What’s America
BY RAY VAN COR
The Greenville Standard
What is America? A hell of a question to ask, especially with July 4th is right around the corner and we’re celebrating a quarter of millennia, as a nation.
A time for all Americans to celebrate the founding of our great nation and all the freedoms and opportunities that we are afforded and quite often take for granted, the land of milk and honey as they say.
I had the opportunity to meet an incredible young woman who loves the United States and loves the great State of Alabama!
Let me introduce you to the beautiful and talented Ms. Matilde Tricca. A simple chance meeting of this beautiful vibrant young lady, her accent caught my ear, but her story is one that needs to be heard.
Matilde is age 21 and comes to us as an international student from Verona, Italy. She began her travel at 11 studying at Oxford University in London England by herself.
Her family has travelled the world and has been to the United States multiple times and through an international program called Master Studio she was selected to come to Bridgeport, Ala., where she stayed with her host family Neah and Jason Syders.
Mrs. Syders was not only her host parent but her English teacher at North Jackson High School. Matilde said, “It was a lot different coming from Italy to Bridgeport that was in the middle of nowhere. I loved it.”
After graduation she attended the University of Alabama where she earned her bachelor’s degree and now she is at Faulkner College studying Law.
What caught my ear was not just her beautiful lilt but the way she spoke about the United States and the great state of Alabama.
Matilde spoke about the way we show our national pride and how it was different in Italy.
Matilde said, “One of the biggest differences between Italy and Alabama is the sense of openness. In Italy everything has so much history, tradition and structure, which is something I’ll always love because it has been my home. When I came to Alabama I felt like people believed that anything was possible.
“There is a certain optimism here that I found incredibly motivating. Southern hospitality is real! Before moving here, I had heard about it, but didn’t truly understand it until I experienced it myself.
“People smile at strangers, hold doors open, start conversations in line at the grocery store and genuinely want to help. The warmth made me feel welcome from the very beginning even though I was thousands of miles away from my family.
“I appreciate the opportunities that exist here in the United States. I’ve found that people here encourage ambition. When you have a goal whether it’s starting a business, becoming a lawyer or pursuing an unconventional career, people here are more likely to ask. “How can you make it happen?” rather than, “Why would you do that? That mindset has had a huge impact on me!
“Of course, there are things I miss about Italy every day, my family, the food, and the slower pace of life. Italy will always be a part of who I am, but Alabama gave me a second home. It challenged me, helped me grow and gave me opportunities I never imagined.
I’m often asked why I love Alabama so much and my answer is simple; it’s the place where I discovered who I wanted to become. It welcomed me with kindness, gave me opportunities to pursue my dreams, and showed me that home isn’t always where you’re born, it’s where people make you feel like you belong.”
The Greenville Police Department, this past week, was most gracious treating Ms. Matida Tricca to a ride along with officers, something she has always wanted to do.
Matilde plans to become a U.S. Citizen after Law School. America, what a country! Alabama, home sweet home.
