THE ITALIAN HOST FAMILY

You might have an idea of what an Italian family can be, but your expectations can sometimes not correspond to reality (films and television often twist the facts). Their house can be bigger or smaller, situated in a major city or in the countryside in villages of 5/7 thousand inhabitants. Italy spreads on a small territory and everything reflects that characteristic: houses, streets, buildings, distances! Everything is so close to each other!

You will be chosen by an Italian family who has the wish of learning about a different culture, giving the possibility to a young person to live in Italy for some time while attending a local High School. They want to share their daily life with a person who is eager to have an experience in their country, living completely different moments to the usual ones, discovering and experiencing lots and lots of new habits.

Italian families are warm to the person they welcome, and absolutely expect him or her to become part of the family, willing to share any single moment together.

They will love to spend time talking, cooking, visiting interesting places in the surroundings (Italy is full of history and art everywhere), seeing relatives and friends together. It will be more enjoyment for you, as Italian families are very close to their relatives and knowing a family might mean knowing ten people at least at the same time!

The family usually enjoys gathering especially during the meals: it is the moment when they talk about their day, their plans, several facts which make the atmosphere more lively and enjoyable.

Italian parents care about their children a lot and try to prepare their future path as much as they can. Although Italy has become a more open minded country, moral principals and Catholicism are still respected.