Anita, one of our cultural exchange participants, shares her story from Italy. Here’s what she had to say:
Visiting Italy had been sitting on my bucket list for quite a while, and this summer, the opportunity finally presented itself. It all happened very spontaneously—one evening, a friend of mine signed me up for the program on a whim. At first, it all seemed a bit surreal. Then came the interview with the host family and, just like that, there I was packing my suitcase for nearly three months in Italy.
She absolutely loved her new home-town and daily life:
The town I stayed in was Vieste—a small, cozy place filled with warm, kind-hearted people. My main tasks were speaking English with the children and organizing fun little lessons. The rest of the time? Think endless swimming, sunbathing, sandcastle building, beach games, and rounds of table football. We spent most of our days at the beach, which—believe me—was far from a chore. During my free time, I explored the town, tried out all kinds of pizza and gelato flavors, picked up some new Italian phrases, and met lots of new people. One of the best parts of my stay was the friendship I built with Vera, another participant in the program. Together, we explored Vieste and even found our favorite little hangout spot.
This was more than just a summer trip for her:
This journey wasn’t just about sunshine and good food—it pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me discover more about myself, and taught me how to adapt to a new environment. So, on the way home, I packed up a couple of postcards, a few fridge magnets, and—most importantly—an experience I’ll never forget.
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