Exchange student shares taste of Italy with family, friends
Last summer, before she came to America, Anna Del Magno's father told her, “I have to teach you to cook, because you are Italian, and when you get there, they will ask you to cook.”
“And they did,” says Anna with a smile.
Anna is an exchange student from Udine, Italy, living with a host family in Inverness while she attends Fremd High School. Anna is a senior here, but will have another year of high school when she returns home. High school is five years in Italy. She is enjoying her experience very much.
“A friend of mine (from Italy) went to Canada and told me how awesome the experience was,” she says, explaining why she wanted to be an exchange student. Anna came to the country through the International Rotary foreign exchange student program, a worldwide organization dedicated to promoting global understanding. There are currently more than 8,000 students in the program. Initially, she planned to spend a semester in the United States and one in Australia, but decided an entire year in one country would be better for learning the language and experiencing the culture.
“This way I can have the whole experience,” she said. Anna is on the Fremd Lacrosse team and is looking forward to going to prom next month.
“I like the fact that people from the United States are not judgmental. I mean, it's not a big deal to go to school with no makeup, in sports pants and flip-flops.”
The dish Anna first cooked for her host family was Pasta all' Amatriciana, a pasta dish with bacon, tomatoes, onions and parmesan cheese. The Del Magno family lives in northern Italy where the regional food is influenced by their Austrian neighbors, but Anna has had food from all over Italy. According to Anna, there is a difference between the north and south of Italy and it is not just with food.
“Northern Italy is busier, and the people like to be on time,” she says, while “southern Italy is more leisurely. It is from southern Italy that Americans get their conception of Italian food. Though there are Italian dishes that Anna had never seen before she came to the United States.
“Americans have this 'Alfredo' sauce I never heard of before coming here, but I like it! And meatballs, we have them, but they are not super popular as here.” Unfortunately, there are two other differences between Italian and American-Italian food.
“The pizza here is cheesier and more oily, and some of the pasta is mushy!” Annie does like quick American lunches.
“You can just grab a snack and don't have to gather together with the family,” she said.
Anna's father, who does most of the cooking at home, is originally from Rome. He taught Anna how to make lasagna, chicken and several sauces for pasta. She also enjoys making desserts like cheesecakes.
“I like making things you don't have to bake,” she says, “but I do like to bake muffins. Cooking makes me feel satisfied if it turns out good, and depressed if it doesn't. I will think, 'I'm done with this! I'm rubbish!'” She laughs.
One drawback to her stay here, she did not go home for Christmas. On Christmas Day, her family traditionally enjoys homemade tortellini in chicken broth, and her aunt makes little fried artichokes. On New Year's her family usually has roast lamb. Anna's host family, however, did much to make the holiday special for her.
“I love my host family. They really make me feel like I am part of the family and treat me like their own daughter. We've created such a strong bond that I call them mom and dad.”
Anna will return to Italy in July after a trip to the west coast.
“I am going to miss this all so much when I go back home. Everything — from my host family, to my friends, to my lacrosse team, to the rotary club.”
Her father will be pleased to know she has shared two of his special pasta sauces with us today. Even in Italy, father knows best.
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