Terracina (September 18)

Well, as you can imagine, school work has caught to me!  So now I'm trying to catch up a bit.

About two weeks ago, we all went to Terracina (pronounced Terra-Cheena) for an Orientation retreat.  While the kids have been here for 3 weeks already, we wait until they've been acclimated to the time change and have had some time with their families before having the orientation.  It gives the students the opportunity to formulate questions about school and home life that they couldn't possibly know until they've lived it a bit.

Another aspect of the trip is educational.  On each of the three days, students were privy to a museum, a garden, a beach, and a cove.  The pictures you see above and to the left were taken at La Palma Resort, where we stayed for the retreat.  As you can see, it's right along the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea.  Our weather, for the mostpart, was as spectacular as the pictures suggest.  We were so fortunate.  One day, Pat Scanlon (SYA-Italy Director) and I even went for a long swim (about 500 meters out to a fishing boat and back).  I hadn't done something like that since the accident but it felt good!  My shoulder was pretty tuckered out by the time the waves surfed me back onto the beach.



The picture at the right is a panel of teachers (left to right: Santo (Archaeology), Richard (Latin and Greek), Eleanora (Host Family Coordinator), Pat, and Brad (English)) who are answering questions students have ranging from how to manage issues they're having with host families to how to balance school work with their new lives in Italy.



Students are enjoying some lunch and free time at one of the cabins while in Terracina.  From left to right: Marlaina, Thea, Waverley, Jenny, and Rachel.

Students weren't the only ones who enjoyed themselves in Terracina.  Each night, the beach offered peace, tranquility, and beautiful sunsets.  Richard (right) and Daniele (Italian teacher) exchange guitar solos while I hum a few background vocals and snap photos.