Former foreign exchange student Gabriele Trevisan, left, and host Lee Stocking enjoy a week of activities during a recent reunion. (Reporter photo)

MENDOTA – It was only two years ago that Gabriele Trevisan came to stay with Lee and Pat Stocking of Mendota as part of a foreign exchange program, but already he has been missing Mendota.

Gabriele lives over 4,000 miles away in a small town in southern Italy with a population less than 3,000. He originally was just looking for an opportunity to visit the United States when he stumbled upon the same foreign exchange program that Lee and Pat Stocking were using to find a student.

In August 2015, Gabriele arrived in Mendota and enrolled in Mendota High School. While he was here, he made friends, traveled with Lee and Pat, and improved on speaking English.

Trevisan returned home in May of 2016 and completed his last year of high school.

Now 19, he is getting ready to start college life. He is enrolled in a renowned private university in Milan where he plans to study business and economics.

But prior to his first day of class, he has returned to Mendota to visit his former host parents. “It feels like I am back home,” he said.

Gabriele missed Mendota, his host parents and the many places they traveled together. During this visit, the Stockings took Gabriele to the Amish town of Arthur, to visit his former Mendota High School teachers, and planned some cookouts with friends.

Gabriele especially liked the cookouts. “It’s a good American tradition,” he said.

Gabriele showed off his cooking talents, too, and made tiramisu for Lee and Pat. “My mother taught me how to make it,” he added.

Gabriele also recalled all of the experiences from his first stay in Mendota – attending MHS, going to the Sweet Corn Festival and Tri-County Fair, and traveling to Las Vegas, Mount Rushmore, and Mall of America.

“We have tried to take each of the kids [exchange students] somewhere,” said Pat.

The Stockings began hosting students in 2010 and have since welcomed 5 young men into their home. “I like to host young men because I think they will bond better with Lee, but I actually think they bond more with me,” she added.

This past winter, Lee and Pat visited Gabriele in his hometown and met his parents. “My parents liked them. Lee and Pat liked everything my mother cooked and that made her feel like a chef,” Gabriele said.

“She is a very good cook and was always making food. I liked that because I like to eat,” joked Lee.

Gabriele also took Lee and Pat to his school where his classmates were excited to meet them. Although he commented that they noticed Lee was wearing shorts when they thought it was too cold. “It was 55 degrees outside. It was beautiful,” interjected Lee.

“It has been fun to host the students here, but then also be able to go and visit them in their country,” commented Pat.

Gabriele’s recent visit to the United States also included a trip to Seattle for a reunion with another exchange student he met while here two years ago. From there, he will return to Italy.

Gabiele would like to one day finish his education in the United States, perhaps at Northern Illinois University. Pat reminded him he has to take one year at a time and see where it leads him.

In the meantime, the three of them will keep in touch through Skype.

Through the years, the Stockings have kept in touch with each of the young men they have hosted. “It is interesting. We get to host these young men, and then get to see them become young adults,” said Pat.

“This experience definitely helps you grow. You get to see and experience so many things. It was really a good experience,” reflected Gabriele.

His return visit was another memorable experience for Gabriele and tightened the bond between him and his former host parents. And although Lee wanted to take Gabriele skydiving, Pat said, “maybe next time.”