SPI Italy

Special Opportunity - Gifts for NAC

2012-01-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

What a fun time we had making arrows! Anyone like gummy hearts? We can't GIVE these things away!

I should share with you where the "special opportunities" came from . . . every year, I look for chances to experience Italian culture, or to perhaps come in contact with celebrities, during our stay in Italy. I've been pretty successful so far: met the cast of Ocean's 12 as they were returning to their campers for lunch, posed on all the walkways set up in honor of Versace's birthday in Rome, been in the filming of "Casino Royale", which happened during a practice run of the Palio (and saw into Daniel Craig during his visit to Siena), etc. When the Opportunity to have the pizza cooking class first arose, I jumped on it, since it was the school where we were studying, anyway. (Have done it for six years, now - trust me, it's fun!)

THUS, we have another Special Opportunity which is really no cost to us during the trip! On Tuesday, our "Free Day" in Rome, I'm booking your day up (unless you have other plans). In the morning, we're going to go down and tour Ostia, a city deserted in the 2nd century, A.D., due to plague (Saint Monica died here at that time). In the afternoon, we're coming back to the center of town, and will do a walk of Quintessential Rome: Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona. Nearby the Trevi Fountain is the Pontifical North American College (more familiarly known among Catholics as "The NAC"), where seminarians and clergy study towards their graduate degrees.

I personally know a family whose eldest son was just ordained this summer (two days before JD was born - his picture is in the center of the Diocese of Dallas Seminarians poster - it's a pic of him being ordained by the Bishop). His mom wants to send a few care packages to him, which are shoebox-sized. I'll be asking a few of you to help me with this . . . and asking the rest of you to consider bringing gifts for the Diocese of Dallas seminarians! Nothing too big or expensive, but things like a box of Girl Scout Cookies, Texas pecans, or Tex-Mex snackies are great ideas.

Please consider packing a gift to take to the NAC! This will give you that much room to pack gifts home, too!

Don't forget to mark your calendars - Departure meeting on February 23, at 6:32 PM, in the Junior Presentation Hall!!!

Hugs,
Laura :)

BRILLIANT Questions I'm sure you're all wondering

2012-01-18T06:42:00.001-08:00

Did you receive this e-mail? I'm hoping it'll help you with some advice!!!

Just to start the discussion, parents, with students:

1. I want to take my portable computer. Should I? And if I do, do I need an adapter.

Computers are heavy, and you probably won’t have the time. Plus, if anything needs an adapter (which it will), you’re risking power surges or any kind of problem. If you’re asking “What should I take?”, here are my questions in reply:

a. Would you die if you lost it/it became broken?

b. Is it so valuable to you that you’d be really inconvenienced if it were permanently gone?

Personally, I’m taking my Nook, so that I can keep track of flights/travel plans (in document format) and hopefully keep tweets running about our trip. That’s it.

2. Are you taking your phone or renting one from the website? And, if I take my computer, will I need a phone? I want to be able to skype with (LOVED ONE) at night if I can get him technologically adept…..

On as brief a trip as ours, a computer will be extra unnecessary weight. Besides, WiFi can be sketchy in hotels (even in the US – at a COMPUTER EDUCATOR’S state conference, our hotel’s WiFi dropped every three minutes). And renting phones is SO expensive for a week’s trip. Save your wallet, time, and backs/shoulders for better things, and schedule “call dates” with your loved one. Have them call you from the US! You’ll have the hotel contact information after our Departure Meeting.

7 PM = Noon in Dallas – should work for all our nights in Rome

12 Midnight = 5 PM in Dallas – will work for every evening

6 AM = 11 PM in Dallas – will work for every morning

There are always international calling stations/internet points which are far better deals – pay cash for time spent. There are a few nearby our hotel in Rome, and there’s my favorite spot located in the center of Siena (I’ve done five summers’ worth of trips away from Jay – gotta talk to my honey somehow).

Questions 3 and 4 can be combined:

3. Are you taking a separate debit card or just the one you use from home?

4. When they tell you to bring $200-$300 cash, are they talking Italian money or American?

American money! And even I am using my usual check card, which I use at home. You get the best exchange rate by using ATMs/MACs for cash (not using as a credit card – you are charged 3% on top of your charge on ALL credit cards).

Parents, if you have a special item you’d like your child to purchase, you can give them a credit card, and specific directions regarding the purchase.

5. I tend to snore when I sleep. Which means whomever I am sleeping with needs ear plugs……

If you have special prescriptions/objects for any purpose (head gear, etc.), please DO bring it on the trip! You don’t want to have any physical convenience ruining your (or anyone else’s) sleep, especially when rest is so important after such intense touring days. If you don’t have any gear for snoring, please purchase nose strips!!! Be kind to your roommate!

6. Did a practice drill on clothes this morning in my suitcase. Looks like it will work out great. I am packing an extra bag so on the way home I can check any extras that I buy over there.

YAY!!! SUPER SMART!!! Or make sure you have room in your bags for whatever you want to bring home. My goal is to buy a children’s book from every city we visit. What do YOU want to bring home for your memories?

HUGS,

Laura

January Event: Celebrate an important Italian Saint

2012-01-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

Let’s celebrate the Feast of Saint Sebastian! On Friday, January 20, wear red and yellow, and meet in my room for a breakfast together. Rather than having an event, can I encourage you to consider donating to “Adopt A USSoldier” or even, with your family, adopting a soldier?

Brief readings about St. Sebastian:

Catholic Online's St. Sebastian Entry

New Advent's St. Sebastian Entry

Executed Today's St. Sebastian Entry – NOT OF MY OPINION, but an interesting assessment

A fun Candy Arrow activity to share awareness about St. Sebastian (okay, so this is for Valentine's Day, but we're doing it to make arrows):

Hugs to you all!

Laura :)

January Newsletter

2012-01-11T07:36:00.001-08:00

TWO MONTHS from now, we'll be there!!!

Area C 2012 Competition Information

2012-01-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

We're on our way! Thank you for investing your time and interest in attending the Area C Texas State Junior Classical League competition! Here's all the information you'll need to know!

What: Area C TSJCL Competition
When: Saturday, February 25, at Hebron High School
How we'll get there: JPIIHS Bus
What we'll eat: Latin Club is purchasing two slices of pizza for all students attending. If you have a bigger appetite, please bring snacks/money to purchase yummies at the concessions stand.
What to bring: Your brain (well prepared for your competitive areas), wear JPIIHS Spirit clothing/jeans, FIELD TRIP forms: Olympica/Ludi Permission Slip JPIIHS Field Trip Form - Front JPIIHS Field Trip form - Back
Want to know more? Event website: areac.weebly.com

Please be sure you have completed the JPIIHS Medical Waiver. Please fill out both the JPIIHS Field Trip form and the Area C JCL Olympica/Ludi Permission slip, and return it to me by Saturday morning's departure.

Parents, you're invited to join us at any time of the day to enjoy the various competitions (even my own mom has done so)! In fact, I'm always seeking parents who are willing to chaperone for this event, as well as be present to be a proctor for an event. You can have fun experiencing the day's events, and possibly even participate in one of the many opportunities which we adults enjoy during the competition! If you want to join us for the fun, please contact me at laurahudec@johnpauliihs.org .

Tentative Schedule:
Saturday, February 25

7:15 AM Meet at JPIIHS; depart (Hudec has donuts)

3:30 Certamen Finals

5:00-6:30 Closing Award Assembly

6:30 Return to JPIIHS (will call parents on the way)

Should s/he make first or second place at his level on the academic tests, your child will be invited to go to the State JCL Convention, at Clark High School (San Antonio), March 30-31.

Thank you for your continual support! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions: Laura Hudec: laurahudec@johnpauliihs.org

Gratias!

Laura (Veal) Hudec

Cell phone: 214-435-4561

Our Hotels

2011-12-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

Mr. Philp just reminded me of something, indirectly - I haven't given you direct links to view the hotels where we'll be staying! This is tentative until SPI officially books the hotels (which, I think, is happening this week), but here are our hotels:

Rome - Hotel Diana

Siena - Hotel Sangallo Park

What Mr. Philp had mentioned was concerning hairdryers. In a future entry, I'll discuss how I discourage bringing ANY electronics on the trip (because of loss or theft), but, if you MUST bring something, make sure it has an official European plug with it (like Apple products).

These hotels are NICE hotels - they have the necessary amenities, too, like hair dryers and shower products. Helps reduce your packing, right? We'll eat dinner at our Rome hotel every night - they have a ROOF GARDEN with a really nice view. I know - I've stayed there with SPI groups in the past!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Laura :)

December Newsletter

2011-12-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

Buon Natale!!!

2011-12-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Italy!

BabboNatale (Father Christmas, literally) shows up for the Italians, too. But for Epiphany (January 6), the official 12th day of Christmas, Italian children celebrate the arrival of the good witch, La Befana. People will buy La Befana dolls, and, in Vatican City, a procession of people dressed in medieval garb process along the Via della Conciliazione, carrying symbolic gifts for the Pope who says a morning mass in the Basilica.

Some traditional Italian Christmas songs (and one American one in translation):
Gesu Bambino
O Bambino
Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle
Bianco Natale

And then there's the not so serious . . .
Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey

Wishing you all hope, peace, love, and JOY of the season!
Laura : )

Learn some Italian

2011-12-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

There are so many resources out there to help you learn some Italian, whether you think you can learn it on your own or you'd want to attend a university to study. At this post, I'm going to add random web resources, in case you're interested in exploring!

My Quia site: http://www.quia.com/pages/lhudec/spiitaly

Where I'll encourage you to go, if you want to study Italian: http://www.dantealighieri.com/

Web Blogs and resources (I claim no responsibility for material found on these):
http://italingua.ning.com/

The Euro

2011-12-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be brief and careful about what I say in this entry, lest anything should be skewed or misunderstood.

Greed is an ugly thing. We know this through what our domestic economy has suffered since 2008. However, greed is not just an American thing. If you have people in power, they're going to always want more if their focus is on earthly gain. Nothing fulfills like a relationship with Christ and God, right?

Every country entered into the EU for their own domestic reasons. Some countries hoped to boost their weaker (nay, more settled, perhaps?) economies, and some hoped it would reinforce their already-strong economies. Some entered because they had to. When the use of the Euro began, it was crazy-strong, and held that way for years. It started in 2002 at 1 Euro = 1 Dollar, and quickly surpassed the Dollar (or, in hindsight, is it that the dollar just weakened?). Some summers it got as high as 1 Euro = $1.73 . . .CRAZY and painful for the students who were on my study-abroad experiences!

Please don't maintain any concern about travel being affected by the "crisis" with the Euro right now. Our dollar has been in "crisis" for years (really, since 9/11), and we're not in revolt. (well, the situation is REVOLTING to me, but that's another topic.) Europeans maintain status quo even more than we do - we took the revolutionary nature from the French in the 1700's.

Not that I'm a gambler, but if I were going to buy some Euros before the trip, I'd wait a little more and see what happens in January/February. Right now, 1 Euro = $1.34. Keep an eye on it at www.xe.com!

Either way, the best way to get Euros while overseas is by using a Debit Card (check card) - rather than paying transaction fees for exchange (you can often lose as much as a QUARTER of what you're exchanging in this), you only pay the bank's withdrawal fee. It's how I've gotten money overseas for YEARS. Also, parents, you can keep an eye on the activity of the card while we're in Italy, and make sure your child is spending responsibly!

pax,
Laura :)

About Caravaggio exhibit

2011-11-24T02:43:00.001-08:00

Participate

December - museum, anyone?

2011-11-24T02:43:00.000-08:00

Anyone up for a truly Roman cultural experience this month? I learned about this on Tuesday - there's a Caravaggio exhibit at the Kimbell until the end of this year. Above is their promo for it. They have half-price Tuesdays ($6 tickets) . . . Why not go over Christmas break?

A dopo,
Laura

Italian for Dummies

2011-11-21T07:37:00.000-08:00

Buon Giorno, Ragazzi!

Tonight, we'll have our next group fun at Campisi's (Parker and Independence), at 6 PM! We'll see you when you can get there! Pizza . . . yum . . .

Which reminds me, here is a link to a great resource for picking up some quick and necessary Italian:
Italian for Dummies

I'll bring some copies of this for the meeting tonight, and will have it at our Monday morning Italian chats! Stop by sometime!

Hope to see some of you tonight!

un' abbracio,
L :)

Italian Songs you SHOULD know by heart

2011-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Here it is! Check out my YouTube Playlist of Italian songs you SHOULD know before we head overseas! And, yes, everyone should be able to sing all the words to Lazy Mary. :)

Caveat: while there are some better versions of the YouTube videos for the songs, I picked out ones which included lyrics, when possible. If you find better ones (or if I'm missing a song), please share them with me - I'll add them on!

Hugs,
Laura

Opportunity - Parliamo all'Italiano!

2011-11-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

This was proposed by one of you - let's meet weekly to learn a little Italian as we prepare for our trip! Come join us in the Freshman Commons Area on Monday mornings (7:45 - 8:30 AM - Hudec will be at a table) for conversation fun! Bring caffe for yourself, and colazione to share!!!

HUGS

November Newsletter

2011-11-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

You've been waiting for it (one day), and here it is!

We have a GREAT group signed up so far for this trip - what an amazing time we're going to have! Thank you to those of you who came to Paciugo's a few weeks ago, and I look forward to seeing you get to know each other even more at future meetings! Keep an eye on the upcoming dates - let's meet on November 21st at Campisi's (NW corner of Parker and Preston, in Plano) for our November meeting!!!

un' abbracio,
Laura

Opportunity - Pizza-making party!

2011-11-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

As the month of November advances, I will post various special (non-itinerary-based) opportunities which we'll have during our visit to Italy.

The night we DON'T have a planned dinner (we have lunch together in Florence) - that is, the one "dinner on our own" - we have an opportunity to do a cooking class! Dante Alighieri School in Siena (where I have taken students for study-abroad in past years) is offering to host a dinner class, where we'll make pizzas, a side, and dessert, with drinks included. Because they are like family to me, they're offering this at a discount for our group - only 40 Euros for the entire event! This amount is equivalent to a multi-course dinner at a restaurant, but I want to encourage you to consider this opportunity.

I, myself, DO plan to do this! If you plan to do it, too, please contact SPI ( celeste@spiabroad.com ) to inform them that you want to sign up for this opportunity. Please let them know before Christmas morning!

For more information about DA's cooking school, check this out: http://www.dantealighieri.com/italian_cooking_courses.html

Grazie tanti!
Laura :)

October Newsletter

2011-10-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Our group is growing quickly! If you have friends you'd like to encourage to join you for this trip, I'll host one more informational meeting next Wednesday (October 19), at 6 PM, in the Junior Presentation Hall! Or have them contact me! Of course, we have our first group meeting immediately following at Paciugo's (Park and Preston) at 7 PM! YUM - Gelato . . .

HUGS to you all! L:)

Here's your October Newsletter, for your reading pleasure:

You can receive these automatically! And Calendar

2011-10-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can "follow" this blog, and you can request to receive these entries direct to your email? Check it out - it's offered through blogger.com

Also, here is our calendar. If you click on the Google icon at the bottom right of the calendar, it will allow you to subscribe directly. If you have any technical problems, please e-mail me, and I'll send you a direct invitation to receive the calendar!

Welcome Newsletter and Great Bag

2011-09-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Thanks for showing you've been looking at the newsletters! I just realized that you only received half of it (silly me, Publisher saves one page at a time as JPEG files) - here are both pages. Plus, I'd be happy to share the brand of my wheeled duffle bag which I LOVE using!

Mine was the Ricardo Beverly Hills brand, but I've noticed that there are similar ones by other makers, including DaKine. I really like the fact that there are two sections to the bag, which allows for some great uses: Two people can pack into the same bag, or maybe you have a clean clothes/dirty clothes organization, or perhaps you'll do as I plan, and have mommy/baby sections! With the two zippered end sections, I can easily fit in shoes which I want to have available for easy access (i.e. when we arrive).

BIG HUGS,

L :)

Final Itinerary for March 2012 Custom Italy Trip

2011-08-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

CUSTOM PROGRAM VITALS
PROGRAM NAME: SPI John Paul II DEPARTURE DATE: March 10, 2012 RETURN DATE: March 17, 2012	PRICE: $1,895* + Airfare *Price subject to increase after October 1 or if less than 35 people are traveling.
PREREQUISITES: Must be 15 years of age or older
APPLICATION DUE DATE: October 1 FINAL PAYMENT & DOCS DUE DATE: December 1 FINAL FLIGHT BOOKING DUE DATE: December 1
APPLY ONLINE: A $500 deposit is due with your online application. This deposit goes toward the total program cost. www.spiabroad.com PROGRAM TYPE & NAME: Please select CUSTOM program and then use SPI John Paul II as the program name
FLIGHT INFORMATION: Please book your flight on the designated flight itineraries listed on the following page. You are responsible for booking your own airfare. If you wish to use a different airline, please be advised that you will be responsible for making your own arrangements to arrive at the hotel in Rome. For all questions regarding airfare please contact our travel partner STA TRAVEL directly 877-777-8717.

PROGRAM SPONSORS

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mrs. Laura Hudec

Please contact SPI or Mrs. Hudec directly with any questions you may have!

GROUP FLIGHT & BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ON THE GROUP FLIGHT:

SPI uses the experts at STA Travel to coordinate all of our custom program group flights. You will be responsible for contacting STA directly to book your flight by the date indicated. For your flexibility, you may use miles or points to book your own flight directly with United Airlines. Please note that teachers will only be traveling on the designated flight and that the group flight is open to 22 students only. Parents and adults traveling on the program are encouraged to purchase flights on this itinerary or are free to book on a different airline.

PRICE: $1,270* MUST CALL TO BOOK BY: December 1

CONTACT STA TRAVEL TO BOOK: 877-777-8717

*Group flight pricing is subject to changes in taxes and fees. Above price includes estimated taxes & fees. Please note the exact flight times may change/vary slightly.

OUTBOUND: Saturday March 10, 2012

United Airlines #273 Departing DFW 7:15 AM Arriving IAD–Washington DC 11:25 AM

United Airlines #966 Departing IAD–Washington 5:16 PM Arriving FCO-Rome 8:00 AM

RETURN: Saturday, March 17, 2012

United Airlines #967 Departing FCO-Rome 10:45 AM Arriving IAD-Washington 4:09 PM

United Airlines #280 Departing IAD-Washington 5:30 PM Arriving DFW 7:49 PM

ALTERNATIVE FLIGHT OPTIONS

Parents and students wishing to book flights on an alternative airline or itinerary may do so. Anyone arriving or departing on a different flight 1 hour before/after the group flight will be responsible for making their own arrangements to/from the hotel in Rome.

PROGRAM ITINERARY

INCLUDED MEALS:

Breakfast – Daily at Hotel

Lunch – Florence Lunch Only.

Dinner – Daily (Except Thursday in Siena) at Hotel or Local Restaurant.

*Drinks are not always included with meals. Please list dietary needs when completing the application. Please note that meals are standard ‘tour type’ meals and any special requests must be made on-site.

HOTELS:

HOTEL DIANA 4* - http://www.hoteldianaroma.com/en/

HOTEL SANGALLO PARK 3*- http://www.sangalloparkhotel.it/en/

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $500

Saturday March 10, 2012

DEPART DALLAS FOR ROME

Sunday March 11, 2012

ROME

HOTEL – DIANA

9:00 AM - ASSISTANT (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR UNITED AIRLINES GROUP AIRPORT – CITY TRANSFER.

12:30 - HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING WITH GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING – 4 HOURS) PRIVATE BUS FOR 5:30 HOURS INCLUDED.

VISIT TO SAINT PAUL'S OUTSIDE THE WALLS. HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR

GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

COMBINED TICKET FOR ENTRANCE TO THE COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

AFTERNOON FREE AT LEISURE – OPTIONAL TOUR FOR LATE ARRIVING PARTICIPANTS

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Monday March 12, 2012

ROME

HOTEL - DIANA

7 – 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:30 - LOCAL TRANSPORT FOR HOTEL - FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING WITH GUIDE (ENGLISH

SPEAKING) GUIDE DURATION 8:00 HOURS. TRANSPORT DURATION 8:00 HOURS.

