Friends in a Cold Climate: Udine-2b

While they were familiar with the Beatles, Italy had not yet seen young people organizing themselves into musical groups like we observed during our visit. In Italy, this type of musical band trend emerged later, perhaps a year or two after our visit to Swansea. In 1966, there was a second exchange involving the Italian group.

The Welsh family she stayed with owned a grocery shop. The living quarters were located on the first floor above the shop, situated on the street. During her third exchange in Esslingen, they were taken to Stuttgart airport were they visited an airplane to explore its interior.

This was Anna’s first time being inside an airplane, and everything about it was new and exciting for her. For Anna, art and cultural experiences were more important than discussions about economy and work. However, the most important aspect of these exchanges wasn't the places they visited or the activities we did—it was the opportunity to be together with boys and girls from different nationalities.

Building connections and sharing experiences with peers from diverse cultures, speaking different languages, was the most enjoyable and valuable part of the exchange for Anna. 50 years have passed, a long time, according to Anna. She has forgotten many facts but remembers feelings. Remembers the feeling of great fun.

Anna remembers how surprised she was about many things different from what she had seen till that moment.