For Sequim High School transplant Irene Stello, coming to America as an exchange student is her first big adventure abroad. While Sequim may be considered “a small town” in America, the city in Italy where Stello comes from is smaller.

“When I came here it was a really big shock,” she said. “Everything is really big: cars, streets, food, everything.” Stello is from a small city in Italy near Venice and said the residential areas and downtown center are located close together.