VATICAN VISIT

ENTRANCE TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS INCLUDING SISTINE CHAPEL W/RESERVATION. GUIDE OR TOUR LEADER OR GTA REPRESENTATIVE IS COMPULSORY FOR VOUCHER EXCHANGE. VISIT TO ST PETER'S BASILICA INCLUDED (SHORTS OR MINISKIRTS NOT ALLOWED). HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

VISIT SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO CHURCH

VISIT TO ST. MARY MAJOR'S BASILICA. HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Tuesday March 13, 2012

ROME

HOTEL – DIANA

BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

FULL DAY FREE AT LEISURE OR ***OPTIONAL TOUR TO POMPEII***

Pompeii/Ercolano:

USD 125.88 Minimum of 20 Passengers

7:30 - TRANSFER – HOTEL TO POMPEII. GUIDE DURATION 4:00 HOURS.

ENTRANCE TO POMPEI EXCAVATIONS INCLUDING ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE.

ENTRANCE TO ERCOLANO EXCAVATION INCLUDING ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

20:30 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Wednesday March 14, 2012

ROME

7- 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ROME - ORVIETO, 120 KMS, 01:46 HRS

ORVIETO

BRIEF STOP

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

14:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ORVIETO - SIENA, 125 KMS, 01:46 HRS

SIENA

HOTEL - SANGALLO PARK

17:00 - HAVE TIME TO ENJOY SIENA ON FOOT. PRIVATE BUS FOR DINNER TRANSFER TO

CITY. ENTRANCE TO CATHEDRAL (DUOMO). 15 MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE FROM DROP OFF POINT. VIEW OF PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, ETC.

20:00 - DINNER AT: LOCAL RESTAURANT

MENU: FOUR COURSE MEAL INCLUDING DRINKS

Thursday March 15, 2012

SIENA

HOTEL - SANGALLO PARK (OFFER)

7 – 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: SIENA - FLORENCE, 69 KMS, 01:01 HRS

FLORENCE

10 – 13:00 - GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR. GUIDE DURATION 3:00

HOURS. ENTRANCE TO UFFIZI GALLERY WILL BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE.

LUNCH AT: LOCAL RESTAURANT (INLCUDED)

MENU: THREE COURSE TYPICAL MEAL

*** OPTIONAL TOUR ***

Excursion to Pisa:

USD 43.53 Minimum of 20 Passengers

17:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: FLORENCE - SIENA, 69 KMS, 01:01 HRS

DINNER IN SIENA - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

Friday March 16, 2012

SIENA

7 – 9:00 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:30 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: SIENA - ASSISI, 136 KMS, 01:56 HRS

ASSISI

GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR CITY TOUR ON FOOT. GUIDE DURATION 2:00 HOURS.

VISIT TO SAN FRANCESCO BASILICA

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

16:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ASSISI - ROME, 184 KMS, 02:41 HRS

ROME

HOTEL - DIANA

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Saturday March 17, 2012

ROME

6:30 – 8:00 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

8:00 – TRANSPORTATION TO AIRPORT AND ASSISTANT (ENGLISH SPEAKING)

JD, or What's Keeping Laura Busy

2011-08-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

So many of you have asked, so I'm putting an entry onto the Italy Blog!

James David Hudec was born on July 19, and was 7 lbs. 9 oz., and 19 inches long. What an amazing blessing he is to our lives!!! And a great teacher, too - I've learned so much from him, just in these past three weeks! Motherhood is such a blessing!

Have to include some pictures . . .

How to Sign up for Italy - March 2012! FINAL ITINERARY

2011-08-08T06:08:00.001-07:00

It official! We're in August! And SPI is ready for you to start signing up!!!

Go to: https://www.spiabroad.com/applyonline.asp

We travel in 2012 on a Custom trip. (Custom - Other)

If, during any of the application process, you should have questions, you can contact the SPI team at info@spiabroad.com or e-mail me! I do check e-mail at least once a day right now, or more often!

Throughout late June and early July, I posted the tentative itinerary for our trip, with my personal commentary. Below is the entire tentative itinerary, for your reference! SPI is eagerly working to get this into a brochure/handout, which I will have available in the Latin room (1124) and with Mr. Philp as soon as they arrive.

I do want to encourage you to begin the sign-up process as soon as possible - we've got a LOT of people interested in the trip!!!

Many of you are wanting to see what's been keeping me busy - see the next entry!!!

FINAL SPI Italy Spring Break Itinerary (updated August 29):

CUSTOM PROGRAM VITALS

PROGRAM NAME: SPI John Paul II

DEPARTURE DATE: March 10, 2012

RETURN DATE: March 17, 2012

PRICE: $1,895* + Airfare

*Price subject to increase after October 1 or if less than 35 people are traveling.

PREREQUISITES: Must be 15 years of age or older

APPLICATION DUE DATE: October 1

FINAL PAYMENT & DOCS DUE DATE: December 1

FINAL FLIGHT BOOKING DUE DATE: December 1

APPLY ONLINE: A $500 deposit is due with your online application. This deposit goes toward the total program cost. www.spiabroad.com

PROGRAM TYPE & NAME: Please select CUSTOM program and then use SPI John Paul II as the program name

FLIGHT INFORMATION: Please book your flight on the designated flight itineraries listed on the following page. You are responsible for booking your own airfare. If you wish to use a different airline, please be advised that you will be responsible for making your own arrangements to arrive at the hotel in Rome. For all questions regarding airfare please contact our travel partner STA TRAVEL directly 877-777-8717.

PROGRAM SPONSORS

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mrs. Laura Hudec

Please contact SPI or Mrs. Hudec directly with any questions you may have!

GROUP FLIGHT & BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ON THE GROUP FLIGHT:

SPI uses the experts at STA Travel to coordinate all of our custom program group flights. You will be responsible for contacting STA directly to book your flight by the date indicated. For your flexibility, you may use miles or points to book your own flight directly with United Airlines. Please note that teachers will only be traveling on the designated flight and that the group flight is open to 22 students only. Parents and adults traveling on the program are encouraged to purchase flights on this itinerary or are free to book on a different airline.

PRICE: $1,270* MUST CALL TO BOOK BY: December 1

CONTACT STA TRAVEL TO BOOK: 877-777-8717

*Group flight pricing is subject to changes in taxes and fees. Above price includes estimated taxes & fees. Please note the exact flight times may change/vary slightly.

OUTBOUND: Saturday March 10, 2012

United Airlines #273 Departing DFW 7:15 AM Arriving IAD–Washington DC 11:25 AM

United Airlines #966 Departing IAD–Washington 5:16 PM Arriving FCO-Rome 8:00 AM

RETURN: Saturday, March 17, 2012

United Airlines #967 Departing FCO-Rome 10:45 AM Arriving IAD-Washington 4:09 PM

United Airlines #280 Departing IAD-Washington 5:30 PM Arriving DFW 7:49 PM

ALTERNATIVE FLIGHT OPTIONS

Parents and students wishing to book flights on an alternative airline or itinerary may do so. Anyone arriving or departing on a different flight 1 hour before/after the group flight will be responsible for making their own arrangements to/from the hotel in Rome.

PROGRAM ITINERARY

INCLUDED MEALS:

Breakfast – Daily at Hotel

Lunch – Florence Lunch Only.

Dinner – Daily (Except Thursday in Siena) at Hotel or Local Restaurant.

*Drinks are not always included with meals. Please list dietary needs when completing the application. Please note that meals are standard ‘tour type’ meals and any special requests must be made on-site.

HOTELS:

HOTEL DIANA 4* - http://www.hoteldianaroma.com/en/

HOTEL SANGALLO PARK 3*- http://www.sangalloparkhotel.it/en/

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $500

Saturday March 10, 2012

DEPART DALLAS FOR ROME

Sunday March 11, 2012

ROME

HOTEL – DIANA

9:00 AM - ASSISTANT (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR UNITED AIRLINES GROUP AIRPORT – CITY TRANSFER.

12:30 - HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING WITH GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING – 4 HOURS) PRIVATE BUS FOR 5:30 HOURS INCLUDED.

VISIT TO SAINT PAUL'S OUTSIDE THE WALLS. HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR

GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

COMBINED TICKET FOR ENTRANCE TO THE COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

AFTERNOON FREE AT LEISURE – OPTIONAL TOUR FOR LATE ARRIVING PARTICIPANTS

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Monday March 12, 2012

ROME

HOTEL - DIANA

7 – 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:30 - LOCAL TRANSPORT FOR HOTEL - FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING WITH GUIDE (ENGLISH

SPEAKING) GUIDE DURATION 8:00 HOURS. TRANSPORT DURATION 8:00 HOURS.

VATICAN VISIT

ENTRANCE TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS INCLUDING SISTINE CHAPEL W/RESERVATION. GUIDE OR TOUR LEADER OR GTA REPRESENTATIVE IS COMPULSORY FOR VOUCHER EXCHANGE. VISIT TO ST PETER'S BASILICA INCLUDED (SHORTS OR MINISKIRTS NOT ALLOWED). HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

VISIT SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO CHURCH

VISIT TO ST. MARY MAJOR'S BASILICA. HEARPHONES COMPULSORY FOR GUIDE'S EXPLANATIONS INSIDE.

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Tuesday March 13, 2012

ROME

HOTEL – DIANA

BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

FULL DAY FREE AT LEISURE OR ***OPTIONAL TOUR TO POMPEII***

Pompeii/Ercolano:

USD 125.88 Minimum of 20 Passengers

7:30 - TRANSFER – HOTEL TO POMPEII. GUIDE DURATION 4:00 HOURS.

ENTRANCE TO POMPEI EXCAVATIONS INCLUDING ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE.

ENTRANCE TO ERCOLANO EXCAVATION INCLUDING ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE.

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

20:30 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Wednesday March 14, 2012

ROME

7- 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ROME - ORVIETO, 120 KMS, 01:46 HRS

ORVIETO

BRIEF STOP

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

14:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ORVIETO - SIENA, 125 KMS, 01:46 HRS

SIENA

HOTEL - SANGALLO PARK

17:00 - HAVE TIME TO ENJOY SIENA ON FOOT. PRIVATE BUS FOR DINNER TRANSFER TO

CITY. ENTRANCE TO CATHEDRAL (DUOMO). 15 MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE FROM DROP OFF POINT. VIEW OF PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, ETC.

20:00 - DINNER AT: LOCAL RESTAURANT

MENU: FOUR COURSE MEAL INCLUDING DRINKS

Thursday March 15, 2012

SIENA

HOTEL - SANGALLO PARK (OFFER)

7 – 9 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: SIENA - FLORENCE, 69 KMS, 01:01 HRS

FLORENCE

10 – 13:00 - GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR. GUIDE DURATION 3:00

HOURS. ENTRANCE TO UFFIZI GALLERY WILL BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE.

LUNCH AT: LOCAL RESTAURANT (INLCUDED)

MENU: THREE COURSE TYPICAL MEAL

*** OPTIONAL TOUR ***

Excursion to Pisa:

USD 43.53 Minimum of 20 Passengers

17:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: FLORENCE - SIENA, 69 KMS, 01:01 HRS

DINNER IN SIENA - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

Friday March 16, 2012

SIENA

7 – 9:00 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

9:30 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: SIENA - ASSISI, 136 KMS, 01:56 HRS

ASSISI

GUIDE (ENGLISH SPEAKING) FOR CITY TOUR ON FOOT. GUIDE DURATION 2:00 HOURS.

VISIT TO SAN FRANCESCO BASILICA

LUNCH - (UNDER OWN ARRANGEMENT)

16:00 - PRIVATE BUS TRANSFER: ASSISI - ROME, 184 KMS, 02:41 HRS

ROME

HOTEL - DIANA

20:00 - DINNER AT HOTEL

MENU: 3 COURSE MENU

Saturday March 17, 2012

ROME

6:30 – 8:00 - BUFFET BREAKFAST AT HOTEL

8:00 – TRANSPORTATION TO AIRPORT AND ASSISTANT (ENGLISH SPEAKING)

Meals "On Your Own"

2011-07-11T11:16:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to post a special note about this terminology. When we planned the trip, SPI wanted to make sure we all lived our days comfortably on this trip. Very few trips assure two meals a day on the itinerary, and I am SO appreciative that SPI has worked this into our itinerary! However, every day, you get one meal, either lunch or dinner, "On Your Own," which gives you the opportunity to check out the cuisine of the many regions we visit!

"On your own" doesn't mean that you have to hunt out food without advice, though! As we journey together, I will give you advice on locations and local specialties before we split for our "on your own" meals (and, of course, you can always follow me to wherever I choose to eat!). We are so fortunate to visit so many different regions of Italy, which all have their own personalities within their cuisine, and I want you to enjoy and appreciate this great variety in such a short time!

The great benefit to once-a-day option is to give you time on your own - you can choose a grab-and-go specialty and check out another nearby site (especially for days like Florence and Assisi), or you can choose to splurge on a lengthy sit-down meal.

Either way, I look forward to never leaving you feeling like you're "on your own" during this trip!

a piu tardi,

Laura

Assisi - our last day!

2011-07-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought our trip couldn't get better . . . our last day is the BEST! We'll have sojourned through Lazio (Rome), Campania (Pompeii), and Tuscany (Siena, Flornence), but why not get a taste of another region of Italy, Umbria? Well, technically, we'll stop for a few hours in Umbria when we make our stop in Orvieto, but Assisi has a truly Umbrian feel to it.

Assisi - what an amazing town. Whenever I stroll through it, my heart soars and my feet grow heavy by the spiritual gravity of the place. We'll have the day to spend in this place, visiting not only the famed Basilica of San Francesco, but we'll also bring our pilgrim hearts to learn about Santa Clara and the many other Francescan followers.

Friday March 16, 2012

SIENA

7-9 AM Buffet Breakfast at Hotel

9:30 AM - Private Bus Transfer: Siena - Assisi, 2 - 2.5 hours

ASSISI

Guide for City Tour on Foot. 2 hours.

Visit to Basilica di San Francesco

LUNCH: On Your Own

Afternoon - time to stroll through town. Visit Church of Santa Clara, The Duomo, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Santa Maria degli Angeli . . . or another location of your own choosing! May I recommend this great website on sacred locations in Italy? http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/assisi

16:00 PM - Private Bus Transfer: Assisi - Rome, 2.5 - 3 hours

On this final bus trip home, maybe you'll be encouraged to complete some personal writing/recording about your experience on the trip? After a day in Assisi, I hope you'll return to Rome, spiritually renewed.

ROME

Check in at Hotel Diana

20:00 - Dinner at hotel - 3 course menu

After dinner: Final stroll through Rome with Laura - anywhere you MUST return before we depart tomorrow?

Final Night: Pack and Farewells. I know this sounds like crazy talk, but one way to best fight jetlag when returning to the U.S. is by getting little sleep the night before - helps you sleep soundly during the long flight home, and manage the LONG day's return (we add 7 hours onto our bodies when returning home)!

Saturday March 17, 2012

ROME

6:30 - 8:00 - Breakfast at hotel - Did I mention we get to eat breakfast every day on the roof garden of the hotel? Only a few of those exist in Rome . . .

8:00 - Transportation to Airport and Assistant - Just like on our date of departure, I will be as much help to you as possible for our date of return. If you find that you have a later flight, and would choose to stay in Rome until later, I can help you with the very easy independent return to the airport. Our hotel is located right near Termini (the main train station of Rome), where you can catch a direct express train which will drop you off AT the airport.

As I mentioned before, once you've booked your flights, please send me and SPI your itinerary. I want to make sure everyone has the best experience from the moment they depart DFW to the minute you return home!

Look for more commentary on our trip and other exciting events in upcoming posts! Also, you might just find a new baby post next week here . . .

un' abbracio a voi,

Laura

Bella Toscana

2011-06-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ah, beautiful Tuscany. While my heart truly belongs in Lazio (namely in Roma), Tuscany is such an amazingly enchanting region of Italy. When you visit there with me, you'll see why there are so many books, fables, and fairy tales which originate from this location. And you'll see why cities fought so eagerly for the vintages which thrive there . . .

Wednesday March 14, 2012

ROME

7 - 9 AM Buffet Breakfast at Hotel

9 AM Private Bus Transfer: Rome - Orvieto (about a 1.5 or 2 hour bus ride)

ORVIETO

11 AM Stop in Orvieto for visiting and Lunch (on your own)

Orvieto is such a charming little town. Of course, their Duomo (with the candy cane designs) is a must-see, but, for my history buffs, it offers some amazing Etruscan sites and collections in the museums.

For a taste, Rick Steeves offers a nice little description: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/01orvieto.htm

14:00 Private Bus Transfer: Orvieto-Siena (2 - 2:15 hours)

SIENA

Tentative Hotel: Sangallo Park http://www.sangalloparkhotel.it/en/

17:00 - Depart hotel for a walking tour of Siena with Hudec. Private bus for transfer. Entrance to Duomo. View Piazza del Campo, San Domenico, Home of St. Catherine, etc.. Passegiata, anyone?

20:00 - Dinner at Local Restaurant: four course meal, including water/soda.

After dinner: Stroll through Siena. Return to bus for private transfer to hotel.

Thursday March 15, 2012

SIENA

Tentative Hotel: Sangallo Park http://www.sangalloparkhotel.it/en/

7:00 -Breakfast Buffet at hotel

9:00 - Private Bus Transfer: Siena - Florence (1.5 hours)

FLORENCE

10 - 13:00 Guide for half-day sightseeing tour of Florence. Included entrance to Uffizi Gallery (reserved in advance).

Lunch at Local Restaurant (included meal): three course typical meal.

Afternoon: time on your own in Florence (go to see the David at the Accademia! Shop for leather or gold in the markets! Climb the Bell Tower at the Duomo! Visit the Medici Chapels or Dante's house! Or, if you're a view seeker, head up to the Piazzale Michaelangelo or to the Boboli Gardens.

OPTIONAL TOUR - Excursion to Pisa: $45 minimum for 20 passengers - If you're interested in traveling out to Pisa to see the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), which includes the Duomo and the infamous tower, this option is for you!

17:00 Private Bus Transfer: Florence - Siena (1.5 hours)

Dinner in Siena - on your own! (I'll have several recommendations when we go on our walking tour the day before, or you can always research your own, as well! If you do, please share!!!)

Next up: Assisi!!!!

Tentative Itinerary - Roma Arrival

2011-06-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

SPI has worked diligently with me to establish an AMAZING tentative itinerary for our trip! Rather than just copying and pasting the itinerary, and letting you guess how awesome these places are, I thought I'd talk to you about each location, for the days we stay there. (also, as I've been put on bed rest, there's only so much typing I can do before I lose patience with typing sideways!)

Again, please remember that this is the TENTATIVE itinerary - we all know how some things happen . . . especially when we're in the middle of the Lenten season!

Saturday March 10, 2012

DEPARTURE DATE

SPI's Statement:

FLIGHT INFORMATION: Please book your flight on one of the designated flight itineraries. Everyone is responsible for booking their own airfare. If you wish to use a different airline, please be advised that you may be responsible for making your own arrangements to arrive at the hotel in Rome. Please review booking details located online: http://www.spiabroad.com/flightinfo.asp

ITALIAN/LATIN INSTRUCTORS: Laura Hudec

Please contact SPI directly info@spiabroad.com or 866-502-7505 with any questions you may have!

DESIGNATED INTL FLIGHT OPTIONS

OUTBOUND: Saturday, March 10, 2012 ***Please book connecting flights with 3 hours of time between flights!

American Airlines #110 Departing ORD (Chicago) 8:40 PM Arrive FCO (Rome) 10:05 AM (March 11)

RETURN: Saturday, March 17, 2012

American Airlines #111 Departing FCO (Rome) 11:35 AM Arrive ORD (Chicago) 2:15 PM

SPI has designated these few above flights as their "designated itinerary," but if you book your own different flight by miles, that works fine, as well - it just means you won't see my shining face until we all arrive into Rome! Our trip officially begins when we meet at the hotel in Rome, but I'm here to prepare you for your travel day experience - just send me a note! Please, please share your itinerary with me as soon as you have it, and I'll be organizing my own arrival plans to make sure everyone has a smooth experience arriving into Roma!

If you inform me about when your flight departs from DFW, I'll try to meet you at your gate to see you off that morning.

Sunday March 11, 2012

ROME

Arrive to FCO, and catch transfer to hotel. As long as you've shared your flight itineraries with me, I'll know to meet you as you exit Customs!

11:00 - Assistant (English Speaking) for Airport-City Transfer.

