The Italian exchange
Around this time last year I participated in the school’s Italian exchange. I must admit that I was anxious about going but after the rewarding 9 days I had there, I didn’t want to return home.
It was an early start for everybody on the 8th October 2005; I was up at five o’clock in the morning as our plane was due to leave around 8am from Manchester Airport to Malpensa, Milan in Italy. From there, we all met our eager exchange partners who attended Mosč Bianchi, which was the school that had been doing exchanges with Bishop Heber for many years. My Italian partner was called Sara who was two years older than me but that didn’t make a difference. We got on really well and we still keep in touch today. I have been invited back in the summer to visit her family again, which I am looking into doing as it would be beneficial for me as I am studying Italian A’ level.
We arrived at Sara’s family apartment in Pademo Dugnano near Monza. It was very strange living in the city, surrounded by skyscrapers as I live in the middle of the country. I had my first taste of real Italian spaghetti Bolognese that was really tasty or ‘bouna!’ In the evening we went to a club/eating place called ‘La Cantina’ which was strange as there were no I.D checks as in Italy there isn’t an age limit to get into clubs. It was a very lively night and everyone was dancing on the tables. Italians, I discovered are very sociable people and nearly go out every night.
Next day after a well-needed lie in Sara and her friend took me to Lake Como where many famous people have houses such as George Clooney. It was very picturesque.
Monday came and we went to school on a very crowded bus. They day is set out different to England, as they start school at 6am and finish at 1 in the afternoon so the students mainly have their lunch at home. The school itself is a big contrast to what we are used to over here. It has five floors and is very modern and clean, you wouldn’t find one piece of litter anywhere. There is no vandalism or abuse to any of the equipment or environment and even if there was, there is a high security system. It is also very blank as there are no posters or work displayed on the walls. The students and teacher relationships are also very different, the teachers are much more relaxed and in one instance, a pupil stood up and had a big argument with the teacher but that seemed to be a daily occurrence. Also instead of the students moving to the next room for the next lesson, the teacher moves to them.
We also visited Milan, which was amazing. We had many tours about the history of the city and also saw the cathedral, which is a sight that will stay with me. It is enormous and has amazing intricate detail. We then had chance for some shopping in one of the best shopping capitals in the world! We also saw the exclusive part of Milan where Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and such shops are. Also here, food items were sold at expensive prices such as, truffles for prices at 120,000 euros per kilo.
Family life in Italy is very important as I found when staying with Sara’s family. Her mother even said to me that she wanted me to stay and live with them because she had always wanted two daughters and Sara was an only child. We visited her grandparents and cousins regularly as they all lived in apartments in the same area. Her family were always together in the house and they never ate alone, they always sit down together and have a family meal and talk to each other, an event that does not happen in many English households.
I tried many
assortments of foods such as Rabbit and Polenta (a
special Italian ingredient which is like a combination of potato and couscous)
that was very tasty. Venison and traditional Italian dishes such as lasagne,
pasta and risotto alla Milanese that is a risotto
traditional to that part of
Another special memory was visiting
An exciting 9 days in a country with a unique culture. There wasn’t enough time to take in all the experiences I had, and fit in some sleep here and there. But I learnt an awful lot, not just improving my linguistic skills but also learning the importance of the Italian culture and lifestyle. Oh yes, and there is no such thing as a quiet Italian!
Do you think that foreign exchanges are beneficial by immersing yourself into that culture in order to improve your language skills?
Arrivederci!
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