Our program participant Gorana writes to us from Perugia, a historic Italian city where she’s been staying for a full month. Before setting off on this adventure, she had envisioned exactly what it would look like—and so far, her expectations have matched reality. The only thing she truly wished for was a warm welcome from her host family, and that’s exactly what she received.
The family hosting me met my expectations and gave me the kind of warm welcome I was hoping for. Italians aren’t big on over-explaining things, so I ended up settling into their daily routine pretty spontaneously—it wasn’t a step-by-step guide, more like a natural flow. I’m living with a single mom and her ten-year-old child, which brings some added responsibilities since there’s only one parent, but everything is well-organized and manageable.
Gorana describes Italians as laid-back and easygoing, often approaching life with a slower pace—which means things often get handled on the go. As for Perugia, she says it’s a city steeped in art and beauty.
Perugia is a medieval town—perfect for anyone who doesn’t enjoy the rush of big cities. It’s small, cozy, and full of charm. I still have two months ahead of me, and I plan to make the most of every day by diving deeper into Italian culture, language, and everyday life.
To anyone considering this experience, she offers a thoughtful piece of advice:
Along with the adventure and excitement, be ready to adapt and take on a good amount of responsibility.
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