Accommodation: Hotel Diana - I have stayed here a few times in the past - outstanding hotel - http://www.hoteldianaroma.com/en/

LUNCH: On Your Own (if we go to St. Paul Outside the Walls first, there's a great market just outside of there where you can get awesome to-carry food)

12:30 Half Day Sightseeing with Guide (4 hours). Private bus for 5:30 hours included. Visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls (headphones compulsory for Guide's explanations inside); Combined ticket for entrance to Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Afternoon Free at Leisure - we are located just around the corner from St. Maria Maggiore, another of the four Major Basilicas (like St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter's) - for a virtual tour, see http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/vr_tour/index-en.html - figured anyone interested can go with me to Vespers there, before we have dinner in the hotel.

20:00 Dinner at hotel - 3 Course Menu

After dinner: Brief stroll - "una piccola passagiata", and early to bed, to fight jetlag

Monday March 12, 2012

ROME

7-9 Breakfast Buffet at hotel (yes, on the roof - FANTASTICO)

9:30 - Meet local transport - Full day sightseeing (8 hours!) with Guide. Be sure you're in PROPER DRESS CODE, as we're visiting churches today! The Fashion Police WILL stop you from entering important churches!

VATICAN VISIT

Entrance to the Vatican Museums, including Sistine Chapel, with reservations. Visit St. Peter's Basilica (PROPER DRESS CODE). Headphones compulsory for Guide's explanations inside.

Lunch: On Your Own

Entrance to San Giovanni Laterano and St. Maria Maggiore. Headphones again compulsory.

20:00 Dinner at hotel - 3 Course Menu

Evening Stroll with Laura: See the truly Roman Sites (Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon) and end at Piazza Navona for an evening of seeing and being seen.

Tuesday March 13, 2012

ROME

7-9 Breakfast Buffet at hotel (again, on the roof - FANTASTICO)

FULL DAY FREE AT LEISURE OR ***OPTIONAL TOUR TO POMPEII***

Pompeii/Ercolano:

USD 125.88 Minimum of 20 Passengers

7:30 - meet bus at hotel - Transfer - Hotel to Pompeii - Guide duration 4 hours

Entrance to Pompeii excavations, including guide. Also, entrance to Ercolano (Herculaneum) excavations, including guide.

Lunch: On your own

20:30 PM - Dinner at Hotel - 3 Course Menu

After Dinner: Evening Stroll with Laura - traveler's call - where do YOU want to visit? (I've got some suggestions, of course)

Well, that's our stay in Rome! Of course, our last evening will be in Rome, before we depart the next morning, but that's for another entry . . .

Next up: Tuscany!!!

P.S. Did you know that you can subscribe to these posts? They can be sent directly to your e-mail, rather than your having to check this out every so often! Check the link at the bottom of this page . . .

Fun in the Media - Papal Audience and June 2

2011-06-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

No - I'm not going to bring up Berlusconi - he loves the attention - today is a focus on some more fun which is happening in Rome right now.

June 1 and 2 - If you're a Today Show viewer, you know this already. Today and tomorrow, the Today Show boys are in Rome for an exclusive interview with Il Papa. As Wednesdays are the days for regularly scheduled Papal Audiences, they had the opportunity to attend a Papal Audience, and to personally meet the Pope. Tomorrow morning, during the Today Show, they're going to have an interview where they tour the private residence, the Vatican Gardens, and have the opportunity to see a day in the Papal life.

Having visited both the Papal Gardens in Vatican City AND the gardens at Castel Gandolfo a few times each, I can promise you that you'll want to enjoy the beauty of the Vatican Gardens! There are even reconstructions of a few sacred sites throughout the world . . . it's VERY cool.

June 2 is also the equivalent to our July 4 - the Festa della Repubblica - they celebrate the day they chose to unite Italy as a republic. This was pretty recent - 1946 - when Fascism fell - they were voting whether to become a monarchy or republic - thank goodness the latter option won! They do fun stuff, much like our July 4th celebrations - green/white/red everywhere, flying jets over the city with colored jet streams, etc. If you search around online, you'll find pictures of the various celebrations!

Have a fantastic week, and congrats to everyone finishing another successful academic year this week!

un' abbracio,

Laura :)

P.S. Want to talk about the opportunity to attend a Papal Audience? I will be posting our tentative itinerary for the March 2012 trip next week, and Wednesday is our day we head to Siena. Thus, if any adult chooses to stay in Rome for the Papal Audience, he will have to deal with his own transportation to Siena and to the hotel that day (which I can help you schedule, but it's not as nice as our private bus which SPI plans for us!).

Wanted in Rome

2011-05-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend! If you're in my area, can I encourage you to come to the MayFest on Saturday evening? Can't wait to see the Powderpuff game!

There are several magazines out there which offer information for tourists/locals, about the fun events, exhibits, and other opportunities in La Bella Citta. One you can only pick up in print form, while in Rome: Roma Che - way better than any Dallas informational magazine out there!

But my favorite website, when it comes to keeping up on the goings-on, is Wanted in Rome: www.wantedinrome.com . I learned about this magazine the first summer I lived in Rome, to study with Father Reginald Foster - several of my classmates arrived to Rome without any accommodations booked for our 8-week stay (incredible!), and used the magazine to find apartments for rent. Since then, I've found great appreciation for the "What's On" and "News" sections, as I plan for my group's best experience every year in Rome. It's how I knew where to find the "Ocean's 12" cast's trailers (we met them as they returned for their lunch break), and where to find some great spots for pictures of the Versace displays, when he celebrated his birthday a few years ago.

Did you see? They're working on restoring the Colosseum! Just for our visit next year! So kind of them to think of us!

Feel free to check out this fun website - maybe you, too, will find some fun apartment for rent, or might look into one of those job availabilities (can't tell you how many times I've read into the "English Teacher Wanted" ads)!

peace,

Laura :)

Booking Flights for March 2012

2011-05-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Can you believe we're already within the realm of flight booking? Ah, time's going to fly . . .

While SPI is looking into getting group reservations for a flight (so that you can be assured that your child is traveling with me), I know that some of you were planning to book your own flights, whether by miles or with a specific carrier. Even my own mom just booked her flight, which reminded me to mention some parameters to keep in mind:

Arrival into Rome on Sunday, March 11:

1. Try to arrive into FCO (Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci - the major airport in Rome goes by a few names . . . NOT Ciampino, the regional airport) on Sunday morning, March 11, before 11 AM. Most flights arrive from the US in a few shifts: 7 AM hour, 9 AM hour, and 11 AM hour.

2. This will probably have you departing from a major airport (Chicago O'Hare, JFK, Atlanta, Boston are the usual ones) in the early evening on Saturday, March 10. Always allow for decent connection times - don't want to be without bags during your week in Italy!

Return on Saturday, March 17:

3. The most comfortable departure time is around 11 AM or noon to 2 PM, which will get you home around dinnertime or afterwards - ideal for fighting jetlag - the less time you have to stay awake when you get home, the better.

As soon as SPI has found the chosen flight (based on ideal price and itinerary), I will inform you of this! But if you're planning to book your own flights, I'd suggest you start looking NOW - they're filling up!!! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions regarding this!

HUGS,

Laura :)

Special Opportunities during our Trip

2011-04-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

We have such a great variety of experiences going on this trip - people who have never gone abroad, and those who regularly travel world-wide. I do respect this, and want to give the best individual experience to everyone on the trip.

Thus, parent attendees, if, when you're looking over our itinerary, you see a day in which you would prefer to do something else, or if there's an experience you want to have which isn't on the itinerary, talk with me, and we can work things out! Students, you just get to have quality time with me the whole time (but I'm willing to go to Castel Sant'Angelo)!

Exempla gratia:

1. You've already visited the Vatican Museums.

Just down the street from there is the Castel Sant'Angelo (which is included on the Romapass - reservations not necessary), which began as Hadrian's Mausoleum and was turned into a place of refuge for popes throughout history - it's where they ran every time Rome was under seige. Or maybe you want to do a tour of the catacombs under the Vatican? You'll want to book reservations when you sign up for this trip, to see if you can get the exact day (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20040112_it.html is the website, but it's in Italian - I can help translate it/help you with trying to book reservations). Also, you could go to the Museo Borghese, just a few metro stops away from the Vatican Museums (reservations required - http://www.galleriaborghese.it/info-en.htm) which houses an amazing collection of artwork, including many sculptures by my favorite sculptor, Bernini.

2. You've been to Florence, and have been to the museums we'll visit (Uffizi), and would rather visit elsewhere.

Tuscany has a wealth of experiences to have, besides just seeing Florence! And they have a FANTASTIC regional bus line - TRAIN - where you can hop on a bus, get off at a town, and catch the bus at the same intersection to return home. I will highly encourage you visit one of three very charming towns: San Gimignano, Montalcino, or Montepulciano. San Gimignano has the best gelato in the world (certified - I'll attest to it), Montalcino is well-known for its history and Rocca (local fortresses in Tuscany - only Siena has a Fortezza . . . but I'll explain the differences when we're in Siena), and Montepulciano/Pienza is known for the town, and for the pecorino cheese which originates there. YUM. There is always Pisa and the tower . . . I'd recommend Lucca, but it's just a lot of transferring (no direct bus). Or you could always sleep in and enjoy the day in Siena (my favorite town in Tuscany). I can recommend places for you to visit/experiences to have there, too!

3. You've done Pompeii, and want to enjoy Rome on your own.

There is NEVER a way to see all of Rome. I've been going there since 1995, and still have places I haven't seen (closed whenever I had stopped by, etc.). You can go to one of their hundreds of museums (pasta museum, anyone?), you could visit the major basilicas (the Vatican is just one of four in town, and the others are all on metro stops), you could shop (shoes! perfume! clothes!), or you could just plant yourself on a sidewalk cafe and watch people pass by (don't forget to keep ordering food - courtesy, people). I can plan out a day's itinerary for you, based on the personal experience you want to have! Or, if you want, you can always go out to Ostia Antica and experience a quieter, lusher experience of an abandoned city (2nd C, rather than Pompeii's 1st C). You can take a local bus out to Tivoli, and visit the Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa, too!

Some people are even looking at taking the opportunity to arrive early/depart later than the scheduled itinerary, which is fine, parents. Students can travel with me and the accompanying teachers. If you're looking at arriving a few days before or staying a few days afterwards, let me know what you want to do, and we can work out a schedule! Really, down to the train/bus schedules.

pax,

Laura :)

Holy Week and JPII's Beatification

2011-04-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Vatican is BUSY this week, of course! Plus, we have a big day ahead of us on May 1, when Pope John Paul II will be beatified.

If you'd like to follow the Vatican from now through Sunday, feel free to check out:

http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/holy-week/2011/index_en.htm

I believe both Good Friday services and Easter services will be broadcast on TV, as well (EWTN, I think) - there's nothing grander than the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, in such a holy space!

Then, on May 1 (yes, after the royal wedding), will be the beatification of the Holy Father. You can find some great information at:

http://www.vatican.va/special/anniversario_gpii/documents/index_en.htm

If you're taking the time to watch the royal wedding on April 27, DEFINITELY take the time to watch the services, as well!!!

pax,

L :)

Beviamo???

2011-03-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

There has been some discussion about concern regarding alcohol consumption on the trip. Let me state this official statement: for the sake of the safety and comfort of the group, it's not permitted. As a ten-year veteran Director of Italian Study-Abroad programs, I can attest that, when people come on a trip with the intent to consume beverages in an inappropriate manner, only trouble can happen. I have not only dealt with students who overdrink to the point of alcohol poisoning (and end up in the Siena Hospital), but I've also had to deal with the Quaestura (local police) because of students making inappropriate decisions while under the influence of alcohol. (While these were all great vocabulary-building experiences for me, they were a waste of my and our group's short-lived Italy time!)

According to the SPI Online Contract of Terms and Conditions, sections 18, 19, and 20, as well as at the top of (and throughout) the Standard of Conduct, we address this issue. Since this trip is not at all associated with the school where I work, I base my policies on the SPI company's policies. At the most, I am upholding my own moral standards for the best behavior of our group. At the least, I am upholding American laws.

Please let me know if you want to personally talk to me about this topic, but, as far as official statements go, alcohol consumption is a no-tolerance issue for me!

Always seeking to ensure the safest and best experience for the group,

Laura :)

Enrolling and SPI questions

2011-03-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hi, Future Italophiles!

There have been a few more business-type questions, having to do with applying/signing up for the trip:

1. People are eagerly signing up right now, but, seeing as SPI is in their summer trip management mode, they'll be focused on welcoming you in August/September! Thus, you can wait until then to sign up for the trip! We won't be cutting off the trip applications before November, at least, so don't worry about losing a spot. The deadlines, as posted on www.spiabroad.com, aren't applicable to our special Custom-Italy 2012 trip.

2. Your teacher recommendation is important. Please be sure to include my name, Mr. Philp's name, or Mr. Bearden's name when you register, so that they can be contacted about their recommendation for your acceptance for the trip!

3. PLEASE include any of your special dietary needs in the Housing form. It's important to me to know your personal needs when we travel together!

4. There has been some discussion about concern regarding alcohol consumption on the trip. Let me state this official statement: for the sake of the safety and comfort of the group, it's not permitted. I'll make a new posting on this - see the next entry.

Please feel free to send me an e-mail with any further questions, and I'll be happy to share a prompt reply!

Hugs,

Laura

The Borgias

2011-03-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

As you'll read on this blog several times, I like to encourage viewing movies as a way to experience history and culture of a far and distant land. As far as media for Ancient Rome/Latin is concerned, there are fun movies (Gladiator) and totally inappropriate TV shows (Spartacus: Blood and Sand; Rome). Not that I wouldn't recommend them, but just know that I couldn't show more than 5 minutes of each hour-long show in the classroom! (Haven't yet seen "Eagle" - hope to do so this summer while I'm laid up on the sofa)

This weekend, Showtime is is starting up their next big epic series after "The Tudors," called "The Borgias." Personally, I can't wait to see it, but I will offer a few caveats to innocent eyes:

1. I haven't seen any of the shows, and I'm expecting them to have the same appropriate level as "The Tudors" or the prior-mentioned Roman-themed shows, i.e. too juicy for children's eyes;

2. I would never support anything which besmirches the papal name;

3. With #2 stated, I do know the history of the Borgia family and Alexander's history. And Jeremy Irons plays Pope Alexander. If you'd rather learn about the history of the papacy from an unbiased source, please let me know where you find one! :)

Please feel free to check prior entries to see other suggested movies for enjoying your pre-Italy experience! With the passing-away of Elizabeth Taylor, who WOULDN'T watch "Cleopatra"?

un' abbracio,

Laura

Signing up!

2011-03-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

Wow - we have so many people eager and ready to sign up! Can't tell you how excited I am about your enthusiasm!

SPI is super busy right now, finalizing plans for all of their 2011 summer trips (which you can view on the website, including the Italy Study-Abroad program), and might not be able to respond immediately to you. Thus, if you have questions, contact me directly, by e-mail or through this blog! Once we get to August, SPI will be ready for your enrollment (with bells on), and will even be ready to talk about specific flights for our Custom Italy 2012 trip! Please know that we won't be limiting any enrollment until then.

Again, I'm here and ready to receive your e-mails with any inquiries about the trip! Forgive my delayed response over Spring Break - I'm running off to an Hawaiian island to hide and cement my Lenten promise to limit my e-mail-checking habits. :)

peace and love,

Laura :)

Booking Flights ***Changing news on 4/4/11!

2011-03-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Some of you have shared concerns about booking flights, and I completely understand these concerns! It would be nice to know when the group flight is, so that you can get your kiddo on the same flight!

SPI has answered your concerns! In APRIL (330 days out, for you knowledgeable travelers), SPI will research and find the best flight for the group's travel, and will then give you the information on those flights (to assure that your kiddo will travel on the same flight as I'm on)! SPI is still trying to decide whether they will simply book a group of tickets on that flight, or whether they'll handle the booking for you . . . as soon as I know, I'll inform you!

Andiamo!

Welcome to the Italy Experience!

2011-03-08T13:28:00.001-08:00

Wow - just over a year away from our departure, and we already have three people (plus) signed up for next year's fun! And three SUPER-quality people, at that!

Y'all had some really good questions about signing up/the online registration process. Please remember that some of the essences of the other SPI programs differ from our Italy 2012-Custom trip!

Page 1. Program Data - Custom Program Name - Italy March 2012

Page 3. Housing Data - This is where I get to know YOU, too!

Please be sure to enter as much into this as you'd like: Important: Dietary Needs, Allergies, Pre-Existing Conditions, Prescriptions, Common Medical Problems; Good to know: Roommate Request, Past travel experiences,

***Info about yourself, and your family - please give me some good information about you here!

Also, please do read through the SPI Policies and Rules/Regulations, given on the last page (Page 4) - it's important that students understand the rules under which they're expected to travel! I like to establish an environment of great respect and trust during our Italy experience, to make it the best travel fun you'll ever have!

Please feel free to share comments here, or following any post!

un' abbracio,

Laura :)

San Gimignano and our last day

2010-07-08T11:26:00.001-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Today was such a great experience for the group that I had to share it with you!

After class today, we hustled (actually, the kids ran, and I tried to keep up) to catch the bus to San Gimignano for an afternoon of touristy behavior. San Gimignano has a few important attractions:
1. The Duomo of the city - contains frescoes of the old and new Testaments of the Holy Bible. Also contains the burial location of the patron saint of the city, Santa Fina. She's actually an ideal saint to know for our group. At the age of 10, a serious sickness overtook her body causing her to become paralyzed, and, rather than being bed-set, she preferred to lie on an oak table. Eventually, her body actually grew into the oak table, and, after 5 years, Saint Gregory the Great appeared to her and predicted her death, which happened soon after on the predicted date. A symbol of determination and faith.
2. The Rocca - like every other town in Tuscany, SG's Rocca is the highest point of the city, with beautiful views and a nice, fresh place to enjoy the coolest spot in the city.
3. The best Gelateria in the World - tacky and neon-laden, this spot cannot be missed. Most of us in the group had two servings of gelato from there. They have several special flavors, but the one I most recommend is the Crema di Santa Fina - a cream-flavored gelato with saffron, with a little granola and pine nuts in it. WOW. And I'm totally a chocolate and fruit flavors fan.

SPI graciously covered the cost of the bus tickets for going and returning, so the kids had a great time wandering town, with Becky as tour guide. Hope they have some great pics to share with you!!!

Tomorrow is our last day of class, and our last day in Siena. Everyone will be taking a test to check their progress, and they'll receive diplomas of credit (which I'll promptly collect and take to SPI, from whom you can get them when you go to your university's orientation!). We will take a stroll together out to the Fortress for a group farewell to Siena, then the kids have the afternoon and evening free to make any final purchases and pack for Rome. We meet EARLY on Saturday morning - have to be ready to catch the bus at 7 AM! - and will bus back to Rome, where we'll return to the same hotel where we stayed at the beginning of the trip. After dropping off bags (and meeting my husband, who arrives when we do), we all will travel by metro and local train to Ostia Antica, where we'll tour the city, deserted in the 2nd century due to the plague. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel to rest and do any final packing (can you believe the ENTIRE group of kids told me that they DIDN'T want to go to the beach for a few hours?), then have our final dinner out, before I force a good night's sleep on all of them before a long day of travel on Sunday.

Parents, again, I just wanted to thank you and the kids for the awesome experience we've had this summer. Not only has this bunch been some of the best learners of Italian, they've been adventurous, always willing to go the extra few steps for the special opportunity. They've made this experience for me so special, and I'll always be thankful.

peace,
L

FA CALDO

2010-07-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno!

Well, the heat has become another member of our trip. At least, that's how it seems - it sticks to you everywhere! Being in the shade does give a little reprieve, and time at the beach (or in another smaller town) helps.

On Tuesday, after class, we met up at the Palazzo Pubblico. It's the palace which you see whenever you view pictures of Siena's Campo (main piazza in town). The front has a large sun with "IHS" on it - the symbol of one of Siena's two patron saints, San Bernardino, who brought Christianity to Siena (I think . . . but post a correction if I'm wrong). Of course, the other patron saint is Catherine, about whom we learned on Monday. The Palazzo Pubblico contains two entrances. We entered the palace itself to view the various pieces of art, collected over the centuries, as well as the infamous frescoes of the place. In one room, Becky was amazed by the art commemorating the historical events surrounding Vittorio Emanuele II, Ian thought the sleeping child sculpture was pretty cool. Brenna and Stephen absolutely soaked up all the old frescoes, which had images of the church fathers with the prophets, or the Maesta, or the Allegories of Good and Bad Government. Bravo to Trevor, who, after our artsy tour, chose to climb the Torre del Mangia, the iconic tower of Siena which is attached to the Palazzo.

