Finding Family in Verona, Italy
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Claire with her host family in Verona.
Teaching English in Verona, Italy was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Working with Scotia Personnel to further this experience was an incredible journey. The staff at Scotia Personnel are very easy to talk too and incredibly friendly. At first, I thought travelling and teaching would be a cool experience, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would come true, would be as seamless and easy as it was and that I would get to live in Italy with such an amazing family that I now call my Italian family. Going to Italy to live for two months was very scary…I didn’t speak the language, I didn’t know anyone, and I was away from home in a different country for two months. To say the least this trip was life changing.
Clair in Verona.
I arrived at the airport in Verona and my family was waiting for me with flowers. They were so excited to meet me, and I felt the same. The language barrier was hard at first because I wanted to say so much to them and they wanted to say so much to me… thank you google translate, haha!! I remember the little girl when I first met her had the biggest smile on her face and she kept hugging me and holding my hand. I immediately made a sister. She grew up with two older brothers, so she was pretty excited to have an older sister. We did everything together. She especially loved it when I styled her hair.
Every person in their family opened me into their family with open arms. I went to a family party with about sixty extended family members attending. I was nervous because their English wasn’t great, and I had to socialize with all these new people for the afternoon. Everyone was so excited to meet the “Canadian” girl. I was welcomed in by so many and it made me feel like family. The family offered me many things such as the option to travel, go out and explore, meet new people, have evenings out, taste new foods and see a new part of the world. The family was so excited to show me around Italy. We went to Venice for the day and got to see the canals and do a gondola ride. We also got to see a city that is all built on water, which was unique.
Clair in Venice.
Living in Italy, my family offered me many experiences such as travelling to places (Venice, Florence, Milan…etc), meeting new people, experiencing new food and also having the ability to attend a Verona soccer game and a basketball game. They gave me experiences I thought I would have never gotten to do in my wildest dreams.
Feeling nervous and anxious is normal and it just means you’re going outside of your comfort zone. I truly believe that to have the greatest experiences of your life – you need to be outside of your comfort zone. This trip made me go out of my comfort zone because everything was a new experience in a new culture, which is why I truly believe this was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I have some new family members and a forever connection to Verona, Italy.
Thank you to Scotia Personnel for giving me this opportunity, I would have never been able to experience this if it wasn’t for this company.
“Scotia Personnel Ltd. is a Canadian company which has been in business over thirty years. Scotia Personnel Ltd, in conjunction with its overseas partners, provides a spectrum of personnel services, educational opportunities, job opportunities and cultural exchange opportunities, nationally and/or internationally.” Claire’s trip was scheduled through Scotia Personnel’s “Tutor in Italy” program.
