Marmion grad experiences different cultures

NORTH AURORA – When Marmion Academy graduate Joe Romanos is at home, it’s not uncommon for him to speak English, Arabic and French in the same conversation.

Romanos already is a world traveler; he studied in France and China before coming to Marmion as a sophomore. The 18-year-old North Aurora resident will use that knowledge as he goes off to Saint Louis University in Missouri to study international relations and international business.

“Studying abroad opens your mind that there are other people out there,” Romanos said. “The most important lesson I learned was in observing people and how they act and how they process things. We’re all human, but we can act different. It helped me to be more analytical.”

Those opportunities came about after his father, George Romanos, was transferred to France and China in his capacity as an engineer with Caterpillar Inc.

He was amazed how well his son was able to adjust after being uprooted from his life in the United States to attend a middle school in France.

“He was 10 when he left the States to learn a new culture and language,” George Romanos said. “I am amazed how my children were receptive to a new life and its challenges.”

The family later moved to China, where Joe Romanos was presented with more challenges. He got used to traveling.

“Now I can’t stand sitting in one place,” he said.

Joe Romanos can carry on a conversation in several languages, including French, Chinese, English and Arabic. He also has been learning Italian. But his favorite language is Arabic, which fits in with the fact that his family is from Lebanon.

“Arabic really stands out in the crowd as a language,” Romanos said. “I feel very proud of my Lebanese heritage.”

He returned to France earlier this year for five weeks and was able to keep up with his work at Marmion through email. Romanos admitted it was a struggle at times.

“Doing AP statistics on your own for five weeks is pretty tough,” he said.

Despite those obstacles, Romanos graduated Sunday with high honors in the top 15 percent of his class.

Romanos also played soccer at Marmion. He made varsity all three years at Marmion and played in China, as well.

He juggled academics and athletics with playing the violin and writing music. He got together with other musician friends and wrote some music for last weekend’s baccalaureate Mass at Marmion.

For Romanos, music is another way of expressing himself.

“Music is just an expression of feelings, of emotion,” he said.

Marmion academic dean Julie Garofalo credited Romanos for getting other students interested in playing music.

“He created opportunities for kids to showcase their talents,” Garofalo said.

She also said Romanos has the ability to bring people together.

“He connects well with people, no matter what their background and heritage,” Garofalo said.

Romanos said he looks forward to more traveling. Saint Louis University offers global programs in which students have the opportunity to study abroad.

“I think all colleges should be open to it,” he said. “You need to experience it. Big companies are expanding internationally.”

This time, Romanos said he hopes to travel to Singapore.

“It is a great business center in the world,” he said.

His mother, Simone Romanos, said she is grateful he has had the chance to experience other cultures.

“I feel the beauty of this world is all the different colors that we are,” she said.