After our tour, normal life came calling, and several of us went to find lavanderie where we could wash our clothes. There was a pleasant break from the sun with a few minutes of couldy skies, but, let's face it, we're all ready to have a good night's sleep in an air-conditioned room (which we'll get on Saturday). The heat is getting to the point where we're not sleeping well . . .

Today, we had a normal day of class, then, for everyone, a giorno libero. Some people chose to watch the movie of the week, which is shown in the library (Biblioteca) of the school. Some are taking care of themselves and staying out of the heat (and hiding in their homestays). And some chose to take advantage of the season which starts today in Italy - SALDI. Beginning on July 7, all stores put their stuff on"sale", hoping to sell all their summer lines out, before they close up to go off for vacation in August, and return in September to restock their stores with the winter lines. It's the day to buy!!! (Thus a free day)

Tomorrow, we're going on a fun excursion together. Through this trip, many of us have been on the noble pursuit of the best gelato experience. Fortunately, SPI gave me some funny money to spend with the group (on Siena excursions), which, so far, has given us all our entry fees. Tomorrow, immediately after class, we're going to catch a bus to a nearby town, San Gimignano. Of course, this spot has important religious significance, and the saint, Santa Fina, is a good example for youth (she actually died in her teenage years). We will visit a church with beautiful frescoes depicting the stories of the Old and New Testament, and may even attend a little bit of a Vivaldi concert, which is being held in nearby church. But, just as important, is that this town has the best gelateria NEL MONDO. At least, they have the sign to prove it. We'll see if the kiddos agree.

Friday will be our last day in class and in Siena, and the kids will get a free afternoon to have their last experiences in town. Me, I'm running off to the Fortezza to find a fresher breeze. Then, on Saturday, we will meet early (at 7 AM) for the bus to Rome, where we'll check in to our hotel and meet up with my husband, Jay. From there, we're going to do a tour of a nearby ancient, deserted town, Ostia (far nicer experience than Pompeii - not eating dust, and it's near the ocean). What a great way to end this awesome experience together, before we all return home on Sunday!

And that's exactly what this has been - a great experience for the whole group. Your kiddos have been so open-minded and adventurous, easy-going and resilient . . . I've already written a personal note to each of them (which they'll get when I give them their passports), but, parents, please know that they've been an absolute pleasure to lead this summer!!!

a dopo,
Laura :)

Selva ha vinto!!!

2010-07-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Wow, with all that has happened since my last entry, this might have to happen in a few separate entries. I had every intention to do a computer entry on Friday, but all the regular places closed up for the Palio festivities.

Thursday was a fun day - we did a tour of the Duomo of Siena (far better to visit the inside than in any other Duomo in Tuscany), and got to view the black and white fest that is the beauty of the inside of the Duomo. A side chapel contains many manuscripts of chant books, which were collected by Pope Pius II (Piccolomini), who hails from Siena. Afterwards, we all headed to Nannini's, the best bakery in town, where we got to enjoy (by my treat) a few Siennese treats, namely cantucci and vin santo. Cantucci are little cookies which look like biscotti (named thus because they're "twice baked"), but are super-hard. You have to soak them in vin santo to make them soft enough to eat, or else you could break a tooth on some of the harder versions of them. Ricarelli are soft cookies, dusted with powdered sugar, and, then, there's the Panpepato and Panforte (made with dried fruit and almond slices, with a little flour to hold it together). Yum, yum, and MORE YUM. Parents, I often encourage your kiddos to pick these up as gifts to bring home . . . we'll see if they heed my advice!

Friday was the day of the Palio. And, as always, it was a day of craziness! I had a gal in my homestay one year from Switzerland, who turned to me during the Palio, and said, "Questi Senesi, sono proprio pazzi." (These people from Siena, they are crazy in their own right.) We got out of class and they locked up the school right at 1:30, and everyone went their own way. at 2:30, many of us attended the Benedictioni at one of the contrada's churches, where they walk the rider (Fantino) and THE HORSE into the church for a blessing from their contrada's priest. Then, each contrada marches by the Monte dei Paschi (where banking was established - sponsors much of the Palio), to salute the bank, then back around town to salute the Archbishop, who is standing at his window, just juxtaposed to the Duomo. Then, they all follow down to the Campo, with the Corte Storiche (a historical procession, where people in medieval garb represent all the contrade, plus all the cities in Tuscany, as well as all the virtuous qualities)following afterwards. Everyone who hasn't paid for a seat (exorbitant - 300Euros per spot, and sold out by February) follows this procession into the Campo, like water flowing down the drain, and they wait and bake. Sooner or later, the Palio (a big flag, a new one designed each year) comes out on a cart drawn by four ENORMOUS bulls, and, once it's posted up in the corner of the Campo, the Fantini and the horses come out. Many false starts ensure, and the lineup has to be redone many times. This year, it was actually faster than usual, and the real race happened about 45 minutes before I was expecting.

And what a race!!! L'Onda started out strongly, and made the two first laps way ahead, but then . . . that crazy gray horse . . . well, you can watch it yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVBCFFN605s&feature=PlayList&p=585BA467533EF135&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1

La Carriera is the actual one. You get all the excitement - people falling from their horses, a change in leaders . . . so exciting. And, my favorite part - when it's over, the winner celebrates, and everyone else turns off the TV and starts dinner, as if it were just another program. Don't worry. Selva has been partying. EVERY NIGHT. My window is 100 meters from the border between Aquila and Selva. Grazie a Dio for earplugs. They will do this for a while - they have bragging rights for this Palio until next July. There is another one of these in August, but it's considered a totally separate event, and that winner will, also, have bragging rights until the next August.

On Saturday, we went to Florence for a day of learning about art and architecture, and what a great day! SPI booked reservations, so we got to enjoy some strolling time, then went right into the museums at our reserved times! We got to see the Primavera and birth of Venus by Botticelli in the Uffizi (and my favorite statue, Laocoon, the priest of Troy), and we got to see i prigioneri and the David at the Accademia. We discussed the idea of seeing motion in sculpture, and we even got to enjoy a little bit of shopping! But, with the heat which has settled into Tuscany, we were all happy to get onto our bus with A/C and get back in time for dinner at the homestays.

On Sunday, we had our giorno libero. Beach time for the kiddos, and they had a great time! And the sunburns are none too bad, as well (yay!). We will get a little optional beach time on Saturday, too, when we have our last day in Rome. We'll see if they want to do it by then . . .

Today was back to class and regular schedules. We did a nice walk to some sacred places in town (to see spots relevant to St. Catherine of Siena), as well as a walk to some fresher spots. As we parted from each other, some thunderheads were forming in the distance. While I've sat here, the guy at the internet spot claims that it started raining, but I don't believe it, unless I feel it! They say that the heat index in Florence today is at 41 gradi (which is close to 110 degrees F), and it's never much different in Siena. Get me to the Fortezza, quick!!! Mom and Dad, I'm totally camping out at the pool when I get back . . .

We were talking this weekend, and can't believe we're halfway through this trip! Becky just made the comment to me, today, as we were passing a group of visiting tourists, that she doesn't feel like she's a tourist - she feels like she has more an attachment to Siena. Indeed, we are all feeling more like locals at this point.

More to share once we've done it!

pax,
Laura :)

Il Palio

2010-06-30T07:27:00.001-07:00

It's official - we're in the center of the craziest place in the world, or so it feels . . . the Palio events started yesterday, and oh, are they fun!

Yesterday was the Tratta, where they pair the horse to the jockey (who has been previously chosen by each competing Contrada - neighborhood). People sweat and stand in the sun in the Campo to watch this - men paired with good horses are yelling and cheering; men paired with weaker horses are crying and moping. Publicly. Seriously. But, as my teacher says, with the Palio, you never know who might be the winner. Sometimes the weakest or least experienced horse can win. Nicchio ("the Shell" Contrada) has, by far, the strongest horse, as shown at last night's test run - the first one - the Prima Prova. There's this grey horse (Il Griglio) which has been in the race before, too, which Selva ("the Forest") has, and the beast has some serious spirit to it. A few years ago, during one of the prove, he threw his rider and turned around and ran the wrong way around the track. Ah, the fun of the Palio!

Our group missed the Tratta yesterday, because we got to enjoy our pizza-making class (gift of SPI to our group) at the cooking school, which is located in the bottom floor of our school. Normally, they have classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, where DA students can attend to help make food. They opened the kitchen specially for us for yesterday's lunch time. We made some fabulous stuff, even if I say so. Luke and Stephen both admitted that they'll want to make bruschetta al pomodoro again, Trevor enjoyed the bruschetta al' formaggio (on which we could put anchovies, too - YUM), all the boys enjoyed the pizza with prosciutto and salami, Brenna and Becky devoured the pizza ai funghi, and I watched Ian inhale his tiramisu. We are all cooking MASTERS now!

Today, there are two more Prove - one this morning, while we're in class, and another this evening. But you can find things happening throughout the town intermittently - I just passed a large group of women, all from the same contrada (you know because they all are wearing their contrada's scarf around their necks), strolling through town and singing songs. All of the contrada members join together to improve the spirit in favor of their horse. During this time, it's not uncommon for married couples to move back in with their families, if they're from different contradas, and even best friends, if from different contradas, will have nothing to do with each other during this time. It's all madness to me . . .

Today, after class, we did some touring as a group. This year is a big celebration year of the beginning of the Rinascimento (Italian Renaissance), so Siena offers tickets to places for SUPER cheap (plus discounts to students). We toured the Museum of the works of the Duomo, and tomorrow, we'll be visiting the Duomo, herself. Be sure to ask your kiddo to see some of their pictures off the Facciatone (what, I think, is the best view in Siena, even though my husband thinks the Torre del Mangia is better - next week we go there). Tomorrow, we have class, and then we will head to visit the Duomo with the same ticket which I bought for them today (again, thanks to SPI)! Then, on Friday, PALIO!!!!!

pace,
Laura ;)

Siamo Arrivati!!!

2010-06-27T23:40:00.001-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Ah, what a weekend! We arrived into Fiumicino, with everyone quickly meeting up and rushing to grab the Termini Express. With a slight delay (KUDOS to Luke's Italian teacher - he was able to handle what could have been a very difficult situation with a little Italian and a lot of diligence), we strolled to our hotel, just a block or two from Termini, and checked in. Hotel Diana even had rooms available for us, so we got 10 minutes to drop off bags, splash water on us, and meet back downstairs. By my advice, we didn't break to shower or rest - gotta get our bodies ready for the time change! We grabbed some pizza al taglio, and headed to our ancient day (students have a brochure of a description of every sight we saw, but it was in backwards order!). After 6 solid hours on our feet (going from shade spot to shade spot, right guys?), we hopped the Metro back to Termini, and the kids quickly learned why I prefer to avoid the Metro (ah, the humanity! Ah, the humidity!). We returned for a few hours of shower and rest, and then went to dinner at Pancrazio's, which stands over foundations of the Theatre of Pompey. Full of fabulous food, tired and drained, we stumbled back to the hotel and crashed. But not for long . . .

Saturday morning, we rose and did a morning stroll through the rest of Rome, starting at the Piazza del Popolo and going all the way around to the Vatican. We split up right after grabbing more pizza al taglio - some went to the Vatican museums, others to the Castel Sant' Angelo. We all met back up in the Piazza di San Pietro, and flew through the line into the Vatican. The place was packed, and much was blocked off, with seating in there - this week is the summer holy week for the Catholic church, beginning on June 24 with the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and ending on the 29th (or on the 2nd in Siena - PALIO) with the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Again, stumbled on our blistered and swollen feet back to the hotel (the kids figured out the bus system pretty quickly) to rest, before heading to Montecarlo Pizzeria. Hope they enjoyed my treat of the misti fritti appetizers - Trevor liked the potato croquettes, Stephen, Becky, and Brenna liked the stuffed fior di zucca (zucchini flowers), and Luke and Ian enjoyed the suppli (arancini) - balls of a mixture of rice and tomato paste, wrapped around a ball of cheese, and breaded and fried. Good sleep that night, good rest on Sunday morning, and, after 3 hours of bus ride, we were in Siena!

We covered every tourist location in Rome, and in 36 hours flat (and, hopefully, got some sleep). Needless to say, my feet were protesting by this morning. Everyone is in their placement tests right now, and classes start at 9! Palio events start tomorrow - so much to share with you in our next blog!!!

This is a shorter one - other students waiting to use the computer - gotta go!

Pace,
Laura :)

Last-minute Packing Hints

2010-06-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Steven just sent me a great e-mail, which caused me to realize that I needed to post one last blog before we depart!

"Laura, can the boys wear shorts on Saturday in Rome when you will tour some churches? What about at the Vatican?"

When I travel internationally, I always pack one outfit and basic toiletries into my carry-on (backpack), just in case bags are lost. Seeing as our second day is a day of touring Rome, including visiting the Vatican, you might want to make sure your carry-on outfit suits the Vatican Fashion Police Rules: SHOULDERS AND KNEES COVERED; NO EXCESSIVE CLEAVAGE

I plan to pack a t-shirt and skirt which hangs below my knees. Girls, if you want to wear sleeveless shirts, please back a beach wrap/scarf to cover your shoulders and front. Guys, usually men's shorts are long enough for the fashion police (as they are longer than your knees), but if you're in doubt, pack comfortable slacks. Please, guys, no "daisy dukes", okay? EVER?

And, of course, pack anything you can't live without:

- important daily medications (with a copy of your prescription)

- passport

- comforts for sleeping on the 'plane - earplugs, inflatable neck pillow

Hugs to you all! See you on Thursday or Friday!!!!

pax,

Laura :)

Countdown!!!

2010-06-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's getting serious. We're now ten days away from departure!!! I'm putting something little in the mail for you tomorrow (you should receive it by Friday), to make your flights a little more pleasant. Dallas-based guys, I so look forward to meeting you tomorrow evening! It's been forever since I have eaten at Lovers' Lane Pizza . . . almost a whole YEAR . . .

Let's talk about our arrival weekend! (forgive me for not using specific names - my best way to use anonymity on the 'net) Three of you will be on the flight with me; three of you will arrive on your own. Two of you already know where to meet me (just outside of customs), and one of you arrives just 15 minutes after our flight, so we can meet up before exiting customs. If we're all wearing the SPI shirts, it will be SO easy to find each other, and then we can promptly head to the center of the city. And please expect to get the customary "two kisses" - it's a normal way for family/friends to greet!

As soon as we've all gathered together outside of customs, we'll walk through the airport to the train station, which will consist of walking down a few corridors, then down one flight of escalators, then back up three flights. (a side note: I so appreciate how American-based airports have gotten the cue from European airports, and incorporate their local transportation system into the airports - made it so easy to get around Atlanta . . . DFW will be there soon - the Trinity River Railway is a good start) We'll have a moment to pause - you can get a snack or bottle of water - while I buy the tickets for the next Termini Express. We'll queue up for our first experience of public transportation, hop onto the train, and sit together to ride in to the center of Rome. When we arrive, we'll have to walk through the entire train station, then a few blocks away to our hotel.

We're staying at a NICE, four-star, hotel located near Termini. We usually stay in a different area of town, but Jeremy found this spot, and, after receiving my approval, booked it. He loves us few Italy crew . . . Our check-in will be quick (like, just enough time to find a place to put our bags, and slap on deodorant and brush teeth), and we'll be off! We will do the Ancient Roman sites today, and mostly on foot. It's the perfect thing to do on the first day of arrival into an international location - dusty, hot touring. You're blessed to have an Italo-phile who has lived in Rome, and whose favorite area of study is Roman topography. I know the right places to sit in the shade and take in the sights, will take you to some of the best spots for great pictures, and will share with you a taste of history with which I'm so familiar. After a day's worth of touring, we'll return to the hotel for showers and rejuvenating before heading to dinner at Pancrazio's, a historically-significant restaurant (and a good one, at that). We'll spend a little time hanging out in the Campo dei fiori, then return back to the hotel to crash.

On Saturday, we'll get up early (I'll insist everyone eat a good breakfast, and be sure you're dressed appropriately - we enter many churches today), then we'll be off for a stroll through Medieval/Renaissance Rome (with a few ancient spots thrown in). Seriously, guys, the amount of ground we cover between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning is equivalent to what most tour groups cover in a week. Students in the past have complained of a "death march" . . . I don't know what they're talking about. It's a thorough touring experience. You'll have time for lunch on your own at the Piazza Navona, then we head to our individual museum experiences (some to Vatican Museums, some to Castel Sant' Angelo . . . all of us to Old Bridge Gelateria beforehand). After a few hours, we'll meet back up at the Piazza di San Pietro, and visit one of the four Major Basilicas of Rome, the Basilica di San Pietro, or, better known, the Vatican. After ample time at the Vatican, we'll return to the hotel to clean up, and head to a great pizzeria in town, then time for hanging out at the Piazza Navona.

Sunday morning, you have time on your own. We are staying just down the way from another one of the four Major Basilicas - Sta. Maria Maggiore - whomever would like to join me for Mass can do so. Maybe you'll want to go to Porta Portese, the huge market, before services? Maybe you want to get one last view of the Forum before we depart Rome? You'll have until 1:30 PM, when we'll meet to taxi to Tiburtina Station (bus/metro/train), where we'll catch a direct bus to Siena. During this ride, we'll chat about expectations and questions regarding our first day or two in Siena. When we disembark the bus at the Siena Statione FS, we'll meet and greet our homestay families, and head home for dinner and our first night in Siena!

It may be a quick glimpse of Rome, but, then again, my goal is for you to want to return! :)

Please feel free to send me more questions, either through this blog or through my personal e-mail! This one might just be my last entry before we meet next Thursday!

Hugs to you all!

Laura :)

Travel Stress/Jetlag/Culture Shock

2010-06-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ciao, Tutti!

Ah, so happy to be in summer mode now! And, as my husband can attest, my brain has switched into full Italy-planning mode . . . it’s like a
new life is being breathed into me! Jeremy sent out the final packet
of stuff for our trip, which has me totally pumped!!! With the
exchange rate being so strong, we’re getting to do things we’ve never
done before in the SPI Italy program! But I don’t share all my
secrets at once. You’ll just have to wait to find out as we enjoy the
trip together . . .

Parents, this entry is for you. Please take my best intentions to
heart, and know that I share this with you as a veteran teacher who
stands in loco tuo.

Stress. It’s such a funny beast. We all live with it, and some of us
thrive better while under pressure, while others of us aren’t such big
fans of the inconveniences of stress (I’ll admit, I’m in the latter
group). I was part of a stress-management group on a faculty where I
worked once. The first time we met, we did a survey to assess factors
which most cause stress. There are sources of good stress, and
sources of bad stress, and often one source could give you good or bad
stress, depending on how it affects you and when it hits. Some of the
biggest sources of stress? Change of schedule, change of living
situations/environments, change of eating habits . . . all of which
you endure when travelling.

You’ve seen your child endure stress before, in whatever forms it
rears its nasty head. For anyone who has done extensive travel
before, you know that you endure both a physical and emotional strain.
Stress manifests itself in various ways for travellers:

1. Jet Lag – maybe you know this malady from the hung-over feeling
you have for a few days following a time change. They say that it
takes you as many days to get over jet lag as the amount of hours’
difference on your body (e.g. from Dallas to Rome is 7 hours’
difference; thus, it will take a week on either side to truly
rehabilitate from jet lag. ICK). Jet Lag isn’t just a lazy
sleepiness; it can show up as various forms of indigestion, nausea,
and dehydration, and it can affect your nerves, bringing on
irritability and impatience. Some of the nastiest jet lag I’ve
suffered was after a flight between Dallas and Spokane (WA), so don’t
think this happens only on international experiences.

2. Culture Shock – this, too, isn’t just in your mind. When you find
yourself in a new home, forced to utilize a new/vaguely familiar
language, having to live on a schedule you’re not used to, discovering
various minor inconveniences . . . well, add a little bit of jet lag
to this, and you can have a vicious monster. Even the smallest things
will set someone off, and I’ve even seen students who refuse to sleep
or eat (REALLY!?!?! Not eating in ITALY??? REALLY!?!?!).

Parents, your kiddos may experience either one of these while we’re on
the trip. Usually, it happens during the first week (also during
which, by the way, we are thrown into the midst of the frenzy of the
Palio). In my Departure Info Powerpoint, I included a slide of “what
they say/what they mean” to help you realize some of the things you
can expect to hear from your kiddo.

I have two questions which are applicable to most challenging
situations while we’re on this trip:
1. Is this a stupid mistake, or is it self-destructive behavior? (if
it’s a repeat offense, it’s the latter, always – BTW, Parents, if
there’s a behavior I should monitor, please feel free to contact me
privately),
AND
2. Are you uncomfortable, or are you inconvenienced?

