Each year there are students that for several reasons are unable to go home during thw Winter Break and who are generously hosted by families in the area. This year their number was exceptional: 32 could not travel back to their countries to spend their vacations with their families but once again local host families rose up to the challenge. Not only did these Host Families open their homes to our students but they also did their utmost to make their stay a memorable one, as you can see in the pictures below.
Naturally our students greatly appreciated this warm welcome. Liza, a Russian first-year student, says “I stayed with a host family in Trieste throughout the winter break and this experience was amazing! I discovered a lot of new details about Italian culture and traditions and shared those of the Russian culture with my host family. With Rosa and Alessia I visited some wonderful cities in the region and celebrated Catholic and Orthodox Christmas and New Year. I am so grateful to my host family and to my teacher Stefano for giving me this opportunity”.
Ridho (from Indonesia) spent Winter Break in Villanova. “I stayed with two families and my experience was really wonderful. They were both extremely kind and welcoming and I learned a lot more about Italian culture. They even treated me to trips to places I had never visited, like Padua and other amazing places. I am really grateful for this wonderful opportunity”.
In several cases the Winter Break stay with a Host Family has proved to be the start of new friendships for UWC Adriatic students. Kiram, from Pakistan, was thrilled to learn more about Italian culture from his host and they are now staying in touch: “He sometimes reaches out to hear how I am doing and it’s great to know I have a friend in Trieste”.
Ida is Dutch but lives in Tanzania. She spent part of her Winter Break with a family in Aurisina who hosted as many as 3 College students. “It’s an understatement to say that I enjoyed my time there – it was truly like having a second family. I loved how kind and welcoming the family was towards me and my fellow UWCAD students. I learned to play Briscola, an Italian card game, as well as to cook Italian food, we went ice-skating and for walks. I’m so grateful to have been invited into their home and for sharing a feeling of festivity and warmth while living there. I really recommend anybody who cannot go back home for a holiday to not be afraid to step into a temporary one, my experience was unforgettable”.
Laura, who hosted Ida, Gabriel and Melos, comments how interesting and enriching it was to have these students around. “We were happy to make ourselves useful for these young students who had to be away from home at Christmas. Moreover, meeting students from countries as diverse as Venezuela, Kosovo, The Netherlands and Tanzania was fascinating. It was so interesting to hear these youngsters describe and comment aspects of their countires, culture, society and the political and economic scenario. I strongly recommend this as a wonderful opportunity”.
The College would like to express its gratitude to all the families involved and is inviting them to the College for a concert on Thursday, February 7th at 8:00 pm in the Auditorium.
Some of the Thank You Notes from UWC Adriatic Students
“When I started counting the blessings in my life, my winter break topped the list. Love you host family.”
Gurun (South Sudan)
“In my winter break I cannot remember a day passing by without feeling I had something to be grateful for.”
Mercy (Uganda)
“Going hiking in the mountain Monte S. Michele with a bike was a tremendous experience. Thank you winter break host family!”
Peter (South Sudan)
“Winter break in Trieste was unforgettable: l am grateful for having you as a host family. Grazie mille!”
Ousmane (Guinea)
“My winter break host families are simply too good to be forgotten.”
Boboya (South Sudan)
“The hospitality, love, and kindness showed by my host family left its footprints in my heart: ti amo cosi tanto famiglia ospitante”.
Mark (Cayman Islands)
