Europe. Go on, pick a country.

Now pick another.

Is the weather the same in both of them? Aha I think not. (Well, if you chose Spain and Italy, then you sort of ruined the game.) But if you chose Greece and Poland, or Scotland and France, Iceland and Portugal then you can really see the contrast.

The truth is, that weather-wise, Europe has a bit of everything. So on top of seeing the 100 fold varied cultures, you can also enjoy the differences in the natural environments.

Let´s take a minute to reflect on some of the best things about the rain and the sun.

Rain (e.g.: England)

• The smell of wet plants
• Wellies
• Collecting the city grime in a storm then washing it OUT of your hair
• Thunder
• Watching the trees flail in the wind
• Hearing the storm outside when you´re all snuggle in bed
• Puddles
• The brilliant emptiness of the atmosphere the day after a storm
• The diffuse yellow light that filters in before and after a heavy shower
• The anger of the sky

Sun (e.g.: Spain)

• Seeing the city physically welt in the heat
• A trickle of sweat running down your forehead on the beach
• Wearing cool sunglasses
• Lollies
• Driving with the windows down and the music on LOUD
• How easy it is to get up in the morning
• Lying on your bed with the fan on
• Reading in the shade
• Icecubes
• Soaring seratonin levels

As I said, a little of everything. Get yourself home exchanging and get involved in some of these little treasures that just make life good.

What´s the best way to bring up a child?

I haven´t got the faintest idea. Nor do I trust the opinions, formulas nor the instincts of the majority of people.

So what do we do? How do we give our children every opportunity possible to grow, develop and become better versions of ourselves? Or just better…people. (It´s not really about perpetuating our own selves into immortality, is it, grumble grumble… All this they told us about furthering our own genes was a big trick! A trap!)

But seriously, it´s difficult. I know a few people, brilliant, wise, kind, people who have horrible devils for children. Wild, untameable children. There is definitely something that is out there to defeat us. Some rogue gene that we never knew we carried, but that bode its time and struck just at the moment we made our lives more complicated then they had ever been before.

And even if they are calm, well behaved little devils, every day we are confronted with difficult decisions. Be lenient, be strict, explain candidly or sugar-coat until they are more emotionally developed. Make them happy or make them responsible, let them make their own mistakes, let them learn from other people, oh god oh god it´s all so confusing.

But one thing that we can do is expose them to lots of different ideas, sights, sounds, smells and people. Taking a family on holiday is usually expensive. And it´s so important that children have the chance to see a different country. They find it so overwhelming and wondrous when they do get to see other parts of the world. Filling them with awe not only helps them develop intelligence, knowledge, a bank of experience, but it also spurs on their imagination. But with home exchange this is all possible, on the cheap!

For me, the most important thing of all is that they learn that people from other cultures are not WEIRDOS. Taking a child on a foreign home exchange can be so fruitful for their development that they can even begin learning a new language. But even if this doesn´t happen, they learn an incredible amount about different cultures and countries. They learn that people from different places aren´t simply a “concept”, but a living reality of people. People who are just as normal as they are.

This is a fundamental aspect of a brilliant mind. Being open. And the best way to help your child maintain and cultivate their unjudging innocence, is to flood them with pictures and pieces of the world around them. Home exchange puts you in touch with the world and helps your children connect.

There is no other city in the UK like Southampton.

It is one of a kind. Original, unique, special. There will never be another Southampton.

Despite anyone´s efforts to the contrary.

Being the largest city in the county of Hampshire, this old sea-faring town has a lot to offer. You won´t truly appreciate this until you get there, and are able to suck in the sweet air of this old character of a city.

Southampton has something for everyone. The thing that really animates a lot of foreign tourists when they visit the UK, is, quite simply, the colour green. The ripe, verdant rolling hills, the springy bushes, the overflow of rich, royal flora. If you want to immerse yourself in this distinct aspect of the UK (after all the rain, we at least get something back!) there is no better place to plant yourself for a long walk or a picnic (or a game of cricket, whilst we´re in the UK afterall) than in William The Conquerer´s very own New Forest. Existing since the Stone Age, this bountiful forest is crammed with wildlife, streams, and plenty of open spaces ideal for clearing your head in the crystal fresh air.

And when you get tired you can always go to one of the quaint little tea-shops for a full-on, eat-your-heart-out English cream tea.

One of the most fascinating things about the city of Southampton, is how its geography has been affected by rivers and the sea. The Rivers Test and Itchen converge at the northern tip of Southampton Water. The test runs along the western edge of the city, whereas the Itchen separates the city into its two poles: East and West.

Similarly, the Isle of Wight has got a hand in too. It creates a double tide, which gives the old famous port of Southampton a longer high tide period than other ports, which makes it a hell of a lot easier to move big ships. The Titanic, to name one of the more famous of boats to pass these shores. If you find this interesting, you can even take a visit to the Titanic museum that we have on the water-front. Whilst in Southampton, you can also make a day trip to the Isle of Wight, to see the beautiful sands of the Needles.

If you have kids and you like to be outside, Southampton is the place for you. Full of parks and cemeteries, it´s the ideal place to roam around outdoors, taking photos or simply enjoying the serenity. And if you´re really brave, you can walk the Southampton Walls, the living testament to the town´s flavoursome past. Forget Robin Hood, how about the Earl of Arundel as a local historical figure!

This city really is in a league of its own. History, a water front, parks and forests. Buildings shaped like boats. A big commercial shopping centre. In all, Southampton has a lot to offer.