When your student expresses frustration at the trip, appreciate the
fact that they’re trying to share their emotions with you. If
something sounds severe or inappropriate, of course you should contact
SPI. But please remember that you have entrusted your kiddo to the
SPI program and a veteran teacher like me, and I’m talking with your
kiddo constantly, always making sure that they are safe and
comfortable. If it’s something which only I can handle locally, know
that I’m probably already on it.

Again, contact SPI if:
1. Something illegal or inappropriate is happening, and I don’t know
about it; OR
2. Something amazing and wonderful is happening – Celeste and Jeremy
TOTALLY need to hear these things!!!

Hugs to you all!

Peace,
Laura :)

Italian Republic Day - June 2

2010-06-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, just had to do one more cultural one:

In 1946, Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a Republic. Today, President Napolitano lays a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is located at the Vittorio Emanuele monument which beautifies the Piazza Venezia (to call it a "wedding cake" is so gauche). Then, there is a parade leading from there down along the Via dei Fori Imperiali towards the Colosseum, with the Italian Air Force's honor color squadron ("Frecce Tricolori") flying above to display a path of green, white, and red smoke. The day is closed with concert performances by military bands at the Palazzo Quirinale, Napolitano's official residence.

Ah, Italia . . .

L :)

Euros

2010-06-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

Business topic - quick chat about cash management and handling. (I've got time - totally caught up on essay scoring for final exams - don't need to hear about Life of Pi for a while)

You have several options for how to carry non-cash money for a trip:
N.B. * - I encourage this!
***1. Debit card (check card), attached to an account which parents can view and control -
Benefits:there are Bancomats everywhere in Italy (heck, Siena is the spot of origin for banking!), and you only pay your bank's ATM fee to withdraw (no payment for exchange). If a child gets low on money, you can control the account. If they see some fabulous expensive thing you'd want, you can control the account. :)
Downside: you have to keep an eye on their account
2. Travelers cheques.
Dollars: You can get these from any financial institution
Benefit: You have leftover travelers' cheques in dollars if your kiddo doesn't spend them all.
Downsides: your kiddo loses money in the exchange and in the fees ($10-15 on every $100), and they spend most of their time looking for deals at exchange spots
Euros: You can get these from exchange groups like Travelex (there are three in the Dallas area alone, one in Preston Center).
Benefit: Less money to lose in exchange
Downside: The only hinderance your kiddo has is finding a vendor who is willing to take them, and then pay back the kiddo in leftover cash. Usually, banks will allow you to get cash for exchanging them, but, again, there might be a fee. Also, if not everything is spent, you have to pay for the exchange back to dollars
3. "Cash Passport" - Travelex has started offering these, where you can buy a debit card which is pre-charged with Euros (rather than a home bank's card, attached to your account of dollars).
Benefits: Less money lost when using Bancomats ($1-3 per use)
Downside: If not everything is spent, you have a useless money card sitting at home

If you want to pre-purchase cash itself for a trip, this will have to be done at an exchange location (or at a bank which functions internationally, like Citibank). With the way the Euro is falling, it might be better to just wait until we arrive into Rome to get cash from the Bancomat. But if you're just wanting a little security, I can tell you that Travelex is RIGHT NOW offering a coupon online for a $0 service charge when you get Euros-cash at their store: http://www.us.travelex.com/US/Home/ Also, Citibank offers deals on exchange for people who are Gold card members. Other groups may be offering deals, but I'm just not aware of them - feel free to comment on this blog if you know of one!

Off to more final exams!

grazie,
Laura :)

Toscana

2010-06-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

WOW - can you believe we're less than a month away from departure? How quickly this Spring has flown by! Don't know what it's like in your part of the country, but it just got HOT in Texas this week . . . just in time for hanging out by a pool or at the lake . . . did you know that the highs in Siena this week are in the mid- to upper 70's, with occasional rain storms? Or so they forecast . . .

Which brings me to our middle weekend during our trip. If you'll remember, my last post was about Ostia, which we'll visit on our last day before departure (and stay in Rome our last night). Our middle weekend promises to offer culture, travel, and a little time on your own! This weekend, we take in the sights of Tuscany, and the amazing history and art which has emerged from this part of the world.

Now, don't get me wrong - Rome truly is my heartbeat, and I will always have a personal tie to Roma. However, after my first stay in Tuscany in 2004, I was HOOKED - every town is so beautifully enchanting and historically intriguing! It's no wonder this region was the epicenter of the Renaissance . . . and we get to experience all of the greatest parts of it in one weekend!

On Friday, July 2 (a month from today - SERIOUSLY), the Siennese celebrate the Palio di Provenzano, in honor of Madonna di Provenzano, who has a church in town. I'll share so much about the Palio with you during our stay there (and you'll learn more from your teachers than even I know), and, parents, you'll get all the information in this blog. Needless to say, the afternoon offers much pomp, and then we have the fun of enduring 3 hours of false starts before the actual 1.5 minute race. Thank goodness for those giant Litre water bottles!

Then, on Saturday, July 3, we venture on a day of Firenze. While we will visit the Uffizi and the Accademia (thank you, SPI, for paying for reservations!!!), we'll also have open time for you to visit other locations you'd like to see. Maybe you want to see Galileo's index finger at the Museum of Science and History? Perhaps view the frescoes in Santa Maria Novella? I always make my stop by the Farmacia di SMN (located right behind the church) to pick up their amazing perfumed soaps -and other elixirs - for family gifts. Or perhaps you want to visit one of the other grand churches in town? Santa Croce and the Duomo, with its Baptistry, are both beautiful in their own right (even if I think Siena's Duomo is grander). Then, of course, there's the leather market out near San Lorenzo (yet another historical and amazing church), and one always must fulfill their search for the best gelato by visiting some of the stars: Vivoli, Carabe, Festival del Gelato . . .. Needless to say, there's so much to do in such a brief day! Fortunately, since buses leave every hour for Siena, we can stay as long as we want that day (as long as we've told our homestays in advance that we'll be not eating at home that night)!

After such an intense touring day, you might be tempted to sit around your homestay on Sunday (July 4), but I will encourage you to discover other parts of Tuscany! In fact, you'll receive a brochure (one of many - I make them for every non-Siena excursion we have) on your many options for your free day. Want to head to the beach? Maybe visit Assisi? Perhaps you didn't get enough of Florence? Or do you want to stand next to the Leaning Tower in Pisa? I've even seen a few Twilight fans make a "pilgrimage" to Volterra, and a few history buffs head out to see the Roman Amphitheatre in Arezzo, or go down to Chiusi to see the Etruscan Tombs. SO many options! If you've been encouraged to visit San Gimignano, I'll suggest you wait on that one - we're going to do an afternoon optional excursion to San Gimignano during our second week in Siena.

What great opportunities abound during our time in Italy! Let me know what you're most excited about seeing!

a piu tarde,
Laura

Ostia!

2010-05-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings, All!

Okay, so I had to give you a little Palio taste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffOXBd9QBZ8

You can actually see one of the SPI Italy '08 kiddos in there - he's wearing a striped shirt. Mark was such a lucky dog that year. He chose l'Istriche to win (even though they hadn't won in decades) . . . think his homestay was in that contrade. With his Mediterranean background, whenever he entered a museum/church and used his best Italian (which he learned only on this trip), they assumed he was an EU citizen, and he entered on the cheap or for free! I'm so jealous!

I'll share with you about the Palio when we're there - such an incredible event!

ANYWAYS, as we approach our trip, I thought I'd share with you some of our itineraries/plans for our weekend excursions . . . just to whet your trip-petite. And, just to keep it exciting, we're going to talk through the trip BACKWARDS!

Our last weekend is designed to give you the best LAST DAY experience ever! Friday night, 9 July, is our last night in Siena. Jeremy has given us all an awesome gift of a pizza party at the cooking school! Dante Alighieri has a fully-stocked professional kitchen, where they host gastronomy classes - check out DA's website, if you're interested! The head instructor will oversee us making a pizza dinner (with desserts) in the kitchen for our last dinner in Siena. I promise, it'll be unforgettable for you! After our dinner, we might just stroll by the church of St. Agostino, where the first concert of the Chigiana's Settimana Musicale Senese will be performed - you can sit out in the park, and still hear the music! Nothing like a Mass by Beethoven under the stars to help digest fabulous food (and a fabulous trip)! Or maybe SienaJazz will be hosting a concert? Then, of course, there's always the Cinema in Fortezza, if the movie looks good . . .

On Saturday morning, we're going to meet early to catch a bus to get us back to Rome, and quickly check in at our fabulous hotel. Dress in your beach clothes, because we'll head directly to Ostia for a last day of ancient sites and beach fun!

Ostia (literally, "port" in Latin) was Rome's port town since Rome was founded in 753 BC. It alone held much prestige - it was the choice of visitors for their stays to Rome, if they were traveling by sea - we have records that Cleopatra stayed in a palatial area there, and St. Augustine recalls his stay when he was trying to return his mother from Ostia to Hippo, in north Africa, where he served as Bishop. There's a story about an obelisk being transported from Alexandria to Rome, and the barge needed to transport it was so huge that it beached outside of Ostia's shore (and made an island out there, big enough for Claudius to build a lighthouse on it). For almost a millennium, Ostia was in use, until it was hit by a plague in the 3rd C., AD, and was promptly deserted. The modern city has grown up around it, but the ancient city was left untouched, and, in spite of its proximity to Rome, generally untrampled by tourists (as opposed to other deserted ancient cities, where you eat dust the whole time). We will tour the city of Ostia in a leisurely afternoon stroll, then we'll head down to Ostia Lido until dinnertime, where we get to take in some beach time and Italian sun, before our next morning's departure.

This website about Ostia's beach cracks me up (all too true!!!): http://www.initaly.com/regions/seaside/michael.htm

We'll return to the hotel to clean up that evening, then head somewhere fun for dinner. I'm still researching spots, and happy to take suggestions! Often, our spot for our last night's dinner is driven by how many Euros we have left in our respective pockets . . . :) We will be staying at an awesome hotel, which has a roof garden and a great restaurant which offers a good deal for a fixed-price menu . . . ah, the options!

Next time: TOSCANA!!

Communication

2010-05-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

Ah, to cell or not to cell, that is the question.

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

the expense of the phone bill

Or to await in nervousness

the next time they will make the call home.

No call, no news -- no news, no knowing?

'Tis a consummation for every parent of a child going abroad.

(I could go on! My other teaching area IS English!)

But in all seriousness- and this is a serious topic, truly-parents who send their kiddos oversea always struggle with the decision to invest in a cell phone. Rather than get preachy (as I have done in previous years), may I share a few of my cell phone stories with you?

Story #1: Parents rent a cell phone for their responsible child. Child never charges phone. Battery dies. Parents e-mail me to ask child to charge phone. Daily, I remind child to charge phone. No charged phone. Parents end up just reading my blog for news. (actually, this story happens once every trip!)

Story #2: Parents rent a cell phone for their responsible child. Responsible child uses phone only when parents call her (on a scheduled time). Child's roommate calls boyfriend (in Dallas) on cell phone every night. $500+ phone bill piles up. Responsible child's parents must pay bill.

Story #3: Parents rent a cell phone for their responsible child. Child, missing friends at home, texts constantly, and doesn't participate in group activities. Child never feels part of group, and never realizes that she is living in Italy. Responsible child's parents must pay bill.

Story #4: Parents don't rent a cell phone for their responsible child, but do schedule times to call the child's homestay (received calls cost nothing to homestay families), and child informs homestay of this. Child and parents talk twice during the trip (Tuesdays, at 5:30 PM - 10:30 AM Dallas time), and parents read my blog for trip news. Child has four weeks' of stories (including his takes on all of my blog stories) to share with parents after returning home.

Now, these are just a few stories I've seen regarding cell phones. I am not going to tell you to NOT get a phone for your kiddo, if you really want them to have one. Let's face it - Jeremy has his own leash to me! But, it's the same as in all other situations with going abroad: Whatever distractions you bring over with you are what will keep your experience from being the best.

There are many options - no calling outside of the country, may receive only incoming calls, etc. - but, what it all comes down to is, do you want your kiddo to have that extra link home? And to be spending their time on a phone, rather than experiencing life in Italy? With e-mailing/blogging (which is also FREE), they can get news out to all their friends and family in one note, then head out to enjoy la vita bella!!!

pace,

Laura :)

Looking for an ACCURATE Currency Converter?

2010-05-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

Buona Sera!

Just a quick note - I did remove the currency converter from my page - noticed that the one I had doesn't update, and the one I want doesn't show the complete page! If I can find a suitable add-in, I will be sure to include it on the page. Until then, here's the best, and most recently updated one:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

There is a way to get this onto one's website - if I can figure it out quickly, I'll get it on the page!

pace,
Laura :)

What NOT to pack

2010-05-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

Ciao, Tutti!

While flipping through the channels the other day, I found a show which brought back funny memories. When my baby sister was in college, her friends turned her in to be on the show, "What not to Wear," for Christi's taste in dress. For over 1.5 years, Christi wore spaghetti-strap tank tops. Even in the winter. Madness.

I'd like to propose a new show: "What not to PACK". When it comes to travelling, packing is the most daunting concept of the experience. Even figuring how to get around a new city (with new transportation, new "home" location, new food types, all in a new language, even) is less threatening than the idea of giving up our home-based comforts.

Admittedly, too many rules or policies for anything drives me crazy. But some of the policies developed by the FAA since 9/11 have made such great sense to me! Who needs more than 50 pounds of stuff when you're traveling? Does where you're headed NOT have a supermarket? A food source? A sink? Also, who needs more than 3 oz of any liquid in their bags? You're just asking for a nasty spill!

SPI has given you a nice list of what you should pack. Definitely consider that list and your itinerary plans (when we tour on our first Saturday in Rome, we'll go into the Vatican - you need to have shoulders/cleavage/knees covered). So, here's my advice on what NOT to pack:
1. Anything more than 3 oz. of any liquid. Weigh your bottle of shampoo sometime, to see how much it really weighs. Need more shampoo or mouthwash? Pick it up at the supermarket (or beauty stores - they're all over Siena)!
2. Anything that needs a converter. Power surges will blow straight through converters, and I've seen them (and the converters themselves) destroy students' iPods, DVD players, and minicomputers. There are radios in the city, and computer labs both at the school and around town. Can't live without a hair dryer? Wait until you get to your homestay - they might have one there. And, if not, we can go shopping for one on our first day of classes - what a great gift to leave behind at your homestay (or to even have as a memorial of the trip)! Please don't weigh down your bags with expensive gadgets.
3. Anything you don't want to lose. Is it a family heirloom? It is something you can't live without? Consider leaving it at home for our brief stay. A lifelong loss of something priceless is way more painful than a few weeks' hiatus.

Siena has many universities in town, which means that they're going to have services you need all over the city. Remember how I mentioned that you could make it with nothing but your passport?

a piu tarde!
Laura :)

elenco di canzoni

2010-05-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

Ciao, Tutti!

Something came up for me in class today, and I thought of y'all. As a trained musician, my soul is attached to music, and all best expressions of myself I've always found in music. My students often receive music during testing/in-class working time, and they, too, find more peace in themselves. Even my freshman football players in English I CP are transformed. Truly, music soothes the most savage beast.

This isn't unfounded professional behavior - it's been proven how sounds, in their various forms, affect water molecule patterns. And how music can truly change our moods. I'm a huge proponent of the Mozart effect during testing (even though I'll include other classical composers of similar style, plus Tchaikovsky).

When you view any tourist-based videos of Italy, you're going to hear music which is faintly familiar, but which is deeply based in the hearts of the Italians. There are some songs which you just should know if you're a music-lover visiting Italy. And this isn't stereotypical - you will find random groups of people circling around a pianist (or other instrumentalist), singing familiar songs.

I do own Dean-o's "Italian Love Songs", which is a good sampling of traditional Italian songs, but here's a general Italian Playlist, if you'd like to feel prepared for the party:
Volare
That's Amore
Funicoli, funicola
Arrivederci, Roma
Santa Lucia
Return to me (Song of Sorrento)
O Sole Mio
Lazy Mary
Buona Sera

Get this on your iPod! Got more to add to this list? Share your suggestions!

You might just find yourself surrounding a piano, and joining strangers in a familiar song.

un' abbracio,
Laura :)

What To Carry On

2010-05-04T07:04:00.001-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

After sending out that note last night, I figured I should get on the ball with these blog entries!

This weekend, I joined my husband and father-in-law for one of their famed baseball weekends. This isn't my first time - we did Kansas City/St. Louis just two summers ago. And this one was even nicer - we flew into Miami for a Dolphins' game, then drove to Tampa for a Rays game (got to visit the Dali museum), and flew home on Sunday (not before enjoying brunch with some old family friends). A trip like this one reminded me of how important it is to pack smartly - Jay and I fit all we needed into one carry-on suitcase (and, yes, girls, I did have a pair of cute shoes and a pair of walking shoes).

The best advice about carry-ons is this: either carry on as much as possible, or carry on as little as possible. If you're checking a suitcase (as I'm sure all of us will for our trip), make sure you have just the essentials in your carry-on.
What do I put in mine (the backpack)?
Source of entertaining reading - a really good book (I'm taking my summer-reading assignment for my English classes), your copies of paperwork (and mine)
Important paperwork and medicines: If you take it daily, put it in your carry-on. If you need it for emergencies, put it in your carry-on. If it has a prescription, be sure you have a copy of that paperwork (and a copy for me) in your carry-on.
Emergency items: dramamine or bonine, bandaids, neosporin, gas-X strips (great if you get bloated easily)
hygiene products: facewash cloths (Mary Kay's are packaged dry and folded up - wet them in the sink), travel-sized deodorant, toothbrush/travel toothpaste
Color for jetlagged old lady like me: eyeliner/bronzer
Snacks (in case one of you needs it): packages of crackers/peanut butter or cheese
***Change of clothes in case bags don't make it (or, at least, underwear and a t-shirt . . . but, then again, it isn't terrible to have an excuse to go shopping in Rome . . .)

Please remember that we're living in Siena - a finely-developed city, not some third-world place without plumbing. I plan to make a visit to the laundromat in the middle of our trip, and don't want to spend my money on more than one load's worth of wash and dry. Some of your homestays will even offer to wash a load for you (mine doesn't, but I still love her - beg to live with her every year). Pack accordingly.

How do you know if you've packed too much? SPI does give a good packing list in your notebooks which you'll receive, but here's the real way to test it: Pack your suitcase completely, including toiletries you plan to take. Leave it to the side, and go out all night. Before you get to sleep the next morning, pick up your suitcase, and carry it up and down three blocks, climb and descend two flights of stairs with it, then run up and down your street with it. Still happy with how you packed?

There are a few sections of packing advice in the monthly newsletters (you can find their links in the greeting area of the SPI Italy Quia page) - check them out!

a piu tardi!
Laura :)

P.S. Want to see some good views of Siena in a recent movie? "Letters to Juliet", while I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for brilliant plotline (just like "When in Rome"), does have some great views of major locations in Siena!

Our Classes

2010-04-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll be honest - I've delayed this next entry, simply because I haven't had much inspiration to discuss any topic which would be relevant to our Italy experience. Today, I scanned the "news" (I use quotes as I don't personally consider CNN.com as the most valid news source). . . Volcanic activity in Iceland . . . Tax day . . . AI dumps two performers (really? this is worthy enough to be even on CNN.com?) . . . and then it appeared - a big group of principals are being fired in Kansas City, MO. All 150 of them. They are being required to re-apply for their jobs (and the school district is cutting 1/6 of them).

Which makes me think of the educational system in Italy. Much like it is for us, their system is free and compulsory, from 5 - 16 years of age. This policy has been around since the mid 1800's - WAY before the American educational system was developed. From 1920's to 1962, they did try to install a Fascist system (legge Gentile), where at 14, students chose whether to go to trade or educational tracks. We'll talk about various ways in which the Facist ideals are seen throughout Italy (in architecture, in daily life, etc.), but this one didn't stick. They returned to the original plan after 1962, and have continued it until then.

We will be attending a University-level program. In Italy, the laurea program was a 5-year program, similar to a combined Bachelor-Masters degree. Starting in 1999, studies were separated between Bachelor's program (3 years - 25 contact hours equaled one credit)and a graduate program (2 years). This makes it easy for students to transfer to another school after 3 years of study.

