Students Share Their High School Exchange Experience in Italy
At Students of the World, we love hearing directly from our exchange students about the experiences that shape their time overseas.
Two of our students, Amelia and Sienna, recently shared what it has been like living in northern Italy as the country prepares for and hosts the Winter Olympics. Their experiences beautifully capture what a high school exchange in Italy is really about. Not just travel, but immersion. Not just sightseeing, but living everyday life in the middle of something extraordinary.
Here’s what their exchange journeys have looked like so far.
A City Transformed
As the Winter Olympics unfold across Milan, Amelia finds herself at the heart of an extraordinary moment.
“Living in a city hosting the Olympics is a truly surreal experience.”
The entire city has been transformed. Decorations celebrating different sports hang from light posts, stretch across roads and cover buildings. There is a constant energy in the streets, with volunteers and team members from all over the world proudly representing their countries.
There’s even a fan village where locals gather to watch the games together and try out featured sports, creating a shared atmosphere that brings the global community together.
For Amelia, this isn’t something she’s visiting for a few days. It’s something she’s living through as part of her everyday routine.
Experiencing Winter Sports Firsthand
While watching the Winter Olympic Games unfold is exciting, Sienna has also embraced winter sport culture herself.
“While living in Italy, I’ve tried skiing, which is one of the main Winter Olympic sports.”
She even knows someone competing in one of the races and plans to cheer them on, alongside supporting Australian athletes from abroad.
Moments like this highlight how exchange students don’t just observe culture. They participate in it.
She has also had the opportunity to visit San Siro Stadium in Milan, experiencing the scale of venues connected to the Games, including locations hosting figure skating and ice hockey events.
School Life in Italy During the Games
One of the most special parts of Amelia’s high school exchange in Italy has been experiencing the Olympics through her local school community.
Her school embraced the excitement by setting up a television in the corridor so students could watch events together during breaks. They even organised a raffle for tickets to the men’s ice hockey quarterfinals.
“My school, in particular, has embraced the Olympics by setting up a TV in the corridor so everyone can watch the games together.”
Although Amelia didn’t win the raffle, she has been following the events at home with her host family, sharing conversations, reactions and celebrations together.
These simple, shared moments are what cultural exchange is truly about. Watching sport, discussing results and learning how another country experiences a global event.
Living Like a Local
Driving through Assago, where some of the ice skating events are being held, Amelia has seen how deeply the Olympics have become part of daily life in her host community.
Light posts are lined with Olympic posters, and the nearby shopping centre is filled with volunteers wearing official uniforms.
“You can often spot volunteers and people from various countries proudly wearing their Olympic uniforms to represent their nations.”
Rather than experiencing the Olympics as a tourist, Amelia is living it as a local teenager. She attends school, spends evenings with her host family and witnesses the city’s excitement as part of her everyday life.
This is what makes a student exchange in Italy so powerful. You don’t just observe culture, you become part of it.
Personal Connections Across Countries
Among all the sports, figure skating has been Amelia’s favourite to watch. She has been captivated by the skill and dedication of the athletes competing at such a high level.
“My favourite sport to watch has been figure skating, as it’s so captivating and interesting to watch.”
One of her friends, who is a figure skater herself, had the opportunity to attend an event live and described it as an incredible experience.
At the same time, Amelia found herself proudly supporting Australian ice dance pair Holly Harris and Jason Chan. Even though they finished 18th, it marked Australia’s highest placement in Ice Dance, something she felt incredibly proud of while living overseas.
Moments like this highlight the unique perspective exchange students gain. They build connections to their host country while still celebrating where they come from.
More Than Just Travel
These experiences show that a high school exchange in Italy is about far more than sightseeing.
It is about attending school in another country. Living with a carefully selected host family. Participating in community life. Experiencing global and local events as they happen.
Exchange students don’t just visit history. Sometimes, they live through it.
Learn more about High School Exchange in Italy
Every exchange journey is different. Some students experience local festivals. Others discover new hobbies, friendships or traditions. And sometimes, like Amelia, students find themselves living in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime global event.
If you’re considering a high school exchange in Italy, your story could be next.
Explore our Italy programs and discover how cultural immersion, school life and host family experiences can shape your future.
You can also explore all available destinations here
Your High School Exchange Journey Starts Here
For over 20 years, our students have travelled the world learning new languages, attending local schools, and joining in unique cultural and social events. Our team is friendly, knowledgeable and here to guide families every step of the way.
While abroad, our international partners provide students with the same high standard of care and 24/7 support that we’re known for here at home. Each student has a dedicated local coordinator they can call at any time, because safety and well-being always come first. You can learn more about our Safety Commitment here.
If you’re ready to start your student exchange experience abroad, register your interest in our upcoming info sessions.