Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Try Something Different!

Katarina, one of our cultural exchange participants, sends her warm greetings from sunny Italy. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

Hi everyone, I’m Katarina. Ever since I started learning Italian in high school, I’ve had a deep desire not only to visit this beautiful country but to actually live in it. So when I came across this cultural exchange program on Facebook, I instantly knew it was the perfect chance to experience Italy through the eyes of a true local.

She has become found of smaller Italian towns and discovered their charm:

At first, I imagined myself staying in one of Italy’s bigger cities. But then I got a message from a family living in a small northern town—and that’s how I ended up in Armeno, tucked beneath Mount Mottarone and nestled between two lakes, surrounded by nature more stunning than anything I’d seen before. Despite its peaceful setting, the town is also within reach of several larger cities. The area is known for its wine and cheese, and since the family I stayed with works in that industry, I got to taste some of the very best every single day.

Her family made sure she felt welcomed and comfortable in their home:

The family has two daughters, aged five and one and a half. I won’t lie—keeping up with their energy and getting used to the daily rhythm was tough at first. But after those initial two weeks, everything became much smoother. What helped the most was the great connection I had with the parents, even before arriving, during our Skype calls. They welcomed me like a member of the family and made it easy for me to settle in, learn about their culture and customs, and most importantly, improve my Italian. On my days off, I visited nearby towns and explored beautiful, lesser-known places I likely wouldn’t have discovered on my own. That’s one of the reasons I’m so glad I chose to stay in a smaller place—because I know I’ll always have the chance to visit the famous cities later.

She will forever cherish the memories made during her stay:

You know how they say that if you want to grow and gain new experiences, you need to step out of your comfort zone and try something different? Well, this was exactly that for me—a big adventure I’ll never forget and one I’ll always look back on with a smile.