Since arriving in Australia in January 2025, Italian exchange student Margherita Paggi has embraced life in regional Victoria with open arms and an open heart.

Living with the La Gamba family in Mooroopna and attending Greater Shepparton Secondary College, the 17-year-old has thrown herself into Australian life — making the most of every moment before her stay wraps up in September.

She is being hosted by Vince and Sally La Gamba and their two children, Joseph, 16, and Christina, 11.

The experience has been filled with learning, laughter and plenty of Aussie adventures.

“I wanted to do an exchange for the experience and to broaden my English,” Margherita said.

“I had already been to America, so I wanted to go a bit further this time — Australia just felt right.”

And right it has been.

From cooking with her host family to exploring the Gold Coast and going to footy matches, ‘Maggie’ (as she’s now affectionately known) has immersed herself in Australian living.

Her favourite local spot? “Probably the lake in Shepparton.”

For the La Gambas, welcoming a student such as Margherita into their home was something they’d wanted to do for a long time.

“We just really wanted to do it, and open up our home,” Vince said.

“Having Margherita here gives us more motivation to go and see things we haven’t seen around the area.”

Sally agreed.

“We had gone over to Italy about 20 years ago, and when we started looking for a student in October last year, there were a few options — but Margherita just felt like the right fit,” she said.

“Our kids even helped make the decision.

“Us having an Italian background helped make the transition easier.”

The match has indeed been a natural one.

Before she even landed, Margherita and the La Gambas had exchanged letters and had a few Skype calls to get to know one another.

Still, the journey from Italy wasn’t easy.

“I was pretty tired after the flight and then the big drive home from Melbourne Airport to Mooroopna,” Margherita said.

“It’s tricky to contact my family sometimes, too, as I’m really busy and there’s the time difference.

“But I needed a change, and this has been so worth it.”

One of the biggest adjustments? School.

“There are only 120 students at my school back home, so going to a bigger school like Greater Shepparton Secondary College [approximately 2300 students] was a big change,” Margherita said.

“Also, we usually have lunch at noon and dinner at 8pm in Italy, and we finish school a lot earlier.”

Despite the differences, she’s settled in beautifully and is even doing her debutante ball here in Shepparton with host brother, Joseph, as her partner.

Come September, the cultural exchange will come full circle when Margherita’s family travels from Italy to visit and see her new life in person.

Margherita’s exchange is made possible through World Education Program Australia, a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven organisation founded in 2001.

WEP helps teens from around the globe discover the world and form lifelong bonds through cultural exchange.

For many students, the experience goes far beyond learning a new language — it’s about learning a new way of life.

For Margherita and the La Gambas, it’s also about finding a second family on the other side of the world.

Shepparton News Google News Panels

Sunday, 25th May 2025

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