Monday, February 21, 2022 My First Week at CCI
By Kazia Yazdani
Moving alone across the world can be scary for obvious reasons; not being able to see my family and friends everyday and entering an alien and exotic new environment. Certainly, there are many culture shocks I experienced in that first week I arrived in Lanciano. Italians have a great unappreciation for public restrooms, cities suddenly seem like ghost towns due to the daily “riposo”, and stores being closed all day on Sundays. The tranquility of Lanciano and the hospitality of its students and staff at CCI have made my adventure a lot less overwhelming.
The small and highly engaging classes made me, a student with ADHD and anxiety who always found doing schoolwork at home so much easier, have a completely different perspective towards what learning in a classroom meant. I now wake up excited at the fact that I can go to school every day, rather than dreading it. The many clubs and activities that cater to the diverse interests of students ensure there is never a dull moment; debate, Dungeons and Dragons, art, yoga, cycling, skiing and snowboarding. The list goes on. My motivation has increased dramatically because there is something to look forward to every day.
So far, being able to experience my new-found independence and a new environment and culture, alongside a mandala of people with drastically different backgrounds has been the best thing to ever happen to me. My moods have steadied, my stress levels have decreased, and my concentration has improved. In the rare case that something has gone wrong, there has always been support coming from every direction.
I have yet to experience a trip away from Lanciano with the school, but from what I have heard of them I am optimistic that they will be just as much fun as my first week here has been.
My heart is overflowing with gratitude for everyone who has helped me get to this point in my life like my parents and to those currently making this new chapter so fabulous. I am ecstatic for what is to come in the next few months and being able to get to know my new family on deeper levels. It can only go up from here!
