TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - Greenheart Exchange is looking for ten South Georgia families to host foreign exchange students during the upcoming school year.

This is an opportunity to learn about another country’s culture while supporting the next generation of students. Any families across South Georgia can sign up to participate.

This year, several Greenheart Exchange students are attending Tift County High School.

Six 11th grade girls from Italy, Poland, Germany, Brazil and China said they are getting the chance of a lifetime — attending school in Tift County.

Families do not get paid to host, but the students come on a J-1 Visa with their own spending money and their own medical insurance.

“Your responsibility is to provide them with three meals a day, a safe place to live and to study, transportation, of course, because they are not allowed to drive, and mostly to nurture them and embrace them like one of your own children,” said Cynthia George, a local coordinator with Greenheart Exchange.

Greta Barletta is from Milan, Italy and arrived in South Georgia back in August. Greta immediately clicked with her host family, especially her two younger host sisters, who she said are now some of her closest friends.

“They never treated me differently than their daughters. I don’t know, they are just really amazing people. They do everything for me,” said Barletta.

Students with Greenheart Exchange don’t get to pick which state they end up in. The program matches each student with a family that is the best fit for them. Going from big-city Milan to small-town Georgia is definitely a culture shock, but Barletta seems to be adjusting just fine.

“It’s kind of a little movie vibe. Like, everyone knows everyone. It’s just so unreal. At the high school, things will happen and my friends will be like, ‘Well, that’s just Tifton!’ and I just laugh, like that’s amazing,” said Barletta while chuckling.

During her time in Tifton, Barletta has been part of her school’s soccer team, participated in Young Life and even secured a date to prom.

“Having this little American Dream of seeing how teenagers live their lives in a whole other different country — I just feel really proud and lucky to be doing this. It really is a dream for most Italian girls to spend a year of their teenage life in the United States,” continued Barletta.

Barletta said her Tifton host family is already making plans to visit Milan.

If you are interested in hosting a Greenheart Exchange student, click here to learn more.

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