Twenty-six lucky MLMC students and four teachers travelled to Italy for a three-week study tour from 19 September to 12 October. We landed in Rome and the students couldn't wait to get sightseeing before heading to Siena, Florence, Pisa and Venice before joining host families for the remainder of the tour. Thank you to my fellow teachers Mr Michael Modini, Ms Jessica Tipping and Mrs Alison Schlueter for their assistance.
Four of the students on the tour have reflected on their experiences:
We learnt many new things about Italy, such as its diverse culture, its interesting people and its amazing pasta. The trip lasted three weeks, with a week and a half of sightseeing and learning about the rich history and culture of the country and another week and a half of being immersed in life with an Italian host family, going to school and engaging in the day-to-day activities of a regular Italian teen. Most of us had never travelled out of Australia before, let alone without our parents. By the end of the trip and even now, weeks later, I can confidently say that every individual that participated gained something new, whether it be a new skill, a new friend or even just a little bit more confidence than when they left home. — Liam Charles (Year 11 Gold)
My favourite place in Rome was the Colosseum. On our second day in Florence we were lucky enough to visit Mr Cardinali’s house and have an amazing lunch cooked by his family. We took photos in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, making it look like we were holding it up, and we also got to climb the tower. You can feel that it's on a lean so you feel as though you're going to fall over. Venice was my favourite place and my favourite part was riding a gondola through all the little laneways. At Casale Monferrato we stayed with our host families for 10 days. Meeting them for the first time was nerve-wracking, but by the time we left everybody was sad to say goodbye. We visited their schools and went on excursions to Monte Carlo in Monaco and Milan. My host family took me to Aosta, which is a town in the mountains known for castles. There are so many amazing memories to look back on with new friends and it really was the trip of lifetime. — Jade Fairweather (Year 11 Green)
The Italian study tour was an experience I will never forget. In just three days we were able to learn so much about ancient Rome. Florence was my favourite place in the 10 days of touring with the school group. Venice was nothing like I had expected and the gondola ride was definitely a highlight. I was made to feel very welcome in the Brunelli family, however it was definitely a test of my Italian skills. Alice, my host sister, was very good at English, but her mum's English was limited and the dad spoke none at all. I don’t think I’ve eaten as much pizza and pasta in my life than what I did in the 10 days I spent with them. I visited Milan, Monte Carlo and Turin, which was absolutely incredible. I was also able to experience a day at a primary school where Ciara (Robinson) and I were paired up and spent the day telling the kids about Australia and our culture. We also spent time with our host brothers and sisters at school where it became very clear how different Australian schooling was to theirs. — Alana McGurgan (Year 11 Purple)
The Italy tour was an amazing experience. I learnt so much more than I could have ever imagined just by being immersed in the country and culture rather than reading about it in a classroom. Prior to the trip, I was really struggling with speaking and understanding Italian, but in the mere 10 days of staying with my wonderful host family who barely spoke English, I would argue my capability in Italian increased ten-fold. I also learnt a lot about the history of Italy. I found it so interesting finding out about all the ancient ruins, statues and landmarks that were still standing thousands of years later. I also thoroughly enjoyed the food. I am incredibly grateful to have shared this experience with such a great group of people, especially the teachers who made the trip so enjoyable. I am most certainly returning in the near future. — Sam Lees (Year 11 Bronze)
