The main objective of our project was to give young students from Iceland and France the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of a different culture by staying in a host family, participating in school life, and taking part in organized cultural and educational activities. We wanted to show our students how it was to live in another country than their own and how history, geography and forces of nature influence the lives of the people who live there. We wanted students to develop intercultural understanding, social skills, confidence, and greater openness to diversity. The goal was also to strengthen European cooperation between schools and foster long-term friendships and partnerships.