Our school where we will attend is the Societa Dante Alighieri, where you'll be taking classes in the mornings, during the weekdays. Classes aren't necessarily topic-focused (as it is in your daily school) - to more effectively learn the language, you participate in speaking, reading, cultural studies, and even art studies. The school even includes a FANTASTIC culinary school. DA is internationally-recognized, and has a history of infamous students, from cultural attaches to diplomats to Miss Universe 2004!

DA seeks to give you the best experience possible. They limit class enrollment (you might even all be in one small class together), and the teachers are AWESOME. Ask past Italy group members on Facebook - they all have fond memories of their teachers (Enzo, Leticia, etc.).

DA also handles our homestay placement, and they always seek to put us into their best homestays! We will find out our homestay placements a week before our departure date, so don't worry too much about these right now - just know that I'm familiar with most of their regular families, and they are outstanding. (Will talk about homestay gifts as we get closer to our departure date)

Please, give me inspiration - ask me questions! Send me notes!

un' abbracio,
Laura :)

http://www.dantealighieri.com/

Pasta

2010-03-29T15:34:00.001-07:00

Do we have any Simpsons fans out there? This Sunday's show cracked me up - Flanders took the Simpsons on a tour to the Holy Lands. While there was also some fun theological play throughout, the first half had many "Idiot American Tourists" references. I'm such a fan of people who find humor in people behaving badly abroad . . .

But this blog entry is to address a far more serious topic. There has been a culinary abuse which has been going on in America for years, and I, for one, just will not tolerate it anymore. An entire group has been mistreated and taken for granted for decades, and I feel I must speak out. I speak on behalf of PASTA today, my friends. Pasta, which has more variety than ice cream flavors. Pasta, which is structurally designed to hold the sauce which is appropriately paired with it. Pasta, which really should only be cooked one way. Pasta, which is important enough to the Italians to be used as an entire course on its own.

The Romans know how pasta should be revered. Rome has the Museo Nationale della Pasta (http://www.pastainmuseum.com/index.php) - that's how serious they are. And, when you enjoy a primo piatto during our first weekend in Rome, you, too, will see how serious they are. Long pastas, short pastas, soup pastas . . . semolina wheat, durum wheat, potato . . . red sauces, white sauces, pestos . . . mmmm . . . I've got to get dinner going . . .

Italophiles know that pasta isn't just designed for the eater's delight; each variety of structure of pasta is made so that it pairs ideally with the sauce which it holds. This hoo-hah of "choose your own pasta, choose your own sauce" is just that - hooey. Kudos to Barilla, a company who has been seeking to properly educate the United States in how to treat pasta properly. http://www.barillaus.com/home/Pages/Perfect_Pairing.aspx offers a thorough chart on types of pasta, and the sauces which should be paired with them. Just like ideal cheese and wine pairings, sauce behaves the right way when it's with its right pasta. Some of my favorite pairings are Bucatini all' Amatriciana, Gnocchi con Pesto, and, my favorite in Siena (a must do, at least once), Pici con cacio e pepe (hard, aged cheese and pepper grated over it).

Italophiles also know the importance of cooking pasta al dente - no serving mush to your table! It's no wonder why Americans feel we can cut pasta out of our diets - we have become pros at destroying the beauty of it. It has been medically proven that pasta done al dente is better for digestion . . . please, if you have tolerated soggy pasta for years, make the change to a better pasta experience!!! Pasta has to be strong enough to hold up to its paired sauce!!! It is said that Pasta is architecture for the mouth, and how can it serve its job when it's too mushy to hold its own shape? http://www.archimedes-lab.org/pastashape.html will give you some great images, if you want to feast with your eyes.

I am still on a mission to find a place which makes pasta at a restaurant in Dallas which fulfills my senses as much as when in Italy. The closest experience to pasta pleasure I've found is at Mi Piaci, just off Beltline and the Dallas North Tollway. If you're a regular Italy tourist, do you have another restaurant around here to recommend?

With the carb scare and all these anti-carb diets out there, you are completely denying yourself the experience which all stomachs deserve. Even if you suffer with Celiac disease, you can find pastas which are gluten-free at any restaurant in Italy (often, the risotto plates can be gluten-free). Really, it's not natural to not consume carbs - your internal organs suffer badly from not having a balanced meal for an extended amount of time. At your homestays, you'll probably have pasta for dinner every night. I can confess that my favorite sauce done by my homestay mom consists mostly of chopped asparagus . . .

The Museo Nationale della Pasta is closed right now for renovation - they must have heard about the "choose your pasta/sauce" and "overcooked pasta" debacles, and are taking time to mourn.

RESPECT PASTA!!!

ho fame,
Laura :)

Exchange Rate

2010-03-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Don't expect two entries in a day, usually, but I just thought of this . . .

Right now, the Dollar-to-Euro rate is the lowest I've seen in a while. Just two years ago, it was sailing at around $1.75 for one euro, and it's at $1.35 right now! I've put a currency converter onto the blog, for your quick reference.

If you're willing to pay the fee for the price of the exchange, it's not a bad idea to get some Euro cash or travelers' cheques in Euros for the trip right now, just to get a little more bang to your buck.

If you're not up for the gamble (that the Euro will jump again in the summer - probably not that drastically), my best suggestion is that you plan to use a Debit card (attached to a separate account, which parents can monitor), and take direct deposits from the Bancomats (ATM/MAC in Italy), keeping all your purchases in cash. This is how directors with SPI handle our expenses (personal and for SPI) - no one wants to blow the 3% fee which is attached to ALL credit cards on purchases abroad.

I'll talk more about this issue later - those of you who are far experienced in travel and the Euro will take note of this. Those of you who don't understand why I entered this blog, don't worry about it. :)

Looking out for you,
Laura :)

Cinema Italiana

2010-03-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Seeing as I'm subbing for the Theatre teacher today, I'm all in the mood to talk about Italian Film. This can include both films about Italy and films by Italians. Forgive me, those of you who are HUGE film fans, but I'm going to make this super-simplified, and keep the examples down to one or two, just for simplicity. Since we just experienced the Oscars, I'm going to focus on movies which scored in one category or another. If you have more to suggest, please feel free to share!!!

A great way to prepare your ear for immersion is by watching film or TV shows in the Italian language. And two CANNOT-MISS Italian directors are Federico Fellini and Roberto Benigni. Fellini's "8 1/2" was recently alluded to in "Nine", and, if you're looking for his most recognized, classic film, a 1960 Oscar winner, check out "La Dolce Vita". Benigni's 1997 film, "La Vita e Bella", is also a winner of 3 Oscars, a beautiful depiction and excellent blend of comedy and tragedy. And the two leads are Benigni and his wife (in real life, and in the film).

After viewing these two, you'll probably want to go for a good, light comedy. May I recommend Benigni's "Johnny Stecchino", a comedy of errors about the Mafia? Not exactly an Oscar winner . . . but a good giggle!

While we're in Siena, they have several great programs for the arts. If you prefer the music scene, keep your eye on the Chigiana's concerts. Their Summer Music Week usually starts sometime during the second week of our stay - http://www.chigiana.it/ - they haven't posted this summer's plans yet (usually is updated by early June). Siena Jazz is something which just started up a few years ago, but was so big that they had a Day, where there were Jazz combos playing all over town - http://www.sienajazz.it/ - they have posted information about their summer study courses, but nothing about concerts yet. If you're a film fan, you may want to attend the "Cinema in Fortezza" for a few of our nights during our stay? Almost every evening (except on the Palio, I think) they show a movie, drive-in-style, in the Fortezza. When we do our walking tour on the first day, I'll take you out to the Fortezza - my favorite spot in town. How fun to sit in the Medici Fortress and watch a modern or classic film!

While we're sharing websites, here's the City of Siena website: http://www.comune.siena.it/main.asp?id=0 Please, did you expect me to give you English websites? Be adventurous! Don't hit the translation button!!!

Want a movie view of Siena? You can see an EVENING PRACTICE RUN of the Palio at the beginning of "Quantum of Solace."

I have noticed that films are one of the best ways to spark images in your mind, as you prepare to visit a new place. Any way to make the novel, familiar, enhances your travel experience all the more! My favorite Rome film is "Roman Holiday" - see Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, both at their best! And the views of Rome aren't too bad, either . . . Or, perhaps you prefer something a little more suspenseful? How 'bout "Angels and Demons"? There are always those terrible, cheesy movies which wring out/strangle the romantic essence of Rome and Tuscany, including a movie which was released just this year, and another one recently done by a popular TV actress/music performer. "Under the Tuscan Sun" was a great book, and, while I'm not the biggest fan of the movie, it does show great shots of Toscana. Please don't think badly of the filming location, just because the movie is painful.

Cinecitta is where films are done in Rome, so if you're in the mood to search, you can find MANY recognizable titles which were created on the site! It's one of the stops on one of the (two - working on three) subway lines, but I'm not going to encourage you to go there when we're in Rome. Takes too much time to see too little. We'll see if we can "stalk" out a team in production in the middle of the city. Past SPI groups have visited the "Ocean's 12" trailers in the Villa Borghese, tromped on the catwalks of the fashion shows put on throughout Rome by Versace for his 50th (60th? 75th?) birthday, been in the Campo in Siena while they were filming for "Quantum of Solace" . . . don't worry - if there's filming to pursue, we'll find it.

If you have a gem to share, please feel free to do so! I'm always open to new suggestions!

un' abbracio,

Laura :)

Italy - The World's Most Coveted Destination

2010-03-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

If it's in Travel and Leisure, then it must be true.

You can expect to receive procedural e-mails like me (like the last one) - "how-to"s for the trip. But sometimes you'll get entries (like this one) where you can get public opinion, special facts, or even recommendations about this fabulous location.

Without a doubt, Italy is one of the top spots for focus in publishing glamorous living. Whether it's a shot of a celebrity on a beach, or an article on the favorite place for vacationing, you're likely to see a little of Italy at all times on every newsstand.

While preparing to throw out this past year's collection of travel and food magazines which have been piling up around the house, I found at least one article on Italy or Italian food in practically every magazine. In n Travel and Leisure (Feb. 2010), Siena was the focus for "My Favorite Place" (courtesy of Emily Mortimer, recently seen in "Shutter Island") - there's a great picture of Il Campo - a view which will become quickly familiar to you - it's the main central piazza in Siena. And, yes, you will get the opportunity to climb that tower.

One of the best ways to experience Italy before arriving there is through books. I KNOW - some of you claim an allergy to reading, but it's really fun when it's not required! I promise! Whether you pick up a memoir, a tour book, a romance story, or a collection of short stories (my preference), you can find some amazing treasures about this wonderful country. As Spring Break approaches, I encourage you - no, assign to you - to pick out one book about Italy and read it during your Spring Break. And, to be a part of this activity, I have one for myself - my mother-in-law recently gave me The Devil's Queen, an historical fiction about Catherine de Medici - promises to be a little more bloody and risque than I'm used to, but variety is good, right?

Need a little direction for your own pick? Just for our weekend in Rome, you can find a trove of treasures! Are you an art fan? Try Michaelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling. Architecture? Check out the mammoth Not Built in a Day. Foodie? Oh, there are so many - The Tuscan Year: Life and Food in an Italian Valley or The Italian Food Guide, just for a start. For an immersion experience, there's the ubiquitous Under the Tuscan Sun (Cortona's about an hour away from Siena) or my more preferred Too Much Tuscan Sun. History fan? For Ancient Rome fun, check out Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome collection for historical fictions or Steven Saylor's books for mystery/suspense. Medieval or Renaissance History? You will want to know about the Guelfs vs. Ghibellines, as well as the rise of the Italian city. Want to know a little more about Vatican City? I must recommend When in Rome by Robert Hutchinson (look out - there's a sweet romantic fiction by Gemma Townley with the same title, if you're looking for a fun fiction read, or John Grisham's Playing for Pizza).

Want something more specific to search? You can search one of the cities/towns we'll visit, or look up life in Tuscany. Check out a favorite artist or art collection. Pasta fan? Innumerable books about that topic . . .

We're always out to find the best bang for our buck. When preparing to spend time in a new place, one of the best ways to prepare is by knowing as much about it before we set foot off the plane.

What a great time we're going to have!!!

un' abbraccio,

Laura :)

Italia

2010-03-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

It's official! We're headed to Italy! What an amazing experience we're all going to have!

Yes - it is more than three months out, but the more prepared you are for a trip, the better the trip will be for you. Right now, you need to be thinking about the following things:

1. Getting familiar with your geography: Where are you headed? What do you know about Rome? Do you know anything about Siena (besides the fact that it shares a name with a car and a color in the big box of crayolas)? What about the other cities in Toscana? Firenze? Pisa? Arezzo? Volterra? San Gimignano?

2. Getting familiar with the language: Do you know the standard niceties in Italian (per favore, grazie, prego, si, non, buon giorno, buona sera, piacere)? Do you know your numbers? Colors? Do you know how to ask for something (che cosa, questo/a, quant' e costa, dove, quando)? Can you tell time in Italian? Check out our monthly newsletters for quick phrases to know!

3. Getting familiar with the itinerary: Do you know where we're going to visit? Is there something special you'd like to see in one of our cities on our itinerary? Do you have a favorite artist who hails from Tuscany? Do you know what the food is like (and what it's called in Italian) in Italy?

4. Customizing it for yourself: What do you want from this experience? Before you depart, be sure you've shared your hopes and expectations with me, so that I can help make this the best few weeks you've ever had!

un' abbraccio,

Laura :)

Vado . . . a FRANCIA???

2009-07-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know - this is an ITALY blog - says so in the title! However, after 15 years of going to Italy (yes, friends - since 1995, with Baylor - the first Baylor in Italy group), I am finally branching out and heading to France this week!

First of all, thank you, Mlle. May (http://spienfrance.blogspot.com/) for your French talk with me earlier this week! I can't wait to share this experience with you and whatever random other person wants to see ME in culture shock. Yes, kids - I do expect it - remember those feelings you had at the beginning of the Italy trip, and you wished I could sympathize? I did, and I REALLY will this time - the only phrase I really have down is "je ne parle pas Francais", and maybe "ou sont les toilettes?". Maybe "je voudrais deux croissants, sil vous plait".

Upon our arrival, Jay and I immediately head to the Loire Valley, where we join family and friends at the end of their week's stay at a chateau - www.loirechateau.com - and I can't wait to see what is in store for us in this experience! Already have done a few firsts:
1. Pre-reserved train tickets. Craziness to me. And bigger craziness that the price changes, like airfare, as you get closer to the departure? No more 18E 3-hour a/c'd bus rides for us - we're paying over 10 times than that for a two-hour train ride!
2. Accepted the fact that I'm not the super-tourist. My mother-in-law found some rockin' awesome fares and trains which would get us into Tours a few hours' earlier, but, upon realizing that I'd never navigated CDG, nor the shuttles, nor Montparnasse Gare, I knew I couldn't make those trips in the time given. AUGH
3. Set important goals for the trip. I'll be teaching an English class along with my Latin classes in the next academic year, so I have a novel to complete. Also, knowing the delicacies France has to offer, I MUST have a cheese and wine every day. Crepes will happen sometime during the trip, but probably not every day - I'm saving myself for fromage. Also, we are there for two Sundays. I'd love to be able to attend Mass or Vespers at least twice during our stay - one Sunday is in Avignon, after all! I was thinking it would be fun to pick up some papal stuff during my few days in Avignon (we are there two days during the cruise), but I hesitate, being the self-respecting Roman I am ("City of the Popes" belongs to one city only, thank you!!! At least St. Catherine shares the same opinion)

Our second night is in Villeneuve des Avignon (SP?), at a BEAUTIFUL hotel which Nancy (suocera mia) found - http://www.hostellerie-la-magnaneraie.com/ - and, yes, I will be doing some pool time there.

So, see - we all have the fun of newness for this summer! I hope to find a computer - our boat is wireless - and get a posting or two during this trip! But until then . . .

Laura :)

Il giorno ultimo!!!!

2009-07-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Wow - I can't believe it's our last day in Siena! How time has REALLY flown by!!! Yesterday was a "free" day for the kids - some did a little shopping at the market, some enjoyed hanging around town, some caught up on e-mails.

Today, the kids will be taking a test in class. I absolutely LOVE how they handle examinations and grading here (it's how I think we should do it) - the teacher scores the test, and considers the student's improvement as an individual (not on a score of 1 - 100), and decides if the individual has been putting in the effort to learn something.

Can I just stop and say how many times the kids' teachers have told me how impressed they are with our group's performance this year?

This afternoon, we all return to our homestays to get everything packed up (mettere - it's such a great verb - with one verb, you can make the bed, pack your suitcase, clean your room, and organize papers) before we meet at 4:45 for the festa di pizza, where we'll make pizzas and dessert from scratch, then enjoy it together. It's so much fun, and we'll be getting lots of videos and pictures of the kids making everything. Oh, and they can enter the kitchen, only after they are able to conjugate the verbs "to have" and "to be". What a great last-night-in-Siena experience!

Tomorrow morning, we meet at the train station at 8 AM, and take a private bus (thank you, SPI) directly to our hotel in Rome, which is in an AWESOME location (thank you, again, and even more, SPI). We will tour all the ancient stuff of Rome tomorrow - the Imperial Fora, the Colosseum, the Forum, the Mamertine Prison, the monument to Vittorio Emanuele, the Theatre of Marcellus, the Forum Boarium, the Bocca della Verita) - it's a sweat fest, but very interesting. When I used to get homesick when living in Rome over the summers, I'd always find comfort by sitting in the Forum, reconnecting myself with my ancient Roman family. Friday night, we'll eat at a great restaurant - Pancrazio - which is located right over the foundations of the Theatre of Pompey, where Julius Caesar was really killed (not in the Forum, as according to Shakespeare).

Then, on Saturday, we get to take a nice morning stroll through the center of town - the Mausoleum of Augustus, Piazza del Popolo, the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), the Cappucin Crypt, Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon, and then stop for lunch at the Piazza Navona. Everyone gets Saturday afternoon to do their own thing - I'll encourage most people to go to the Vatican museums with Dana, but I've got an idea for those few others who have already been to the Vatican. In the late afternoon, we'll meet up at the Vatican to suffer the security lines and enter into the beautiful Basilica, then return to the hotel for showers and a last night's dinner at a great pizzeria, Montecarlo.

Oh, and Tartuffo at Tre Scalini will happen sometime in there, too.

Then, the flight home on Sunday!!!

I want to thank all of you for blessing me with such a great group of kids this year - really, this has been the best experience for me, in all seven years I've done this. I can't wait to show them around Rome - my second home.

Grazie tanti,
Laura

The Homestay Experience

2009-07-07T01:24:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Seeing as we'll be leaving for Rome on Friday morning, I thought I'd give you two more entries, today and Thursday!

When your child returns home, you can probably have a week's worth of discussion about their homestay family, experience, and communication lessons. I know that I have a LOAD of them, just from my own homestay, and I thought I'd share a little about my own with you!

My homestay mom is generous, loving, caring, and hospitable. She wants every person who stays in her home to be comfortable and well-cared for. She's also an excellent Italian teacher, always wanting to help us improve in our speaking (seeing as that's our biggest goal here). She has had a blessed life, but not without difficulties - her husband passed away around 11 years ago (I think), and she just lost her son - who is just a little older than I - about a year and a half ago. Seeing as I have stayed with her for five years out of the past six (took one year off to get married to a WONDERFUL, UNDERSTANDING husband - I love you, Jay), I have seen her life go through changes, and appreciate her even more now that I did at my first stay. And she has seen me go through changes, too - going from single and dating, to married (and graciously inviting my husband to stay with me and enjoy living in her house and eating at her table). She's been with me through many challenges with students (I haven't said enough about how wonderful your kiddos in this group are), and with my inability to communicate with her as well as I wish I could.

Just as in any house, there are quirks with the house. The shower head leaks if you don't push the handle all the way up against the hot direction, or else the hot water drips out and is wasted (miscommunication on my part the first year - I took cold showers the entire time, thinking that she didn't want me to WASTE the hot water), and the button on the upstairs handle needs only be pushed a few millimeters to work, or else the toilet quits working (not good, when you have post-travel tummy fun). When, in my third year there (and my husband's first year), I thought she was upset about our both taking showers every day, but it turns out she just wants to be able to clean the shower between each person's use, to assure good cleanliness in the house! Even this year, I have had more misunderstandings, all on my part, but care for Dina so greatly that I want to make sure there's always peace in the house.

