Twenty-two Italian students stayed with local families for two weeks as part of the Los Gatos High School Italian department exchange program. Most of the visitors stayed with students who had gone to Italy in February and lived in their homes.

While the Italians had opportunities to sit in on classes and work on assigned research projects, there were plenty of chances to play. Their schedule included a day trip to San Francisco, a bonfire on the beach in Santa Cruz, a hike in the redwoods, a basketball game, movies and midnight bowling.

The events were mixed in, however, with a healthy dose of day-to-day activities, such as eating dinner with the family, going out for fast food during the lunch period and spending evenings at home.

"The whole idea was trying to give them a taste of normal American life," said parent host Faith Reilly.

"It was a jam-packed two weeks," said senior Michael Aidi, who hosted 18-year-old Sara Macor.

Junior David Reilly said the Italians' favorite part of the trip was visiting Pier 39—"They were really happy," Reilly said. At some of the other events "they were bored because of the language barrier thing," but they were fascinated with the surroundings at Pier 39. Eighteen-year-old Martina Salgarella stayed at the Reillys' home.

Italian teacher Amy Torchia said the students joined her class every day and helped teach some of her beginning-level courses. "After they left, there was definitely a void in my classroom," she said, adding that the visitors were polite, intelligent and easy to work with.

One week before the Italian delegation arrived, 10 Los Gatos High students had returned from a trip to Udine and Trieste, Italy, where they got to know the group that later visited Los Gatos. Torchia had found, through the Internet, a linguistics school that was interested in an exchange.

"When we first went to Italy, we built up pretty good friendships," David Reilly said. The Americans were dependent on the Italians for translation, which brought together the students of different cultures.

In turn, the Italians relied on their American counterparts when they were in Los Gatos. The Los Gatos High students in the sponsoring families, Faith Reilly said, "were responsible for their guests."

"I don't know what I enjoyed more, going to Italy or having the students here," Torchia said.

The experience ended with a farewell dinner at Campo di Bocce and then a supervised party at a participating family's home. Taking the Italians to the airport was bittersweet. "When the kids left, everybody was crying," said Karen Aidi, Michael's mother. "Our kids made new friends, and they were treated as family members."

"I just hope to keep that kind of contact," Faith Reilly added.

The trips, David Reilly said, taught him "much more than what five days of school could have given me." He said not only has he become more fluent in the language but he now has a passion for school. "Italian's become my favorite class," Reilly said, explaining that because he is dyslexic, he is not required to take a foreign language course but chooses to do so.

"They were a fantastic group of kids, and it was wonderful to have them," Karen Aidi said.

Michael Aidi is planning a trip back to Italy this summer, where he and his fellow exchange students will spend three weeks with their new friends.

"To me, it's real important that the kids see other cultures, to be accepting and tolerant of differences," Faith Reilly said. "It couldn't have gone any better."