Step 1 - Behind the Scenes

When I was a child I met an exchange student Elda from Mexico. She was staying with my aunt's family and she had really big hair.

Me and Elda

My aunt's family hosted also another exchange student later on. His name is Lucas and he is from Austria. I was little bit bigger then and had already started learning English at school. My first words in a real international social situation were: "Hello my name is Tiia what's your name?" in one gasp. The response came very quickly and unexpectedly. "Hello, my name is Lucas." And then I was so shocked I ran behind my parents' backs.

But then, there was nothing to stop me.

I met other exchange students in my upper secondary school. Then I realized also the fact that I COULD GO AS WELL. So I sent an application to AFS (which was to be my organization because it was the first result in Google) and got accepted to a year program. To Italy! Aye!

AFS Intercultura in Sicily

I spent the most exciting, stressing, eyes opening year in Sicily with a really nice host family, their relatives, my schoolmates and other international exchange students. It's been five years now since the experience ended and I returned home. I had grown, both mentally and physically (AFS = another fat student <3).

I'm so in LOVE of going abroad. Do you know the feeling?