Ciao a tutti!
My name is Leonardo, and I will be one of your Italian FLAs for the academic year 2022/2023.
I was born 23 years ago in Florence, even though I currently live in a smaller city called Pistoia, which is only a 30 minute train ride from the most beautiful city in the world (I might be biased towards that). Studying foreign languages is one of my biggest passions, and I have dedicated most of my high school and university years to learning German, Russian, English and French.
I’m a very sociable person, and I love meeting new people, hanging out with friends at the pub and going to concerts. I do enjoy spending some alone time too, such as reading a nice book, cooking and hiking. Music occupies a consistent part of my free time, as I love playing records and jamming with my acoustic guitar, although my self-taught guitar skills are quite sloppy if I have to be honest. Travelling is another favorite activity of mine, fuelled by my curiosity and my passion for art and architecture. Whether it be a day trip in the Tuscan hills or a longer stay in a distant country, I’m simply enamored with the act of discovering new places and people. I feel that every single place I’ve stumbled upon and every encounter I’ve made over the years have enriched me beyond words.
When it comes to sports, I enjoy the occasional run and playing soccer with my friends, but I’m willing to discover the traditional sports of the States too!
This is not the first time that I’ve lived abroad. Three years ago I spent nine months in England at the University of Birmingham during my third year of university, and I also lived in France. My study abroad experience was a blast, and it has taught me so many things. I’m sure that these months at Holy Cross will be just as life-changing, and I’m looking forward to this challenging, enriching experience.
I’m currently attending a Master in English language and literature at the University of Florence, and I’m looking to become a language teacher. If there’s something that I love more than learning languages, it would have to be sharing that knowledge with others. What’s beautiful about foreign languages is that you get to create connections with people and discover a different culture, all while having fun in the process. I can’t wait to help you achieve all this! I’m very excited to get to know all of you and start exploring together my native language, Italian.
Take care, a presto!
Leonardo