1.0ASEF Classroom Network (ASEF ClassNet)https://www.classnet.asef.orgasefclasshttps://www.classnet.asef.org/author/asefclass/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content"><a href="https://www.classnet.asef.org/stories/online-friends-italy-visit-singapore/">Online Friends from Italy Visit Singapore</a></blockquote> <script type='text/javascript'> <!--//--><![CDATA[//><!-- /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(c,d){"use strict";var e=!1,n=!1;if(d.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},!c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage)if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(t)if(t.secret||t.message||t.value)if(!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var r,a,i,s=d.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=d.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=0;o<n.length;o++)n[o].style.display="none";for(o=0;o<s.length;o++)if(r=s[o],e.source===r.contentWindow){if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(i=parseInt(t.value,10)))i=1e3;else if(~~i<200)i=200;r.height=i}if("link"===t.message)if(a=d.createElement("a"),i=d.createElement("a"),a.href=r.getAttribute("src"),i.href=t.value,i.host===a.host)if(d.activeElement===r)c.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)c.addEventListener("message",c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),c.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(!n){n=!0;for(var e,t,r=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),a=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),i=d.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),s=0;s<i.length;s++){if(!(e=i[s]).getAttribute("data-secret"))t=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t);if(r||a)(t=e.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),e.parentNode.replaceChild(t,e)}}}}(window,document); //--><!]]> </script><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.classnet.asef.org/stories/online-friends-italy-visit-singapore/embed/" width="600" height="338" title="“Online Friends from Italy Visit Singapore” — ASEF Classroom Network (ASEF ClassNet)" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe>They came as strangers, but left as friends who would remain close to our hearts for a long time to come. Who knew that spending 10 days with someone from as far away as Italy would make such a huge difference in our lives? With such a brief period between our selection and their arrival, we (the 10 student hosts) were caught in that ambiguous zone of thrill and anticipation before 2nd April. We had prepared ourselves for the Italians and their more open-minded ways. Even then, seeing them enveloping each other in hugs and blowing kisses during greetings amazed me. This was just the beginning of some of the differences in culture that we were about to discover.