Modern Languages Europe Trip to France and Italy
Modern Languages Europe Trip to France and Italy
Once again, Assumption College and St. John’s students involved with the modern languages class and their teachers Madame Berardi, Madame D’Eramo, and Madame DiFrancesco participated in a successful educational field trip to Italy and France. These students were able to use the language skills taught to them, and apply them in real-life situations over the duration of the trip. The students were able to appreciate the French and Italian Culture through conversation with the locals, or partaking in a delicious meal at a local restaurant, and at the end of the trip had learned more from experiences than what could have been taught from a book.
The trip began on March 6 with an early arrival in the beautiful city of Paris. Once we arrived in Paris we were taken to the Eiffel Tower where we were able to view the city from a higher altitude. Following the visit to the Eiffel tower we had lunch on the Champs Elysées and then checked into our hotel for a short rest before dinner. The next two days included visits to Sacre Couer in Montmartre, the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Les Invalides, Place de La Concorde, and the Arc De Triomphe. In each of these places we were able to experience the French culture first hand, and learn the deeper meanings of the roots of our faith. To end our time in Paris, we were taken on a cruise aboard the Bateaux Mouches where we experienced the City of Lights (Paris) from the River Siene. A short ride from Paris saw us arriving in Versailles to visit the extravagant Palace of the Sun King Louis XIV.
A short flight form Paris then saw us arriving in Nice, the unofficial capital of the French Riviera. While in Nice we took a guided walking tour of the city, and a tour of a world-renowned Candy Factory.
After a day in Nice, we were driven to the Italian Riviera to spend a day in San Remo, known as “The City of Flowers”. Here we experienced the daily lives of the locals at the San Remo Market, purchased many souvenirs and had lunch in a local trattoria. At the end of the day in San Remo, we returned to Nice for a dinner in a local restaurant. The next day, we departed for Eze. While in Eze we took a guided tour of the Purfumerie Fragonard where we learned about the history of perfume making. We purchased perfume and many other beauty enhancement products. Following the visit of the Purfumerie, we continued to Monaco where we saw the palace of the ruling Grimaldi Family and the ceremony of the changing of the guards.
A short drive from Monaco Italy awaited us. A stop was made in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. After the short visit to Pisa we arrived in Florence where we experienced a walking tour of the city of Florence which included the Baptistry, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Ponte Vecchio. We spent time at the Accademia Museum where we saw Michelangelo’s David and a number of Michelangelo’s unfinished works.
A few hours away, Rome and Vatican City awaited us. During the city tour, we saw the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. We had a guided tour of the treasures in the Vatican Museum, the magnificent and beautifully restored Sistine Chapel, and the grandiose St. Peter’s Basilica which contains numerous art treasures including the Pietà by Michelangelo and the tombs of some of the former Popes. As Catholics, the opportunity to visit this official pilgrimage site is the highlight of our faith experience. Here we were reminded of our more than two thousand years of history and the significance of our beliefs.
On March 16, we reluctantly boarded our plane for home knowing that we had an opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to practice our new languages and participate in the culture of the French and Italians was an unforgettable learning experience that will shape our lives forever.
