From Italy to New Bedford: 16-Year-Old Exchange Student Shares Her First Impressions

This morning on The MGM Show, we welcomed a special guest into the Fun 107 studio with open arms. Her name is Anna Maggiori, she is 16 years old and she traveled from Cingoli, Italy, to spend the entire school year at New Bedford High School.

Anna told us this is her first time in America, and although life here is quite different from home, she is already loving it. Cingoli is a small mountain town with cold winters and occasional snow, so our New England weather should not be too shocking. Anna also proudly shared that her quaint village recently earned recognition as Italy’s most beautiful small town.

Before school even began, Anna was already making memories. During a trip to Boston, she attended the celebration honoring Jaylen Brown and even met social media personality MD Motivator. That is a pretty impressive start for someone who just arrived in the U.S.A.

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Why Exchange Programs Mean So Much to Me

Having Anna on the show brought back incredible memories for me. During my sophomore year at Westport High School, I was also part of an exchange program that allowed me to spend a couple of months in Okinawa, Japan. It was a major culture shock, but in the best possible way.

I attended school, tried new foods and learned firsthand about life on the other side of the world. The people were kind and welcoming, and the experience taught me the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone.

New Bedford High School International Exchange Program

That is why programs like the International Exchange Student Program matter so much. Traveling helps us understand other cultures, while hosting brings part of the world directly into your home. As much as Anna is learning about America, her host family and classmates are learning from her, too.

More Local Host Families Are Needed

Anna’s host mom, Danielle Fontanella, said more students from around the world are hoping to have this opportunity, but they need local hosts. Fontanella helps recruit families and said many kinds of households may qualify, including single-parent and same-sex families, grandparents and empty nesters. Hosts must pass a background check and provide a safe place for the student to sleep.

READ MORE: Gazelle Remembers His First Day of School

Host families provide three meals a day and welcome the student into everyday family life. The students arrive with their own spending money and cover their other personal expenses. Anyone interested in hosting an international exchange student can contact me at Fun 107 at Gazelle@fun107.com with their name and phone number. We will pass the information to Fontanella, who can connect them with the program director and share the full details.

New Bedford High School International Exchange Program

For now, we are thrilled to welcome Anna to New Bedford and America. We hope her school year is filled with new friends, great food, unforgettable trips and memories she will carry back to Italy for the rest of her life. Ciao!