There’s a new Georgia Rotary Student Program recipient in town, and she intends to make the most out of her time in Rome during her year of study.

Micaela De Freitas — who hails all the way from South Africa — told Rotarians  during their weekly luncheon that she is committed to helping out the organization as much as she can.

De Freitas is a junior who, before coming to the United States, attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, a large, bustling seacoast city in eastern South Africa.

She said her time in Rome so far has been a “bit of a culture shock.”

“It’s very small, but it’s very beautiful,” she said. “Downtown is absolutely gorgeous; it’s like a little Southern movie.”

Back in Durban, De Freitas is majoring in linguistics, English and politics. Beside being a student, she also ran a Rotaract Club that has raised money and helped to repaint a school in neighboring Mozambique.

Rotoract is a Rotary-sponsored organization for young men and women with chapters all over the globe.

Once De Freitas finishes her year of studies at Shorter, she’ll return back home to South Africa where she hopes to pursue a career in international relations “focusing very specifically on development.”

She said she wants to work in “underdeveloped countries focusing on how to use creativity and design method or way to effect change.”

For now, De Freitas is just happy to have been given the opportunity to study at Shorter University.

“I’m grateful for this year and this opportunity to learn about American culture,” she said.

Read more: RN-T.com - 2011 GRSP student Micaela De Freitas speaks to Rome Rotary