Valentina Arditi Rocha:
Est. 2000
Something that is unique about me is that I've been to many places and have moved a lot around the world. You would be surprised right now if I told you... "I escaped from an actual war." My life so far has been filled with many different cultures, memories, wishes, and exciting stories to tell. Something I love to share about is the places that I have been and the things I have seen. Where did it all begin?
I lived seven years in Miami from the day that I was born. But in 2007, my family ended up moving to a different place, a place that was much different than the United States. A place where there was a different culture, a different language was spoken and also a different lifestyle. My first move was to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Yes, it was different, but I was too young to understand this significant change that there was between my new home from my hometown. I was there for about two years and left in 2009. Abu Dhabi was different but exciting. The language there was tough to understand, don't think Arabic is easy to understand, but it's beautiful to hear. Over in the United Arab Emirates, I learned a lot about the Muslim culture, the mosques, the different food, customs and more. I even learned how to write my name in Arabic at school. The school I attended was ACS, The American Community School of Abu Dhabi, where I started second grade and finished half of fourth grade, leaving in December of 2009. I left Abu Dhabi learning a new language and even doing my first communion there. Next stop was Libya, the roughest place I have lived in so far. I only lived here for one year, due to the uprising of the Libyan civil war in 2011. I attended AST, the American School of Tripoli, going into the middle of 4th grade and evacuation the country midway through the second semester of 5th grade there. Libya was different; it wasn't Abu Dhabi. The language was the same, the religion was the same, but it was still different. Tripoli was more rural from the UAE; there were no movie theaters, no malls, and no big supermarkets. I met the most amazing people here, including people who lived around me. But the move was hard. I still remember that day, that one afternoon, where I came home from school to my mom saying we were flying to Portugal that night and that I needed to pack my bags with the most important things that I would like to keep. Since that day, I never went back. I remember the news before that; there were uprisings in the countries next to Libya, such as Tunisia and Egypt. I left my house full, and had to leave my dog and my dad behind at that moment. They later were able to get on an emergency plane to Malta, the nearest island from Libya in the Mediterranean. After two months of worry, my family then decided to move back to Miami, our home. Here is where I graduated from elementary school and finished the last of my 5th-grade year.
Peru, that was where we ended up. I have lived in Peru for six years, where I spent all my middle school and almost my high school years at the American School of Lima, Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Living in Peru gave me the advantage of seeing new places that make the country famous, such as Machu Picchu, Iquitos (the Jungle), La Cantuta, Cajamarca, Paracas, and more. Also, let's not forget the food here, I have to say that the traditional food offered here has been the best thing that I have tasted in my life. (If you ever come to Peru, I recommend the Ceviche Classico, Picarones (dessert) and the Lomo Saltado. They are my favorite Peruvian dishes). Living here for six years allowed me to make lots of connections with my friends and also take many opportunities that the school offered. Some of these activities that I did were participating in GIN Conference in Argentina, going to SAAC Soccer in Argentina, being a part of the Volleyball JV team and the Soccer Varsity team, participating in the Clima conference, being an ambassador for SAAC Arts at FDR, and more. There are so many memories made and so many memories to still create with the time I have left here. This being my last year in Peru and moving during my senior will be a tough challenge, but I am ready for change, and I am prepared to go back home and meet new people.
I am someone who is very passionate, creative, observant, kind, carrying, fun, and friendly. These are some words that I have heard people say that I represent. I am that type of person who loves to explore and be curious about new things. For me, I love to learn new things and meet new people. Traveling has to be my favorite thing of all, I love to explore the world and make albums of all the pictures I have taken from all around the world. I also really like photography. Once in a while, I will pick up a camera and take photos of anything that I find insight that is worth taking a picture. Whether it's taking a picture of my friends, taking pictures of landscapes, taking pictures of my dogs, or taking pictures for my Art class, it all entertains me, and I feel very interested in it. (Throughout my website, you will come across many images that have been taken by me). That brings me to my other point, Art. Art has got to be my favorite class out of all the classes that I have taken in my entire life. I have attended art class since the age of 8, where I have worked with various types of media and art techniques. It is my best class so far, and to me, Art relaxes me. It makes me feel calm, and it takes all my stress away. It's a gift that all my family has; I can say that my family and I are very artistic and have a creative mind.
