From Lovere-Boario (BG), Italy, to Vorselaar, Flanders (Belgium) for one year with Intercultura and supported by the Pesenti Foundation.
SECOND TRIMESTER: DECEMBER – FEBRUARY 2022
Relationship with the host family:
The relationship between me and my host parents is special: I’ve felt like a daughter to them from the very beginning. The bond I have with my 13-year-old host brother surprises me more every day. We understand each other immediately and keep each other company. Being the older sister makes me really happy: biking to school together every day, playing in the yard with the dog, helping him with homework…
Relationship with the host community and friends:
I feel completely integrated into the community, and Dutch is no longer a problem. At school, with my friends, or in my youth group, I’m no longer “the exchange student.” At first, I didn’t like this—I wasn’t “the new one” anymore—but I soon realized this was actually a positive change. I interact with others because I’m part of the group, not because I need a translation or an explanation. They even gave me a nickname: “Frakke.” Everyone calls me that, even my host family!
My academic progress, both in terms of performance and interpersonal relationships (with classmates and teachers):
This month I faced exams in Belgium for the first time. My grades were the highest in my subject areas. My class coordinator congratulated me on behalf of the entire faculty. I finish every school day with a smile because I’m happy to spend so much time with my classmates. For the past few months, I’ve been working without needing any translations, and my teachers are impressed with how much progress I’ve made in the language. I always try to give my best, and everyone is very happy with my attitude.
My free time:
I spend most of my free time with my Belgian friends. I’m aware that I’ll have to go back to Italy eventually, and I don’t want to waste a single second of the time I have left here. I try to travel as much as possible, but I also make sure to spend time with my host family. Sometimes it’s hard to balance everything, but I’m grateful to be living such a full experience.
Things that struck me particularly about this country (positive or negative):
Belgium surprises me every day with its landscapes and unique history. What strikes me the most is the linguistic diversity: it’s such a small country, yet it has three official languages. All it takes is a train ride to reach a city where a different language is spoken. Three words that describe my experience so far (and why):
– Discovery, of myself and others. Every day I live new experiences that show me new sides of the world around me and highlight different aspects of who I am.
– Frakke. As I mentioned, this is my nickname. Every time someone calls me that, I feel something indescribable—a sense of belonging, of feeling at home and in the right place.
– Home. Because in Belgium, I found a second home that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
Anecdotes/Open comment:
I’m increasingly grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given. I wouldn’t trade this experience for any other. I know that the end of this year will leave a void in me that will be hard to fill.
