Who wants to be a tourist when you can be a local? Having spent a month with a host family in northern Italy, I have concluded that being a typical tourist can in no way equal the experience of living with a host family. The family, the teachers and the students we met and worked with made this experience such a memorable one. Having travelled extensively, the memories of the many attractions and sites I have seen over the years will meld together and distinguishing one from the other will become impossible. But having been welcomed into a family and a community with such warmth and love will forever leave an imprint on my mind and soul. Saying good-bye to everyone was more difficult than I could have imagined. But as we say in French, « ce n’est qu’un au revoir », I am confident that the bonds that we have created will be strong enough to bring us back together. Till we meet again!