So there you have it, this is me. This is Valentina Arditi Rocha, and I am glad I could share my story with you.
I lived seven years in Miami from the day that I was born. But in 2007, my family ended up moving to a different place, a place that was much different than the United States. A place where there was a different culture, a different language was spoken and also a different lifestyle. My first move was to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Yes, it was different, but I was too young to understand this significant change that there was between my new home from my hometown. I was there for about two years and left in 2009. Abu Dhabi was different but exciting. The language there was tough to understand, don't think Arabic is easy to understand, but it's beautiful to hear. Over in the United Arab Emirates, I learned a lot about the Muslim culture, the mosques, the different food, customs and more. I even learned how to write my name in Arabic at school. The school I attended was ACS, The American Community School of Abu Dhabi, where I started second grade and finished half of fourth grade, leaving in December of 2009. I left Abu Dhabi learning a new language and even doing my first communion there. Next stop was Libya, the roughest place I have lived in so far. I only lived here for one year, due to the uprising of the Libyan civil war in 2011. I attended AST, the American School of Tripoli, going into the middle of 4th grade and evacuation the country midway through the second semester of 5th grade there. Libya was different; it wasn't Abu Dhabi. The language was the same, the religion was the same, but it was still different. Tripoli was more rural from the UAE; there were no movie theaters, no malls, and no big supermarkets. I met the most amazing people here, including people who lived around me. But the move was hard. I still remember that day, that one afternoon, where I came home from school to my mom saying we were flying to Portugal that night and that I needed to pack my bags with the most important things that I would like to keep. Since that day, I never went back. I remember the news before that; there were uprisings in the countries next to Libya, such as Tunisia and Egypt. I left my house full, and had to leave my dog and my dad behind at that moment. They later were able to get on an emergency plane to Malta, the nearest island from Libya in the Mediterranean. After two months of worry, my family then decided to move back to Miami, our home. Here is where I graduated from elementary school and finished the last of my 5th-grade year.
Peru, that was where we ended up. I have lived in Peru for six years, where I spent all my middle school and almost my high school years at the American School of Lima, Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Living in Peru gave me the advantage of seeing new places that make the country famous, such as Machu Picchu, Iquitos (the Jungle), La Cantuta, Cajamarca, Paracas, and more. Also, let's not forget the food here, I have to say that the traditional food offered here has been the best thing that I have tasted in my life. (If you ever come to Peru, I recommend the Ceviche Classico, Picarones (dessert) and the Lomo Saltado. They are my favorite Peruvian dishes). Living here for six years allowed me to make lots of connections with my friends and also take many opportunities that the school offered. Some of these activities that I did were participating in GIN Conference in Argentina, going to SAAC Soccer in Argentina, being a part of the Volleyball JV team and the Soccer Varsity team, participating in the Clima conference, being an ambassador for SAAC Arts at FDR, and more. There are so many memories made and so many memories to still create with the time I have left here. This being my last year in Peru and moving during my senior will be a tough challenge, but I am ready for change, and I am prepared to go back home and meet new people.
I am someone who is very passionate, creative, observant, kind, carrying, fun, and friendly. These are some words that I have heard people say that I represent. I am that type of person who loves to explore and be curious about new things. For me, I love to learn new things and meet new people. Traveling has to be my favorite thing of all, I love to explore the world and make albums of all the pictures I have taken from all around the world. I also really like photography. Once in a while, I will pick up a camera and take photos of anything that I find insight that is worth taking a picture. Whether it's taking a picture of my friends, taking pictures of landscapes, taking pictures of my dogs, or taking pictures for my Art class, it all entertains me, and I feel very interested in it. (Throughout my website, you will come across many images that have been taken by me). That brings me to my other point, Art. Art has got to be my favorite class out of all the classes that I have taken in my entire life. I have attended art class since the age of 8, where I have worked with various types of media and art techniques. It is my best class so far, and to me, Art relaxes me. It makes me feel calm, and it takes all my stress away. It's a gift that all my family has; I can say that my family and I are very artistic and have a creative mind.
So there you have it, this is me. This is Valentina Arditi Rocha, and I am glad I could share my story with you.