At 17, he left Italy to spend a school year in Lot-et-Garonne

At 17, Andrea decided to live a unique experience: leaving his family and his country, Italyto spend a school year abroad. His second choice after Sweden was France and here he is arriving at the end of August 2024 near Tonneins (Lot-et-Garonne).

Currently it is hosted at the Eucher family of which the young Nathan had benefited from this type of stay, his very first abroad, organized by le Rotary international with the Student section.

“I wanted to stay in the European Union, the language is close to Italian so I could learn it”

Indeed, he already speaks impeccable French, “I just studied the basics, the grammar, for a month” he promises. Only his accent gives the indication of its Italian origin, Florence more precisely.

A school year with host families

It was at school that he learned of the student program. Encouraged by his mother, he applied and was selected.

During a school year, therefore, he is a high school student like the others, in Marmande. Schooled in first grade, “he has good assessments” explains Pierre Magnan of the Tonneins Rotary.

On his return to Florence, he will resume his classic Italian high school curriculum, with a rather unique experience in his baggage. From his stay, he appreciated “the food, the people and the architecture”. Although he is, of course, a little homesick, he continues this adventure. He can share his experience with Nathan Eucher who was also a student.

His experience in Russia was cut short by the Covid pandemic. He still remembers a great experience.

I gained autonomy. It was a foreign country, a different culture, a very different language… it gave me a lot of open-mindedness.

It is because he took advantage of this opportunity to go abroad that his parents committed to welcoming foreigners to their family. After a young Mexican (confined due to Covid, at home), they welcome Andrea who can share her experience with Nathan.

The 38th student in Tonneins

Since the creation of this international Rotary program in 1972, “Andrea is the 38th foreigner we have received in Tonneins,” explains Pierre Magnan.

“The objective is to discover another country, how it works, education, families, meals…

And there's nothing better than joining a family to experience it all to the fullest. In the Tonneins region, he can count on the Euchers to make his stay an unforgettable experience.

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