A few months ago, Lorenzo Venturelli started making content on TikTok about the discoveries he was making about Chilean culture and the distinctions he perceived from his country of origin, Italy. He hasn’t stopped since, which has led him to cultivate a connection with the Chilean audience that follows him on the platform.
In these days of June when the cold is already felt, the Italian student Lorenzo Venturelli (23) A slightly bittersweet feeling came over him. He lives his last weeks in Chile, of which he feels a little sorry. But at the same time, he feels grateful for everything he’s been through from March to now.
What he liked the most in the country, by far, were the people told Lorenzo to The third . Those he met, those who helped him explore new experiences and those who comment on his videos on a daily basis. It is this close relationship with people that you will miss the most when you leave the country.
In the last three months, the traveler has dedicated himself to addressing some of the cultural differences he has identified between Chile and his native Italy, the curiosities that have caught his attention during his stay in our country, the anecdotes or just humor.
All these topics are related in brief notices that he publishes on his TikTok account. Nothing is going well for him: most of his videos have gone viral with this speed so typical of social networks.
In some, he is seen trying the delicacy for the first time, explaining the distinctions between Chilean and Italian pizza, and in another, he recounts how adrenaline-pumping it is to travel on the buses of Viña del Mar. .
Today, Lorenzo is very recognized on the Chinese platform: he has more than 85,000 followers and 6.3 million like in your videos. His connection with the Chilean public has reached the point where almost all the comments he receives on TikTok come from this particular group. They laugh with your videos, they recommend the foods you should try or visit and they also explain in detail some things about the Chilean culture.
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The arrival of the Italian tiktoker in Chile
Lorenzo is a fashion design student at the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy. She says she always wanted the experience of studying in Latin America, so when she saw the opportunity to do an international exchange, she didn’t hesitate and chose Chile. His new home of study for a few months would be the Catholic University.
“I met Chileans through social networks and they told me a bit about the country,” says Lorenzo. His arrival was in February. The first few weeks were the most difficult to manage, especially because of the sudden change, but then he gradually got used to it.
It also took him some time to adjust to Santiago due to his size, as he had never lived in such a big city: “This type of city and atmosphere does not exist in Italy, there are no such large metropolises” .
Until the end of March, he was encouraged by his first video on Chile. The theme? To say that he could speak Spanish, until he heard the Chileans speaking. Now that tiktok has 2 million views. From there, he kept making content about new national discoveries he came across.
Upon arriving in the country, the university student knew very few people. This is also partly what motivated him to create content: “I wanted to be able to talk to more Chileans because I came here alone. It helped me, it made me meet people and I really like it” .
“The first days it was a bit like a game, because I didn’t imagine having such a success with the videos, so I just uploaded them,” Lorenzo recalls.
“I started making more specific videos about the differences between Chile and Italy or about things that I found interesting about Chile, from a foreigner’s point of view, because I felt that Chileans would be interested in seeing how a foreigner perceives their country.”
Regarding the above, the young man recalls that, whether on social networks or at his university, a recurring question that has appeared is “Hey, how did you perceive the Chileans?” Lorenzo responds to this great stranger whom he considers friendly, party girl and available, he says in one of his videos.
There is a cultural difference that Lorenzo felt more deeply: “In Europe, we don’t like each other as much as they do here in Chile. Here, it is much more idealized than in Europe itself” .
And it is that some people found it strange that he voluntarily decided to leave Italy for a few months, and even Chilean Internet users told him something even more curious: that if they were foreigners they would not would ever visit this country.
After more than three months of living in these lands, it is clear what his favorite idiom is: hid. “I really like it because I started using it every day. I figured out how to use it the right way in sentences” comment.
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Since he has dedicated himself to trying various foods or typical products, he does not hesitate to make known his favorite dish. Oddly enough, it is full Italian, one of the most popular and versatile preparations in the national cuisine.
“I didn’t like anything with sauces and I didn’t like hot dogs. I was shocked that I liked it so much because I didn’t expect it, it wasn’t my taste. Here, I rather adored the integral “, says the young man while laughing.
The relationship that Lorenzo has created with part of the Chilean public on TikTok is strong. There are days when he walked down the street and they stopped him to greet him very closely or ask for photos, even of older people who watched his videos on the social network.
“I didn’t expect it, it’s something super cute. When they talk to me or say something to me, I feel like I know them,” he says.
return to Italy
The stay of the Italian tiktoker is already in its final stretch. As soon as his university semester ends in July, he plans to tour the Atacama Desert and the south of the country, and then return to Europe. There he will resume his studies at the Polytechnic of Milan and complete his thesis.
“I miss my friends and family, but I’ve gotten so used to life here. Knowing that I have to leave Chile already makes me very sad. I think yes or yes I will come back. Also, if I think of the people who have received me so well here and those who listen to me on social networks, it makes me even sadder, because I will not have the opportunity to speak to them. he.
His words are due to the fact that it is possible that the algorithm of the social network will change when moving to another country. “Maybe a way will be found,” he said hopefully.
Then he concludes: “I hope to have the chance to continue talking with the Chileans, because they have given me a lot of affection. Thank you for listening, I really appreciate it.” In the end, everything will depend on the TikTok algorithm to stay connected with users who faithfully follow their videos.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
