Alessandra Elena’s story: from Trescore Balneario (BG), Italy, to Salacgrīva, Latvia, for a year with Intercultura and the support of the Fondazione Pesenti.
My relationship with my host family
My relationship with my host family has been great from the very beginning. My host family is made up of a mom and two children, though they don’t live with us (the son lives in another city and the daughter in Sweden). Additionally, I’m in a double placement with an American student. From the very start, my host mom welcomed me warmly. One of the first things she told me was that I am now her daughter. She’s the most energetic person I’ve ever met—she’s always planning new things and takes me to visit new places. She has told me many times how happy she is that I’m here and that she feels lucky to have me as her “daughter.” Honestly, sometimes I feel like crying when I hear her speak so fondly of me.
I have a lot of freedom here—she trusts me, is very supportive, and I never feel afraid to talk to her about any problems, especially because every time I’ve faced an issue, she’s helped me solve it. She’s always ready to support me during tough times, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I can already say she’s becoming like a second mom to me. I don’t have much contact with my host siblings since they have their own families and live elsewhere. I haven’t met my host sister yet, but we’ve spoken on the phone and she left a wonderful impression on me. I’ll be meeting her in December, as my host mom has already planned a trip to Sweden for Christmas. I’m very excited to finally meet her. I’ve met my host brother a couple of times already, and he immediately welcomed me and made me feel part of the family.
My relationship with the local community and friends
I believe I’ve integrated quite easily. I came here with the mindset that I had to make the effort to fit in, rather than expecting others to adapt to me. Right from the beginning, I tried to talk to as many people as possible, even though I consider myself introverted and shy—someone who usually doesn’t initiate conversations with strangers. But my effort has paid off. I feel as though I’ve been “embraced” by the community.
Just last week, my English teacher gave me a pin with a traditional Latvian emblem to “celebrate with them” (since November 11 and 18 are national holidays). My classmates (and even the teachers) also celebrated my name day and gave me chocolate. I was really touched. Of course, I have to put in my share of effort, but the atmosphere makes it easy. I’ve already taken part in various traditions, like Lāčplēša Diena and Mārtiņdiena, and that absolutely helps you feel part of the community.
My academic experience: school performance and relationships
School in Latvia starts on September 1st, and it’s a tradition to bring flowers (an odd number—because even numbers are considered bad luck, symbolizing death) to the teachers. So, it’s not really a school day, but more a celebration of the new school year. I was so excited to finally meet my classmates, but I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Thankfully, my host mom was by my side.
Everyone was dressed up formally, and I felt like I wasn’t elegant enough. After we found my homeroom teacher, we took some pictures and went to the auditorium for the ceremony. That’s when I finally met my classmates and sat with them. It was a bit hard to talk to them, partly because I was shy and partly because the moment was quite formal. The girl sitting next to me introduced herself and told me the names of my classmates. The ceremony itself was very boring, but the most memorable moment was when someone in an inflatable bear costume burst in. I had no idea what was going on, but it was very funny. At the end, we took photos with the teacher and classmates. I didn’t even realize it was photo time, so I walked away, but my teacher came to get me and we took a group photo again.
The day wasn’t over yet—we went to dinner with my host brother and his family, because in my host family it’s a tradition to eat out on the first day of school. We went to a restaurant in Carnikava. I ordered fried chicken, and it was delicious. We chatted and later took a walk to the seaside. There, my host brother (it was the first time I met him) and his son played in the sand, and watching them made me feel like I was already part of the family. I’ll always remember that moment as the true beginning of this experience.
My free time
Since I live in a small town, there’s not much to do. Plus, I get home late from school. On school days, I spend my afternoons doing homework, studying, or relaxing. Twice a week, I take dance classes. I would like to start going to art school as well, but there have been some issues with the director, and it’s taking longer than expected. I also want to join the folk dance group. Sometimes I go out with my friends to Riga, or I invite them over. Riga is my favorite place—there’s always something to do, and I’m just enchanted by its atmosphere. Sometimes I even go to dance classes in Riga, but not very often since it’s two hours away by bus. On weekends, we usually go on outings with the family (my host mom, the American student, and me).
What has stood out to me in this country — both positive and negative
First of all, the “abnormal” amount of potatoes they eat. I’ve never met anyone who loves potatoes so much. Another thing that struck me is the landscape. It’s like something out of a fairytale. There are so many trees it doesn’t even feel like a populated country—roads are surrounded by forests. Watching the leaves change color has been incredible; it changed the whole atmosphere. I even saw deer and foxes for the first time in my life.
I must also mention the weather—it sometimes starts raining out of nowhere. I’ve experienced some of the worst storms of my life here, with trees falling and being uprooted. It has already snowed a couple of times too.
Another surprising thing is how patriotic Latvians are. Almost every house has a Latvian flag, and over the past two weeks, everyone has been wearing Latvian-flag pins over their hearts. The school system also surprised me—it’s completely different from the Italian one. Lastly, I’ve fallen in love with Riga. The city is full of breathtaking buildings—colorful and elegant. If you visit Latvia, its historic center is a must-see. The first time I went, I was left speechless by how beautiful it was.
Three words to describe my experience so far (and why I chose them)
“Welcome”: I chose this word because the warm welcome I received really struck me. It has influenced me a lot—I felt like I was in a “safe” space from the start, and that made it easier for me to open up. I believe it helped me have a positive experience right from the beginning.
“Unexpected”: because this experience has been full of surprises—both good and bad. I never know what to expect each day; anything can happen.
“Memories”: I chose this word because I’m creating so many memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It’s only been two months, but I already feel like I have countless stories to tell. In the end, I know this experience will always stay with me.