When we eat, well, it's a beautiful and miserable experience, all at once. Dina is a great cook, and her food is always delicious. She generously serves us HUGE servings (cracks me up to see our roommate get served the large bowl of pasta - and he eats it all!), and talks about the fact that if you don't eat well, you can't study and learn well. At the end of dinner, every night, we have to go for a walk after dinner, because a human can't sleep well with as much good food as is on our stomachs (Jay learned that in his first year).

While I'm really happy that we're going home on Sunday, I do leave behind a little myself with Dina every year. I care greatly about her, and wish her well, hoping that I get the privilege to stay with her again the next year. She's my mama Italiana. ;)

L ;)

Dolce Senesi

2009-07-06T03:25:00.000-07:00

In the midst of all the trip business I've been sharing with you, I have completely overseen the priorities - DAILY LIFE, which is so beautiful in Siena!

First of all, the Campo is the center piazza of the city. Siena is situated on two hills (and surrounding areas), with the Campo in the center (they call it the "drain", and there really is a central drain in there). When it rains, it's a crazy-good drainage system.

And rain, it has. It has rained on us practically every day. In other places, and on other touring experiences, this may seem like a hindrance, but the kids have learned to really appreciate it. Often, the day starts off stifling and warm (when you have A/C nowhere, your body learns to handle the weather differently), then the clouds blow in, and we get a little cloudburst (this stay, usually with some thunder, even we rarely see lightning), then it's cool with a nice breeze the rest of the time. The weather groups say that this is supposed to stop tomorrow, and it'll get a little warmer, but that's fine - we can pit out our clothes this week, and bring them back home for cleaning in our washing machines at home. Dirty laundry is the best packing material for pricey gifts - no one's going digging through that!!!

And the kids are learning to appreciate the sweets of Siena. We're still on the search for the best gelateria (I know my favorite one, but often students challenge me on this by the end of the trip), and we have some avid seekers. But, in Siena, baked goods are the BOMB. There are:
Ricarelli - soft, sweet cookies which are dusted with powdered sugar. I bring these home every trip, but they often harden before you can serve them to family, so they're probably not coming home with me this time (sorry, Mom);
Cantucci - really hard cookies which look (and are made) like biscotti. Caveat: if your child brings these home, don't eat them straight up - you'll break your teeth on them! They're intended to be served with vin santo, a very strong after-dinner wine - you fill shot glasses halfway with the vin santo, then put the cantucci in the glasses to soak, before eating them. I guess you could use regular wine to serve these, if your kiddo brings them home without vin santo, but it's just not the same . . .
Panforte and Panpepato: I am not the biggest fruitcake fan (even though I AM a fruitcake - parrotheads!!!), but this is something completely different. It's a small, round cake, but far thicker in consistency than cake, with nuts and candied fruit in it. I serve this in small slices to friends and family - a little goes a long way. The ingredients differ a little between the two, but they both have the same intent, which is totally accomplished - YUM
If your child brings anything else home (ciambelli or ciambellini - little cookies; dolci tipici - typical sweets), feel free to share on these, or ask questions! Above are the standard, common ones.

Of course, there are Baci ("kisses"), which are sold throughout Italy. It's something I encourage kids to buy when we're hanging out in the international lobby, waiting for our flight, to bring home to you. They're a little bigger than Hershey's kisses, and always have little bits of hazelnuts in them. Several of the kids on the trip have discovered their love for Nutella (seriously, Alex, Nutella on goldfish?), so you may see some containers of that in their bags, too. Please know I DON'T enourage that! :) It sits right next to the peanut butter at home . . . DUDE

This week, the music school in town (Chigiana - originally sponsored by the Chigi family) is hosting the beginning of their summer music program, and they have concerts every night. Each concert (like at home) is sponsored by a different group or company, and sometimes they give great discounts for students (i.e. our kids), so I encourage students to check out the concerts, if they're interested. Actually, during our last night (when we have our pizza-making party at the culinary school), they have a concert in La Piazza di Jacopo Della Quercia, which is pretty much an open locale. They have a small amount of seating, but the public can sit on the steps by the Duomo and still enjoy the beautiful concert. We may just go there together after our fabulous dinner of pizza, to enjoy our last evening in Siena!

Then, there's always the option to just hang out at home or in the Campo in the evenings, an absolutely enchanting experience!!!

Grazie tanti!
Laura :)

Firenze e il giorno libero

2009-07-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Saturday, we headed to Florence for a day of culture, art, and pushy vendors! We all met EARLY - caught an 8 AM bus (Firenze Rapida - the diretto takes 30 minutes longer and stops in all the towns between) and wove through the countryside to Florence. Since SPI had booked reservations, we didn't even have to sweat in lines! We strolled by the Duomo of the city (BEAUTIFUL), then into the Piazza della Signoria, with the Loggia della Signoria, which has some great ancient pieces in it. The kids had some free time before we entered the Uffizi to see infamous works by artists like Lippi and Botticelli. The Uffizi is no small place - you could spend DAYS in there if you wanted to take the time with each piece of artwork!
After a lunch break and some more free time (gotta get in that shopping - at the leather market near San Lorenzo, or at other random markets throughout the city - they know how to keep tourists busy!), we met at the Accademia to visit the David and see some other great works. They also have a museum of musical instruments in there (Natalie went there to check it out), then we had time to make an easy stroll back to the bus station to return to Siena. Some students even chose to stick around and check out other parts of Florence, and return home a little later.
But everyone was happy to be back in Siena - we all agree that we like it better!

Sunday was a "free day" for everyone. The note says to hang out with your homestay, but, with our adventurous group, they were ready to see Tuscany at its finest! Several students went to the beach (Amanda, Chelsea, and Rose actually went with their homestay; others caught the bus themselves, and had a great time - I saw them all at the bus station upon their return, some ruddy from the sun, some hardly touched, Clint's face looking a little strange, with small stripes of red on the sides - a tough lesson to learn, how to apply sun block FULLY - I had the same stripes on my arms from Capri for a week!). A few of the guys went to Arezzo, to see the Roman Amphitheatre and the Antiques market. Some girls went to Volterra (with help from their wonderful homestay family) to check out the palace . . . something with "Twilight!? I'm so out of the loop), and others checked out San Gimignano, and enjoyed even some countryside strolls! I think everyone returned, happy to be back home in Siena, and receive a little rest.

Today is the beginning of our second week. The kids can't believe how the time is passing! Today, we'll go on a stroll of St. Catherine's life, and learn about pilgrimages and the idea of patron saints. We will see the Church of San Domenico, where they have a relics of hers, then we'll go to her house, where we will see the floor on which she actually walked. Her house has been turned into a sanctuary (with scenes in her life, described in Latin), with a church in the courtyard. It's the central church for the Oca (goose) contrada. We'll then stroll down to Fontebranda (familiar to Sara and Shannon!), where the largest of the four great fountains of the city is located.

The weather seems to be getting a little warmer here, but in the shade it's still comfortable, with the breeze. We'll be enjoying Siena in its normalcy, and life in normalcy. We will be dealing with even laundry or packing up, as everyone will have to be packed before we meet to have our pizza-making party at the cooking school on Thursday afternoon-evening, seeing as we catch our bus to Rome early on Friday morning!

Speaking of Rome, please feel free to contact me if you'll be in Rome (Ralph!) when we're there - I'll be calling (on Wednesday) to make reservations at the restaurant and pizzeria for Friday and Saturday nights, and would love to include any of you who will be present! And, please, you can join us for our ancient Rome stroll on Friday or our medieval-Renaissance stroll on Saturday morning (or our Vatican visit on late Saturday afternoon).

Off to the fun of the week!
Laura :)

Tartuca ha vinto!!!

2009-07-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a LOAD of fun! And the weather was perfect, too! So nice that I even joined the group in the center!!!

Early on the day of the Palio is La Messa del fantino, where each horse rider is blessed and given communion (along with the top of the city) in the Campo. at the small chapel which is attached to the front of the Palazzo Publico. We attended class, as usual - 9 - 11, 11:20 - 12:30, 12:40 - 1:30 (a standard day - Mondays are a little different - start an hour late because of the new students taking placement tests). Then, we all split from each other and went out to attend the Benedictione del Cavallo. At each of the competing contrada's church, they all meet in the church or courtyard, then bring in the horse to give it a blessing, before everyone parades through town, winding through the streets with their contrada's flag and standard bearers, drummers, and representative and horse, all in 13th C garb. One stop is in front of the Duomo, where the flag throwers (two per contrada) do a routine in front of the Bishop of the Duomo (who is up in his window), and they receive a blessing from him. Then, everyone marches into the Campo, with much regalia, a large procession, more flag throwing, and horn playing (the city band marches along, too, playing the city song).

Then, around 7 pm, the Palio itself comes through, pulled on a cart by these ENORMOUS white bulls (seriously - their backs are taller than most men) through the Campo, and everyone waves their scarves at it, hopefully putting their own contrada's luck the most onto the Palio. Then, the fun begins. For an hour to an hour and a half, you suffer false starts, confusion, and frustration, until finally the race happens, and it's all over in 1.5 minutes (three times around the Campo).

This year's race had no contest - Tartuca was at the beginning for the entire race (as you can see on YouTube). Many of our students had chosen Tartuca for their contrada - first of all, our school is located in Tartuca, plus their colors are HP blue and gold, not to mention they were the favored group, and it is the American way to favor the winner! After the Palio, everyone returned home, except for Tartuca, who marched throughout the streets. All night. They woke me around 3 AM.

From today on, the kids might see some Tartuca members (they're all still wearing their scarves) with pacifiers - it's a symbol that this is their first time to be winners - they're "Babies" to victory. Tartuca will hold a celebration dinner in a few nights, but they'll parade through the city every day from now for the next three weeks. Then, there's another Palio on August 16, and it starts all over again, until next July.

Today, we begin normalcy (Grazie Dio - I'm happy to get to start taking regular SHOWERS). We'll go out to the Fortezza Medicea to do a little sharing at the end of our first week, as well as share our plans for this weekend! Tomorrow morning, we head to Florence for a day of fun art and history. We'll visit the Uffizi (Botticelli!) in the morning, then head over to the Academia (Il Davide!)in the afternoon, which will fill our day before we must head home in time for dinner at the houses.

Sunday is a free day for everyone. I know that many of the kids are headed to the beach (which is nice, and the return home, smelly), and some are thinking about going as groups to Pisa or San Gimignano (for which I will be giving them schedules). I do pursue a personal experience of my own, as well - I take a tour with a group, just to remind me of how it feels to be on the other side of a tour.

As we hit the mid-way point of this trip, I just want to thank you for sending us with such AMAZING kids. We are all having a wonderful experience because everyone in this group is so respectful, fun-seeking, adventurous, responsible, and considerate. Next week will be a more normal week - piu tranquilita, piu normalita, piu come la citta di Siena. The kids are loving their teachers, and learning Italian so quickly!!! I can't believe it's just a week until we head to Rome!

Hugs to you all,
L :)

Events of the Palio

2009-07-01T00:22:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Ah, what an exciting week we're having! It's been a little crazy on me, personally, with the chaos of homesickness-culture shock, plus the Palio frenzy which takes over the city. It's possible your child doesn't sense this at all - even after returning to Italy every year since 1995, I'm still sensitive to these emotions (maybe because I'm recently married . . .).

The weather here has been gorgeous! Cool in the mornings, a continuous breeze, and raining every afternoon. For those of us who don't mind feeling like wet rats (or even Tony-Brent-Will, who did a picnic in the rain . . . PAZZI), we enjoy the coolness of the rain and the freshness of the evenings after the rain. In the center of town is the one large square, Il Campo (una piazza), where people may meet up in the evenings, and random events happen there throughout the summer (band or choir concerts, etc.). After it rains, there's almost a hazy quality of Il Campo, because the bricks are steaming off the rainwater. Also, there is a great drainage system in town. Nowhere does water really sit for longer than a few minutes, as the entire city is built on two hills, and the roads are even designed to direct water into small rivulets in the center. All the water runs down roads in the most efficient path, all towards the Campo, where there's a huge drain right at the bottom (center of the bottom of the shell).

The shell can be found throughout the city, and is super-important. The Campo itself is in the shape of a shell, fountains have the shell collecting the falling water . . . Siena was the last stop for pilgrims as they made their way to Rome, back since early medieval times, and the shell was the welcoming symbol of baptism for them as they made their last break before getting to Rome. How similar it is for us, feeling like children (nay, babies), as we learn a new language, and learn to live with new families for this brief time! But this, too, is a much-needed break from the business of our American lives, a way to help us recenter and find ourselves before we return home to take on our last year (or two years) of high school, before entering the world.

The rain has brought a little excitement to the Palio events, too - there are several practice runs (prove) which happen between the selection and the actual race (which happens around 7:45 PM on Thursday - you can actually find it online, and watch it in real time). Each evening, there's a prova at 7:45, and each morning, there's one at 9 AM (but we're in class). On Monday night, the Campo was a mud pit because of the rain, so there was no race (which is a big deal - lots of myths behind each race - if anything bad happens during the Prima Prova, something bad will happen at the actual race . . . you've got to imagine how people feel when it's been rained out!). The kids hear large "boom" noises in the mornings during classes - there's a cannon-type thing they use to give signals to the crowd. It booms when it's time to clear people from the track. It booms when it's time to bring the horses out from their holding area, it booms every time there's a false start (usually 7 - 10 times during the actual race), and it booms when the first horse crosses the finish line. The race itself is only three laps around the Campo (about 1.5 minutes), but the events leading up to the race take 4 days!!!

If you know horses (I grew up in Midland, with friends who had them), you know how terrible the Palio event is for the actual horses. Thousands of people sitting or standing around, cheering and yelling. Some large booming noise. Ten horses fitting on a track the width of about 8 horses. Lining up the horses takes longer than any race - the official reads out the contrada's names in the order of lineup, from one to ten. Position one has a good spot, as they're on the inside of the track. And position ten has a great spot, because he actually determines when the race starts. Once the nine other horses are lined up, the position ten can wait-circle around as much as he wants, then, runs in, and the race starts. While in lineup, jockeys are hitting each other, and bumping horses against each other. If one of the jockeys has a nervous horse, sometimes it falls completely out of line, and they have to all exit and re-line-up.

Then there are the 1.5 minutes when the race actually is happening. The Campo, in the shape of a shell, has two sharp corners which they have to take. One, corner, San Martino, is the most dangerous, and a spot where many jockeys are thrown. Last year, a jockey fell off into the crowd because his horse took the corner too sharp, and caught the jockey's leg against the turning post. There are medics in bright green everywhere near San Martino (there's a church just behind there dedicated to the same saint), if you look at pictures of the Palio, ready to pick up any fallen jockeys. As long as they're not too hurt, it's no big deal - the horse is who wins the race, anyways.

I'll encourage your kiddos to attend all the Palio events tomorrow:
Benedicione dello Cavallo: 2:30 - each competing contrada has the blessing of the horse in the contrada's church. Seriously - they take the horse into the church (everyone's shooshing and quieting everyone else, yelling at tourists who are using flash, etc.), where it receives a blessing and communion.
La passegiata storica: Everyone processes from their home church to the Duomo, the church of the city, where the bishop sits at his window and puts a blessing onto each horse and the contrada. Representative flag throwers and drummers do a flag-tossing routine. Then, a large lineup of people in garb from the Middle Ages process - representatives of every town in Tuscany, representatives of qualities (virtues), and representatives of each contrada, with their horse. Everyone (after the parade passes, the locals follow behind) processes down into the Campo from there, to have the parade circle around the campo, and exit.
Il Palio: The Palio is in that procession, and it's lifted up and posted in the corner near San Martino. For an extended period of time, flag throwers and drummers circle on the track in the Campo, doing their routines for the crowd. Then is the race. Like the prove, they must process out, then line up in the given order, then, after about 1.5 or 2 hours of false starts, they have the 1.5 minute race.

I will be letting you know who wins on Friday! Draco seems to have a pretty strong horse - it took off with a great start. Lupa's horse had good consistency in speed, as well as the Owl's group.

al' Venerdi!
L :)

In Siena

2009-06-29T02:04:00.000-07:00

This morning, we began classes. There was a little confusion about schedules, but no big deal - it's a good learning experience to realize that they should always follow MY schedule, not a different schedule given by others. :) Everyone had a good dinner, a good night's sleep (I think a few of us were excited about today), and came to the school bright-eyed!

They have already been placed into their classes, and are laughing . . . a lot. So, I thought I'd share with you the excitement of today.

June 29th is a holy day everywhere in Italy, first of all. It's the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, when the Pope inaugurates (right word? inducts?) the new archbishops. Seriously - in the Vatican Piazza (Piazza di San Pietro), throngs of people crowd in to see the Pope and all the excitement! In Siena, it's an important day, too, as it's the first day of the Palio. The city is set up for the festival - everyone has their flags and lamps up, decorating their contrada, and the track and all the important regalia is all placed around the Campo. The dirt track makes it fun on years like this - it has rained for a week in Siena, and it's supposed to rain a little every day. Which Rose and I don't mind, at all.

ANYWAYS, this morning, everyone is out, wearing their contrada's scarves (which you receive when you're little) and excited about today. Today, at 9 AM, they let the 30 chosen horses make a few laps around the Campo, just to let everyone see the potential of the horse (as if it really means anything - without a jockey, an excellent horse could just stroll around). THen, at 1, is when they do the selection of the horses. If you don't know what's going on, it means nothing. Numbers are matched to colored balls (each, the color of each competing Contrada), which sets the jockey with the horse for the next four days. The BIG event today is at 7 PM this evening, where they have the Prima Prova (first trial-run). This is the first time the jockey gets to publicly ride the horse around the Campo. Even though they've had quality time already - from the minute the selection is made, the jockey and horse are together. Eating. Sleeping. Bonding. There are a few myths surrounding the Prima Prova, one especially that, if something goes wrong during this one, the Palio is CURSED. A few years ago, a horse got tangled up in the starting-line ropes, and broke a leg. The owner of the horse promised to honor the horse (he, the rider, and the Contrada didn't get to compete) by not putting it under, but you and I both know what happens to horses with broken legs . . .

I just realized - I never said what a CONTRADA is!!! Siena, as tiny as it is, is divided into 17 neighborhoods, or contrade, throughout town. Each contrada is assigned to an animal (usually, but there are a few, like "tower"), and has its own special colors. And people take major pride in the maintenance of their contrada. Someone using graffiti? Some child misbehaving? They can expect to be reprimanded by any random person within that contrada. It's really pretty cool. I wonder what our city would look like if everyone had such pride in their own neighborhood. Anyways, there are actually two Palio events each year, one on July 2, and one in August. They have NOTHING to do with each other. There are ten teams who compete on Thursday, and the other seven are promised a spot in the next July 2 race (and three others who are drawn sometime in October). I haven't heard about anything promising yet, but all the gossip starts while hanging around for the Prima Prova tonight.

If you never hear from your kiddos, keep a big list of questions which may arise from this experience, and from what you read, and you'll have conversation to share for MONTHS following!!!

Hugs,
Laura :)

Siamo in Siena!!!

2009-06-29T01:28:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

WOW - what a great first weekend!!! And I'd like to thank you, in advance, for sending me such an awesome group of kiddos. Really, this weekend was the best experience I've ever had (not just saying that).

On Friday, the kids arrived en masse into Fiumicino Airport, but not without a little excitement. I know the kids' flight out of Chicago was delayed due to technical issues (thank you, thank you, thank you Moores, for meeting them at the airport and seeing them on!!!), but their flight was comfortable, and I think they slept NOT AT ALL. :) Amanda, fresh from Paris, was eager and excited about arriving first. We were planning to meet Grace and Caroline considerably earlier than the rest of the group, but, responsible young ladies they are, when they were in customs, they decided to stay in there (3 hours) and meet the rest of the group and walk out together. Tony and his mom met us, as well (they had been enjoying Rome for a week already), and we all headed to the bus! The bus ride was very nice, and we had a pretty successful attempt at all having lunch at the AutoGrill. An AutoGrill is like a truck stop, "but SO much nicer" (according to Sara).
Pompeii was actually pretty pleasant. I must admit, I didn't give them a killer death-march tour (due to time limits), and the breeze was nice, so we enjoyed a nice stroll through town, going from the Theatre district, through the Forum, up to the Villa of the Mysteries. Our bus ride from Pompeii to Sorrento was also longer than usual (they were having a "protest" in some small town outside of Pompeii, which blocked the streets - when it's one main street which takes you along the entire coastline, you can have some problems with that . . .), and after two hours of winding along the beautiful coastal road of the Bay of Naples (without any travel sickness - BRILLIANT), we arrived to our hotel in Sorrento.
I must suggest this spot - the Hotel Mignon Meuble is a great hotel, with wonderful service. It might have also been because of your wonderful kiddos being so well-behaved and mature (or my being slower than usual, due to jetlag), but we had no behavior problems the entire weekend. We were all hungry as horses when we got into the hotel, so we quickly cleaned up (10 minutes) and headed to dinner at the Pizzeria da Franco. It's a fave of mine - nice, family establishment, and GREAT pizza. You'll have to ask your own child about what kind of pizza they had - I had the house pizza (yes, Jay, I was indecisive), with parmesan, arugula (which they call "rocket" - the British call it "rockette", I think?), and tomatoes.
We then took a stroll down to the city park, which overlooks the entire Bay of Naples, and returned to the hotel, stopping, of course, by Davide, the best gelateria in town. Ah, yes, that's what real gelato tastes like . . .
Everyone was in their room by 10, and crashed (if not earlier).

