Our cultural exchange participant, Natalija, writes to us from Catania, the industrial and cultural heart of Sicily, located on the island’s eastern coast. She’s been living there for a month and a half. Here’s what she had to say about her experience so far.
The family welcomed me from day one as if I were their daughter, and we quickly built a really lovely relationship. As for Sicily—and Catania itself—everything looks exactly how I imagined it would from photos and postcards: narrow streets, amazing energy, warm people, incredible food, and so much more.
The only downside, which you’ll notice the moment you land at the airport, is that the city is quite dirty—trash on the streets is a real issue—and public transportation is pretty terrible. But, compared to everything else I’ve mentioned, it honestly doesn’t ruin the overall experience.
Since I spend time with the kids from around 3 to 8 p.m., I usually go into the city center in the mornings—when the family heads to work and can give me a lift (because again, public transit isn’t great). In the evenings, I usually meet up with other girls who are also here on exchange or people I’ve met during my stay. On weekends, I try to use my free time to visit nearby towns and explore places I haven’t seen yet.
What do I love the most? Honestly… everything! From the food, the people, and the family who welcomed me so warmly, to the gorgeous beaches and charming Sicilian towns—it’s really hard to pick just one thing! 😍
To future participants, I’d say this:
Go for it! In the long run, no experience like this can be bad. And even if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, you can always go home—so there’s nothing to lose! ❤️
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