” He also feels the community has been very welcoming too. One of the biggest differences between here and home is that besides the food is the school system. According to Giacomo, “American high schools are just like the ones you see in the movies: lockers, cheerleaders, football players, groups of people sitting always at the same tables, and before coming here, I thought that was a cliché.” In Italy he said that school and sports are two completely different environments which have nothing to do with each other. One thing Jacksonville has that is different in Italy is that according to Giacomo the “supermarkets here in America are double those in Italy; for example, we can’t choose among 20 different kinds of Oreos in Italy!” All jokes aside, he said one thing that was very impressive to him is the American patriotism and how Americans stand up every day to say the “Pledge of Allegiance” or sing the national anthem at sporting events. His biggest adjustment so far would have to be “not only adapting to a new, totally different culture but also using a different language and attending all classes in English.” He feels that at first it was difficult but now he feels he is getting used to it. Giacomo will be staying here for ten months,leaving at the end of May or the beginning June. So far he says it has been a great experience, and he hopes it will continue like this! The community and students of Jacksonville hope you have a fantastic rest of the year!