Saturday, wake up call was at 6:00 - we had to get to the marina piccola (the tourist marina of the town, near the center of town - all arrows point to calling this the "marina grande", except for the fact that the actual marina grande is a serious fishing spot) for a boat departing at 7:30 for Capri! And what a great day! Upon arrival, we hitched a ride onto the funicolare, which took us into the piazzetta, the main centre of Capri proper. We sweated-grunted-climbed all the way up to the Villa Jovis, the southern summit of the island, then returned, making a stop at my favorite spot for Granite di Limone (talk about refreshing!!!). We strolled through Capri, over to the bus stop, where we took the bus up to Anacapri (ask your kiddos about the bus ride on the cliffside). I invited any willing students to join me on the chairlift to Monte Solaro (the northern peak of the island), and then gave them free time. Lots of fun had in the afternoon on Capri - some students headed straight to the beach, some shopped, some enjoyed a leisurely afternoon lunch, and some took one of the strolls suggested in my Capri brochure (sorry about the whole street-name-changing thing, girls!). Sea-soaked and sunburnt, we returned by boat to Sorrento, then all went out for a nice dinner at Zi'Ntonio's. A little strolling for some, a little more gelato for others, and we were all back in our rooms before midnight!
Sunday:
We had the opportunity to have a little more leisure on Sunday morning. Everyone enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel (YAY - no misery from the prior day-evening!), and we slowly headed to the bus around 10 AM to head north. We made another brief stop at an AutoGrill (for the bus driver's break - they get those every two hours or so), where the kids got some snacks and did a little shopping (as much as can be done at a truck stop). We then journeyed 1:30 and made another stop at Orvieto, a beautiful walled town which sits at the top of a hill. With a limited time, they were treated to an hour in Orvieto, enjoying a little walking and visiting the Duomo of the city (BEAUTIFUL!!!). We then journeyed another 1:30 and arrived into Siena at 6 PM, just in time to meet all of our homestay families (and Dana had arrived earlier, too)! I did get lots of pictures, and once I have a computer where I can download all my pics, I'll have them cycling through on this blog! It was raining a little (see below), but no one minded, and everyone headed home for a nice dinner with their homestay families and a good night's sleep.

Today has so much to share that I've got to put that onto another entry . . .

Thank you for your patience with the transportation on Thursday - I'm happy to have my assistant director with us, and until the end of the trip!

Grazie,
Laura :)

Small alteration for Departure

2009-06-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

First of all, if you're a weather.com fan like I am, you'll have noticed how BEAUTIFUL the weather will be during our first weekend in Italy! (caveat: weather.com almost NEVER posts the right temperature of Italian weather, from what I can tell - it was 55 and rainy, and weather.com said we were 76 and sunny, and vice versa, on the usual day)

As you will hear from Celeste, we've had a slight change for the trip. Instead of Dana Caron coming as the assistant Director, we will have Liz Schnautz for the first part of the trip, then an actual Siennese teacher for the rest of our stay! The one big change for you is that you won't have Dana on the flights with you coming over to Italy. But we're all experienced travelers, and, with a few notes from me, I know this will be SO easy for you!

Kate, with you as our senior traveler (actually, GRADUATE traveler!), I'm going to make you the shepherd for the trip! Please feel free to print off this blog for reference during your travel day. :)

I figured this would be good for those of you who are traveling on your own, anyways!

Check-in
You should be at check-in 2.5 hours before departure, as stated many times before. That means that most of you will be at DFW between 7 and 7:30 AM. During this time, parents will check in their own student, then afterwards take group pictures, have hugs, etc., before you all go together through the security checkpoint.
BAGS SHOULD BE CHECKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO ROME – we lose bags almost every year because of this miscommunication.

At the Departure Gate
Set up camp at the departure gate, which means EVERYONE's carryon bags are to be neatly gathered together into one spot. From now on, if you go out in a group, a group is THREE PEOPLE from our SPI group. If you want to get breakfast, eat something like what you’d usually eat for lunch. And to get lots of water or juice. Pick up food, and bring it back to the gate to eat it. Be at the gate, ready to board, at 8:45.

On the Chicago Flight
You all need to stay awake on this flight - talk, play games, share what you're excited about, take pictures . . . and be super-nice to the flight attendants!!!

In Chicago
Here’s where the fun starts. You are supposed to arrive around 11:50 AM. When y’all disembark, find the location of your departing flight, and take the whole group there to set up camp. Again, in groups, go to pick up lunch (dinner), and, with food, return to the gate quickly. Determine a group of five of you (at least) who will camp out with the bags at the departure gate. Then, head out to meet up with later arrivals:
Shannon: AA 2348 from DFW
Abbie and Carly: AA2486 from AUS
These are close-timed flights – if the gates are too far from each other, send Sara and Natalie to meet Shannon (make sure they have your cell phone #), and you can meet Abbie and Carly with another group of HP kids. Again, EVERYONE should have their SPI shirts on, so you'll be easily recognizable. Everyone is to return to the departure gate as quickly as possible – international flights start boarding 1 hour to 45 minutes ahead of time. Try to find out where everyone is sitting, and write it down here, so that you can say hi to everyone during the flight.

On the Flight
Eat ALL your dinner. SLEEP. A lot. However you need to do it. EVERYONE. Whenever you awake and pace around, stop by to visit each other, wherever you’re sitting. Plan to meet as a group immediately outside the gate. And eat ALL of your breakfast (no matter WHAT you're served).

Forms? Last time we flew to Italy, we received no forms entering the country. If they do hand out Customs forms, make sure you are filling everything out (you should have NOTHING to claim), and placing the form in your passports, for easy access. Have your passports in a quick-access spot, because that's the first stop you'll make once you get off the plane.

Disembarking
When you get off the flight, the minute you enter the airport, get the group together. Have any necessary potty breaks happen between there and the passport check.

Passport check: Be sure to get into a NON-EU line, and y'all can wait for each other as soon as they get through there. It’s a quick thing – they just check your passports, and you head to baggage claim. No one in our group has an international passport this year (Gratias Deo), so this should be smooth.

Baggage Claim: With the whole group with you at the end of passport check, just around the corner is the baggage claim. Everyone is to get his own bags, then head over just past the last carousel, to wait as a group for everyone to get their bags. Determine a spot to meet, before exiting customs. During this time, you can stop by the ATM inside the baggage claim if you want to get cash (make sure your bag is secure with someone else in the SPI group), but mostly, wait with the group until everyone has received their bags.
If there is a lost bag, go to the American desk right by the baggage claim. We’re headed directly to Sorrento, which could make things interesting . . . I’m right outside of the Customs exit door (just metres away) if there’s a problem – call my cell phone or have them come and get me.

Customs: You should just pass right through. If someone is stopped, it’s a random search, and shouldn’t be a problem – just let the rest of the group go ahead and stay nearby, Kate.

As soon as you pass through the Customs doors (big sliding glass doors), you should see me and Liz – I’ll have my pink SPI sign and green t-shirt, just like yours! We’ll be ready to load everyone up on the bus by then (Amanda, Grace and Caroline arrive before you – we'll be ready for everyone with the bus, to head directly to Pompeii!!!)!

Can you believe it??? See you in a few days!!! Parents, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (e-mail is the best) before Wednesday morning, when I depart!

BIGGEST HUGS,
Laura :)

Top Ten Final Things

2009-06-17T06:20:00.001-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

This MIGHT be my last blog entry before our departure. Be watching the blog, though - I plan to take pictures at our lunch this Friday at Campania Pizzeria, just to show some of our bright, happy faces from Dallas!

For our final pre-departure blog, I thought I'd share with you 10 things to make sure you've done before departing. Totally giving cred to Mlle. May, the Director of SPI-France - great idea, Morgan!!!

10. Communication: If you want to contact me directly, be sure you're using my personal gmail address.

9. Preparation: Check out the June newsletter (which I'm e-mailing to each of you, but it's also posted on the Google group).

8. Expenses: Keep an eye on the current exchange rate: http://xe.com/ucc

7. Packing: Make sure you're well packed. See prior blog entries for this.

6. Culture: Find one museum/artist/art piece you REALLY want to see, either in Siena, Florence, or Rome, and write it down. Also, in the same place, write down one experience you absolutely want to have as an Italian.

5. Spending: Make sure you know how to use your debit/ATM card (it's Bancomat in Italy) - codes and all - and, if you choose, obtain some Euro cash from a local American Express or other exchange group. Remember: 150E per week should have you set, if you live in moderation. The most we'll spend is during our two excursion weekends, where you will buy your own meals.

4. Exercising: An athlete in Siena has many options available to them. Are you a runner/walker? Head to the Fortezza to get in some laps! Swimmer? There are two local pool clubs to which you can join. I'm sure there are aerobic classes somewhere, but with the sloping hills of the town, you'll get your cardio in, just walking around town and back to your homestay.

3. Packing: Something to ALWAYS remember when packing? ZIPLOCS (or similar bags) in several sizes - you'll be amazed about how you'll use them!

2. Carryon: Make sure all medication is labeled appropriately, and that you have all your travel documents organized and grouped together. I believe I have a copy of everyone's passport, but if there are copies of any other documents you'd like me to keep stored away, I have an envelope for every person attending the trip!

1. Gratitude: EVERY DAY (heck, every moment you see them) - hug your parents, and thank them for the sacrifices they had to make to send you on this trip. Believe me, they're wishing they could be in your place! And promise them you'll get the most out of this experience.

Parents, I'm sending out hugs daily to each of you, too, for giving your child this experience. And I promise that I'll make SPI Italy a wonderful trip for us all!!!

Grazie mille,
Laura :)

Journaling

2009-06-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

One great way to remember this trip is by keeping a journal. With technology as it is today, there are many ways to do this:
1. Written in a book - the classic way, one which I prefer (helps me settle in to go to sleep at night), writing out your memories is such a personal and effective way to preserve your emotions at that moment. In my written journal, I don't just write out sappy stuff - in here, with the day still fresh on my mind, I also write out a list of places we visited, things we did, a record of expenses, and things I've heard of which I might want to check out later.
2. Postcards - what a great way to send someone else (or even yourself) your memories! I sent Jay a postcard a day during this experience a few years ago - what great memories for both of us when I returned home! Postcards are sometimes the best gifts for family and loved ones - shows them you were thinking of them during your stay, and that you wanted to share a little part of your trip with them.
3. E-mails - before blogging was available, I would write home mass e-mails to family and friends about the experience. Everyone appreciated receiving them, and it saved me LOADS of time!
4. Blogging - with so many blog servers out there, consider keeping a blog, which you can share with your family and friends (Margaret, I am "following" your blog on my blog site!). Like sending out mass e-mails, this saves you a lot of time, is considerably cheaper than mailing, and you can really personalize the site to your own tastes. Who knows? When you get home, you may want to continue this GOOD habit of writing!

No matter what form of media you choose, please do plan to journal on this trip. Things pass so quickly and busily that you'll blink, and realize that the experience has passed. Journaling is such a sacred thing - we will actually have two of our afternoons in Siena dedicated to this experience! I even like to find a spot to which I regularly return to do my journaling (like the Fortezza in Siena) - takes me away for a moment each day to reflect on what I've experienced that day, and what it means in the overall scheme of the trip!

abbracci,
Laura :)

TWO MORE WEEKS!!!

2009-06-09T19:01:00.001-07:00

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Oh, all these e-mails to me - you're getting me so excited about the trip!!! Can I share my answers to some of your recent e-mails with the group?

1. Departure - PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR GREEN SHIRTS - While most students are taking the same flight over as Ms. Caron, a few of you have slightly different itineraries. If you are taking a different flight to ORD or flying out of another airport, a great idea is to e-mail Ms. Caron/SPI your cell phone number (if you're going to have your American cell with you while you travel). I find that it's a great idea to take your American cell with you, to handle all the transfers while in the U.S., then turn it off when you board the international flight. (this way, you'll have it with a little working battery when we return, to let you call your folks at the connection gate)

If you're meeting us in ORD, plan to meet Ms. Caron (or a group of SPI fellow travelers) when you arrive into that airport. If not, please call Ms. Caron when you arrive at the location of your international departure, to let her know you're at your departure gate. We'll do the same thing when we all return to the U.S. - call me on my cell phone as soon as you get to your connecting gate (we'll talk about the fun of customs when returning to the U.S. later).

2. Katerina, we won't get as far north as you were hoping, but, believe me, there is HISTORY everywhere, even what you're looking for! The one thing that always strikes me, wherever we are, whether strolling during the evening passegiata, or in one of our tourist stays, is the reminder that, for centuries, people have been doing the exact same stroll as I do then. When we tour through the Forum, think of how many people have placed their feet exactly where you are. When we visit the Vatican, consider how many pilgrims visit - and have visited - this place, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for so many (and so many more who don't even get the chance). You can almost feel people of past ages passing by, smiling, as you experience the same path as they had. What a great connection with history and humanity!!!

3. Margarita, how inspiring it is to see everything on your blog - just shows me what this trip means to so many of you this year (and it certainly means as much, and more, to me!). You had mentioned that you'd like to see a daily agenda. Out of personal inspiration, I'm designing brief devotionals - just 10 - 15 minutes at the end of each of our touring day for anyone who is interested. We will read the passages, however, from the Italian bible and the Vulgate (no meager English translation for us), and discuss topics related to whatever place we visit that day. I'm going to see if I can post the devotional (and events) calendar on the blog, but general schedules for each day is also posted on the SPI Italy Google calendar (linked, I hope, to this page). :)

4. Shannon, I appreciate your wanting to work in advance to make the most of our brief time on our last weekend!!! No need to buy any tickets in advance - the Musei Vaticani lines should be moving at just the right speed when y'all get there, so that you can just enter directly and head to the ticket booth! If you've never been to Rome, I must insist that you go to the Musei Vaticani, and if you've already been there, another group will go to Villa Borghese (we'll meet in the Piazza di San Pietro a few hours after we divide up for a tour of the Basilica itself). Again, as I mentioned before, please inform me if you plan to go to the Villa Borghese - we need to book a reservation before we depart!

One last time to meet before we depart? See you at Campania Pizza for lunch at noon on Friday, June 19! Please feel free to e-mail me on my personal e-mail if you have more questions, and I'll make one last posting just before our departure date!

HUGS to all of you!

Laura :)

Three Weeks, and Counting

2009-06-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

In three weeks from now, some of you will have already departed on your first flight! Woo Hoo!!!

I thought I'd chat with you about what to expect during your travel day. International travel is TOUGH on your body, and the more preparation you do, the better your first day of touring will be.

To start with, consider beginning to change your internal clock by an hour a day a few days before departure. Italy is 7 hours ahead of most of us, so if you start on Monday waking up early and going to bed a little earlier, it'll be easier to get to sleep on the international flight on Thursday night. If you're not that disciplined, consider doing something crazy like sleeping very little on Wednesday night, and getting up super-early. You need to be at the airport 2 1/2 hours before departure, anyways, to be sure to make it through all the check-in stuff for international flights. Yes, that's a 7 AM check-in, my 9:30 AM departure friends.

At the airport, stay on your feet as much as possible, and try to get your eating habits on Italy time. That means you want to eat something lunch-ish for breakfast. And drink lots of water/juice. When you arrive into the connecting airport and get to your Italy departure gate, wait to eat anything until you get on the flight - they'll feed you dinner within the first two hours. But keep drinking lots of water/juice. On the international flight, try not to snack throughout the night, but keep drinking lots of water/juice. Sleep as much as possible. If you find you're restless, get up and walk for about 10 minutes, then return to your seat to attempt sleeping again. And have some water every time you wake up. Getting my drift? An hour before you arrive, breakfast will be served to you - eat all of it, whether you like it or not - it'll tell your body that it's morning (and not midnight, American time).

Once you get through passport check (be sure to take the NON-EU lines), get your bags at the baggage claim, and go through Customs (nothing to claim, my friends), you'll see me there on the other side of the sliding doors, with a pink SPI sign and the same Green SPI t-shirt. And we'll be off! No stops until we break at an AutoGrill for lunch right before going to Pompeii.

Again, a list of reminders for fighting jetlag:
1. A few days before departure, start changing your internal clock - wake up earlier, go to bed earlier
2. Force yourself to sleep/be still/rest during the international flight
3. Eat a lunch-type meal at breakfast, a snack-type meal for lunch, and eat your entire served breakfast on the international flight
4. LOTS OF FLUIDS for hydration - water and juice - as often as they offer it to you, and more!

We'll see you in three weeks!!!

Hugs,
L :)

Travel-Sized

2009-05-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Now that we're less than two months away, and I've clearly been in packing mode, let's talk about the benefits of travel-sized packages. I don't know about your house, but the guest bathroom in my house has more travel-sized toiletries than an entire boat of Caribbean pirates could use.

When preparing for a trip like ours, consider packing two or three travel-sized amounts of whatever you need (soap, shampoo, deodorant), rather than packing a large container which you won't use up. Smaller containers take up less room, and leak far less if they do open in your bag . . . and you can throw away the containers when they're emptied. Plus, our first weekend is spent at a hotel, so you can always use their hospitality products (rather than getting into your own stuff).

Carry-on or in the luggage? What do you HAVE (really - not just what you WANT) to have, if you should not have your luggage for two days? Pack your carry-on well:
1. Basic first-aid and hygienic needs: band-aids, prescription medicine (and the doctor’s order), antigas/antacids, hygenic products, travel sickness medicine?
2. Change of clothes (in case of loss of luggage) - our second day is Capri, so pack light clothing and a swimsuit
3. Your family gift (if meltable or fragile)
4. Healthy snacks: fruit-based snacks, crackers with cheese/PB, protein bars
5. Copies of necessary documents - passport, all credit cards and IDs (both sides), prescriptions - one to give to your Director, one for yourself
6. Comfort items for long-distance travel - warm sockies, inflatable pillow, earplugs
7. Something for writing - you'll fill out several documents during your journey, plus you WILL be taking Italian courses (for university credit) when you get to Siena

Please be sure you're learning some Italian, too, before we depart - that will be the MOST important carry-on you have - your brain!

Hugs,
L :)

P.S. This Thursday is our departure info meeting. For those of you who cannot attend, I will be posting an audiocast of the meeting on this blog (if I can - if not, I'll send it out by e-mail and post it on Quia or the Google Group page)!

Packing - Liquids and electronics

2009-05-07T13:57:00.001-07:00

Probably one of the most (few) brilliant ideas by the flight companies was to limit sizes of liquid containers to 3 oz on carryons. Really, what person is so attached to their GIANT shampoo bottle that they can't move into a small bottle for traveling? Which is my fun, quick point for today. Girls (or guys), if you have a favorite liquid - shampoo, perfume, lotion - which you HAVE to take on your travels, please move it into a 3 oz. travel bottle (and it's even better if the bottle is already labeled with its size). For a 2.5-week trip, you won't use more of that liquid, whatever it is. Plus, if it breaks open or leaks in your bag, that's a far smaller issue than if you took your original bottle, right? And weigh your giant shampoo bottle right now to remind yourself of how much weight you're NOT carrying through Italy.

I'm sure this goes without saying, but we're not headed to the center of Africa or the remote desert. People live in Siena and Italy (and we're living with them), which thus necessitates grocery stores. Buy your mouthwash/body soap/hand soap/toothpaste/shampoo at the grocery store, and share it with your roommate. Get your small electronics - hair dryer, fan for room if you need it - in town, too, rather than taking your own and bringing an adapter (with which you WILL blow our your electronic device). If you must bring an Ipod, get an European plug at the Apple store (and do the same for your cameras, or just bring extra charged batteries). Pack lightly, and you'll be rewarded in the end by being able to bring more gifts/regalia home to share with your loved ones!

Just my input (like the cell phone thing) . . .
L :)