A Term to Remember: Francesca’s Reflections

I’m Francesca Bucciero, and I have been the Italian Language Assistant at Mazenod College throughout Term 3. I had the opportunity to work alongside Mrs Raschella and Ms Aguilar, who welcomed me from the very beginning as though I had been part of the staff for a long time. I would like to reflect on my experience at Mazenod College and more broadly, on the journey I have undertaken during my time in Australia.

I had always seen Australia as a distant, almost unreachable country. I never imagined I would spend two months of my life here, let alone work as an Italian Language Assistant in an Australian school. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and happy to have shared the journey with such special people: my host family, the Cramptons, Mrs Raschella and Ms Aguilar, the staff and students at Mazenod College, the other Italian Language Assistants and everyone I have met during my stay.

This experience has been incredibly valuable for my personal and professional growth. It gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and try something new. I experienced a way of studying and teaching very different from the one I had known. Day after day, I learned more about Australian culture, both at school and in everyday life.

Living with a local family for two months made that possible. I came to understand your habits, ways of thinking and traditions because I was able to experience them every day. It meant stepping outside my usual routine and comfort zone and adapting to a different way of life. For me, that was truly wonderful.

Teaching twenty hours a week gave my time here two distinct parts. I spent my mornings at school as a teacher and a cultural resource for students and staff. In the afternoons and on weekends, I was a tourist and traveller, curious and excited to discover everything the “Land Down Under” had to offer.

I made the most of every free moment to explore Australia. With my host family, I travelled around the south-west, visiting Busselton, Margaret River, Dunsborough and Albany. I spent four wonderful days in Sydney with the other Italian Language Assistants and visited Lancelin, the Pinnacles Desert and Jurien Bay. Of course, I could not leave without exploring Perth and experiencing as much of the city as I could.

I will carry this experience in my heart forever. It has helped me grow and changed the way I see what is possible for my life. It has inspired me to travel more, spend time in new places and discover what I am capable of. Some of the things I once thought were my limits, have turned out to be challenges I have the skills and strength to face. I feel encouraged to discover new cultures and traditions, explore countries that might one day feel like home and meet people who might become a second family.

Most importantly, this experience has opened my mind to personal and professional possibilities I had never considered before.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed me so warmly, made me feel comfortable from the beginning and supported me throughout this journey.

I hope everyone has the opportunity, at least once in their life, to experience something like this: to step outside their comfort zone, discover something new, meet wonderful people and enjoy every moment.

Thank you all.

With love,

Francesca