Maristella Gullo, business administration senior, will be at OCU for the semester as an exchange student.
Q: Where are you from?
A: São Paulo, Brazil. My university there has a Methodist exchange program. I had other options, but I picked this one for several reasons. They require an English proficiency test, and the points required to come here were much higher than the other choices. I figured that meant they were high quality. Then, I started researching and decided this was the place for me.
Q: How many languages do you speak?
A: Fluently, two. I’m a double-citizen, so I’m Italian also. I have Portuguese, English, and a little Italian. Of course, I have a little Spanish too.
Q: What is your least favorite part about English?
A: Present-perfect.
Q: What is your favorite part about English?
A: It’s easy. Chairs aren’t feminine. They’re just chairs. A friend is a friend. You don’t have to distinguish gender.
Q: What was the first thing you did in the U.S.?
A: I went shopping at Wal-Mart. I had to buy soap and things. I didn’t have bedsheets. This Wal-Mart is better than the one in Brazil, believe it or not.
Q: What is the weirdest thing that’s happened to you at OCU so far?
A: Yesterday, I was misunderstood very badly. I’m in OCUPella, and during solo auditions, one of the boys sang. They asked for comments, and I said, “He tried.” They all laughed and were shocked, but I didn’t mean to be rude. I can’t express myself very well here.
Q: Describe your ideal night on the town.
A: I like everything. I like partying. We haven’t had that much. Here, you have that dry thing.
Q: What is your ultimate life dream?
A: In business, my biggest dream is to do something related to arts. Actually, I’d love to be a television actress in the Brazilian soap operas. That’s a long way from my reality. We don’t have that many arts in Brazil, so I couldn’t go that path with a major. I chose physical education as my practical major there because I played tennis professionally, but at the same time, I was taking professional acting classes. Sports connect to the arts because we get to know our bodies. I would have loved to be in the Vampire Diaries. I’d do anything. Ideally, I’d be the protagonist in a very famous television show that inspires people.
Q: What is a skill you wish you had?
A: I’d like to read people’s minds.
Q: What is your most pointless special skill?
A: (after a solid 5 minutes of thought) I can move my ears!
Q: What is something few people know about you?
A: I cry like a baby. I’m very sensitive, and if I see a choir of children or something, I’ll just fall apart. Sometimes when I go to mass – I’m Catholic – I start crying in the middle of it. I don’t let anyone see that though.
Q: Describe your family in three words that start with R.
A: Can I use Portuguese? Retardos, like they’re crazy, reliable, and… REALLY crazy?
Q: If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: “The Wizard and I” from Wicked.
If you would like to suggest someone for the next Feature Friday, comment below.
Just loved ir, Maris!