Our cultural exchange participant, Elena, who is soon wrapping up her stay, writes to us from Forte dei Marmi—a seaside town in northern Tuscany—where she’s been living for the past month. Read more about her experience below.
The Baglioni family is a very kind and respectful household. From the moment I arrived, the mother made sure I felt comfortable, and I think we’ve gotten along really well.
As for the cities themselves, I have to admit that Forte dei Marmi didn’t quite win me over. It’s a lovely little town, but there isn’t much to see or do. Most of the visitors are families with young children, so there aren’t many people my age or places to go out and socialize.
On the other hand, I loved Cortina. I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Alps, so getting to spend time in that mountain town was special for me. The only downside was that I didn’t have enough time to explore it more thoroughly.
In Forte dei Marmi, I’d often ride my bike into the center or take walks near the beach. In Cortina, I got to take a cable car ride up to the top of the mountain.
And yes—the view from the top of the Alps is just as breathtaking as you’d imagine.
What I loved most about this experience was having to speak Italian every day—it helped improve my language skills. And of course, finally getting to visit the Alps, something I’ve always wanted to do.
To future participants, I’d recommend learning at least the basics of the local language before you go. It’ll make connecting with the kids much easier and help you settle in faster.
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