Lucia Vecchio—in Italian "Lucia" means light, and there is no better way to describe my dear friend than that.
Lucia is originally from San Diego and is an acting major here at Ithaca College. Recently, I got the opportunity to sit down and talk to her (under a light post on the quad around 9:00 p.m. like usual) about how San Diego and Ithaca compare and what she misses about her home state of California.
Lucia is from an area in San Diego called Encinitas. As clichéd as it is, Lucia describes her town as a beach town, fully relying on the outdoors. And many of the activities that the citizens participate in revolve around the outdoors.
Growing up, many teens would have beach bonfires and birthdays on the beach. Many of the neighborhoods in San Diego are tight knit communities. Lucia describes it as "populated." There were many different people going in many different directions, doing a lot of different things. It was chaotic and from the tone of her voice, Lucia misses that. She describes the people as open and friendly. San Diego is known for having an amazing school system with a wide array of private schools and charter schools.
“It is very similar to Ithaca,” Lucia explains. She went to an arts-heavy high school with many free spirits and a very supportive atmosphere, “We had a principal for four years, who literally looks like a JC Penny model with his smile, and he would high-five you in the hallways. And we had this guy Hector who rode in a golf cart and he was the custodian and he would yell to you and he’d be like, ‘Hola amigos!’ and we’d be like, ‘Hola Hector!'”
Her high school was about 25 minutes south of her home and that culture was very different. She expresses how wealthy people in that area were, with big mansions and ranches scattering the countryside. She relates some frustration (as much as Lucia can express frustration) about how wealthy that area was, “People there were a little more pretentious and had big mansions and stables.” It was a bit frustrating for her when everyone would bring in very expensive things for projects.
Lucia says she likes being more inland here and being closer to hiking trails. She loves being connected with the earth and the gorges in a slightly different way than in San Diego. She loves the outdoorsy orientation of Ithaca. In Ithaca there is more diversity within socioeconomic class.
The air is different on the coast, though. It is refreshing. She misses the shops, walking on the beach, the feel of the water and the quirky shops. The weather is usually one temperature, and Lucia has never been through a winter, so she will have many people rallying around her.
In general, you can tell Lucia is from California. The acceptance that radiates from her body is amazing. She is the girl that finds gratitude in everything, even the bad things. She is probably the most supportive individual I have ever met, the biggest free spirit and the best listener. Those who know her know she’s something special. If you’re ever missing California, you got a whole troop ready to move palm trees for you, babe.
