When we arrived at the train station in Lucca a few days ago, the student’s Italian host families greeted us with warm embraces. With accommodations in downtown Lucca, leaders Alicia, Tim, and Jonathan rented a car and spent two days traveling from town to town, personally visiting the students in their respective home-stays. The students are loving it here! They spent the week practicing their Italian, visiting nearby Pisa and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, exploring the many churches and cafes of the walled city of Lucca, and catching local Italian bands during Lucca’s annual music festival. On Thursday all of the students, along with their host brothers and sisters, joined forces in Viareggio, a well known beach resort town, to share experiences and enjoy the sun.

– Alicia, Tim, and Jonathan