Martina Bernardi: Martina Bernardi is moving back to her home country of Italy after studying in Kansas as part of a foreign exchange program

Growing up in the town of Cremona, Italy, senior Martina Bernardi was always intrigued by the prospect of studying abroad in the United States, describing it as her biggest dream. Once the opportunity came to her two years ago, she knew she had to book a flight.

Bernardi’s best friend had used the Rotary Youth Exchange program to study in France and recommended the program to her. After going through the five-month application process, which included two interviews and a weekend trip in Northern Italy, Bernardi chose the top five countries she wanted to study in: the United States, Canada, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

Last April, Bernardi was notified they’d found a place for her to stay: Kansas City.

Arriving in the Kansas City International Airport, she realized she had taken the excitement of Italian living for granted. Life in Kansas could be boring at times, yet these shortcomings didn’t interfere with her dream, according to Bernardi.

She lived with two host families since the exchange program wanted students to have a complete experience of studying abroad.

Bernardi recalls the school system in Italy is more individualistic than the schools in the United States. School sports don’t exist at her school, there is little to no relationship between the teacher and student and scarce group projects.

“Academics in Italy are way more difficult, but you get less opportunities,” Bernardi said.

Though Bernardi’s a senior at East, she has one more year of high school waiting for her in Italy, since Italian high school is five years long, giving her more time to find a career path she connects with.

Bernardi’s French 3 teacher Gina Baker had a similar experience to Bernardi when she spent time studying abroad in France, relating to what she was experiencing.

“When she first came in she was super excited to be here, but I could see that she was starting to miss home,” Baker said. “I studied abroad and so I understood every day when she’d be a little bit down, I’d always try to pick her up.”

Baker explains that Bernardi inspired her to begin to learn Italian. Now, Baker frequently greets Bernardi with a “Buongiorno” when Bernardi walks into class.

“She’s such a wonderful girl,” Baker said.

Bernardi plans to return to her hometown in Cremona, Italy on May 25.

“I’m so excited. It’s gonna be hard but I’m excited. I need to go,” Bernardi said.