Meet Eleonora: A Glimpse into Life from Northern Italy

Eleonora Zichi is a high school student from Northern Italy, and she's currently experiencing life in the United States as part of an exchange program. Back home, she lives in a cute town near Turin, surrounded by hills and vineyards. The downtown area is filled with beautiful medieval buildings, and the town comes alive with fairs and festivals throughout the year. One of her favorite things about her hometown is its perfect location; just a couple of hours by car from both the mountains and the sea, making weekend trips easy and fun.

Eleonora Zichi

Eleonora Zichi

Zichi mentions she misses her family and friends. She also misses the Italian slang that just doesn’t translate, especially her favorite word, “boh,” which means “I don’t know” and is used all the time in casual conversation. Zichi speaks Italian fluently and is working hard to improve her English during her time abroad.

A typical day in her hometown looks quite different from school life in the U.S. In Italy, Zichi wakes up at 7 a.m., has breakfast, and heads to school for an 8 a.m. start. School ends at 2 p.m., followed by lunch at home and an afternoon of homework. While there are a few clubs like theater, schools do not offer sports in Italy, so students who want to participate in those activities need to do so outside of school (and usually pay for them). Evenings are reserved for family time. Dinner is around 8 p.m., followed by some TV before going to bed around 11.

One thing Eleonora has noticed since arriving in the U.S. is how different “Italian food” is here. While it’s fun to see American versions of Italian restaurants, she says the food is nothing like what she’s used to at home!

Culture Shocks and New Habits

Living in the U.S. has come with a few surprises. One of the biggest culture shocks for Zichi has been the widespread use of air conditioning. While it exists in Italy, it’s not used nearly as much here, almost every room, shop, and classroom is freezing!

Another habit that stood out to her is how Americans carry giant drinks everywhere they go. It's something she finds funny, though she is  slowly getting used to it.

If there is one tradition from Italy she wishes people here would adopt, it’s saying “buon appetito” before meals, which means “enjoy your meal.” It’s a small gesture, but one that adds a special touch to shared meals.

Back home, Zichi and her classmates celebrate holidays like June 2, which marks the founding of the Italian Republic. School usually runs until mid-June, and the structure is very different from American schools. In Italy, students stay in the same classroom all day while teachers rotate in and out. There’s no cafeteria in her school, so students eat breakfast before school and lunch afterward. Technology is also less common in the classroom, and instead of written tests, many exams are oral—kind of like answering a long-form question out loud!

Food, Family, and Traditions

As expected, Zichi is a big fan of Italian cuisine. She loves pizza and pasta, but her favorite dessert is tiramisu. She also cannot say no to a good gelato! Since coming to the U.S., she has enjoyed trying new foods like hamburgers, fried chicken, barbecue, and sweet treats like pancakes, donuts, and milkshakes.

One of Eleonora’s favorite ways to stay connected to her culture is through cooking. She enjoys making Italian meals for the people she meets, sharing not just her favorite recipes but also a bit of Italian culture. In Italy, meals—especially dinner—are seen as an important time to connect with family and loved ones.

Although she misses Italian restaurants, Eleonora doesn’t feel too far from home, because she can cook most of her favorite dishes herself. Breakfast, however, has been quite the change! In Italy, the perfect morning meal is a cappuccino or espresso paired with a croissant. American breakfasts are much heavier, but she is starting to like them too.

Zichi’s experience is a great reminder of how different—and similar—life can be in other parts of the world. Her story shows that while adjusting to a new culture can be challenging, it is also full of fun, surprises, and opportunities to learn.