Our Wonder Families choose to become host families because of the incredible opportunity that being a host family offers. They are excited to take part in a cultural exchange by opening their homes to our COST Students. What makes our Wonder Families unique is their willingness create a home away from home for the students. Communiy is an essential part of family life here in Italy and as soon as a COST Student arrives they become a part of the community! Our Wonder Families become like a second family to our COST Students and they create bonds that will last long after the experience ends!

I had a WONDERful family experience through the COST Program! From the moment that I stepped outside of the arrival gates, my host family welcomed me with open arms! They immediately brought me into their everyday activities, routines, and introduced me to friends and family. They showed me around the town, made sure that I had everything that I needed, and helped me navigate schedules and transportation for school. We went on different trips such as skiing, day trips to Trieste and even planned a trip to Rome for a couple of days to experience as much of Italy as possible! Some of my favorite moments that I cherish the most were mealtimes when we gathered around the table eating together, laughing, and talking about everything from daily life to cultural differences. Being away from home, while feeling at home, is proof that family can be found anywhere. This experience not only gave me lifelong memories and relationships but also reminded me of the power of kindness and hospitality across cultures.