“My whole life was one big trip.” Those were the words Pascack Valley Italian teacher Angie DeLima used when describing her life and travels.
DeLima grew up in a diverse family, so she was in a mix of cultures from both sides.
“I was born in Venezuela and moved to Miami when I was five,” DeLima said.
While studying abroad in Italy, DeLima fell in love with the country and met her future husband. DeLima stayed in Italy for 13 years before she and her husband decided that they wanted to travel more, leading them to live in Dubai for three years.
DeLima eventually returned to America with her family to live out the “American dream.”
She believes that knowing English and Italian made it easier for her to adapt to life in Italy and helped her get jobs.
“[Knowing another language] opens so many doors for me,” DeLima said. “…I had less experience [when applying for some jobs] but because I knew another language I was the one that was hired.”
While living and traveling throughout various countries, certain aspects of culture differ, whether it’s America, Italy, or the Middle East.
“Everything, from what you eat to how you dress [differs],” DeLime said. “I would never wear pajamas in public in Italy…things are a little bit more formal. In Dubai, it was a more conservative culture, you had to dress a bit more conservatively.”
DeLima hopes to continue to travel the world and looks forward to creating more memories and learning more about different cultures.
