Charlie Hoodjer wondered whether she would ever make it to Italy.

The Waverly-Shell Rock student from Clarksville was supposed to spend her senior year in Italy as an exchange student this year, but a miscommunication about her required visa from the Italian consulate put her plans on hold.

Once the problem was identified, Charlie and her family rushed the required materials to Chicago to complete her visa application.

“Hopefully they’ll rush it back, and I’ll get my visa soon,” she said Aug. 31. “Because as soon as I get my visa, I can leave. I just can’t leave without it.”

After a couple more hiccups in the process, Charlie did get her visa, and she left for Italy on Friday, Sept. 5, to spend the school year in Bari. She referred to the well-known boot shape of the country, noting th

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