Our cultural exchange participant in Italy, Jelena, writes to us from Porto San Giorgio, where she spent a month and a half. Read more about her experience below.
There’s no need to rush anything. After three months and three different families, I finally found the one that felt like the right fit. Everything happened so quickly—within about ten days, I was ready to go. The family couldn’t have been better, and after just two days, it already felt like we’d known each other forever. I spent an incredible month and a half on the Adriatic coast, discovered a whole new world, and experienced some truly amazing changes.
Porto San Giorgio is located on Italy’s Adriatic coast. One of its most famous landmarks is Rocca Tiepolo, a fortress built back in the 13th century, offering a stunning view of the city and the sea. It’s also a popular spot for both tourists and locals, thanks to its Blue Flag beaches.
Another interesting place in this little town is Villa Bonaparte, once the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, the older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. I originally signed up for this adventure to practice the language, but in the end, I realized that the most important part of the whole experience is the people you meet.
To future participants, she says:
Taking care of two small children is a demanding and exhausting job, and if you’re thinking of applying for this program, you really need to consider whether you’re aware of all the responsibilities that come with it. For me, this experience came at exactly the right time. If you’ve never looked after kids before, I promise you—by the end of this program, your confidence, sense of security, and responsibility will all be on a whole new level.
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