During spring recess, Pierson High School students in grades 10-12 had the option to travel to Italy to complete a trip that was designed in 2021. The original trip was placed on hold due to the pandemic, but with restrictions lifted, current students were able to experience international travel and explore new cultures.
Planned with support from the Reutershan Trust and chaperoned by Pierson teachers Peter Solow, who is a retired art teacher and current substitute; Jennifer Bianchi, English; Melissa Isaacson, speech; Caleb Atkinson-Barnes, teaching assistant; and Luis Aguilar, physical education; the students and teachers embarked on a robust itinerary filled with history, sight-seeing, and hands-on experiences.
Together, the Pierson representatives traveled to Venice, Padua, Modena, Florence, Tuscany, Settignano, and Rome with a few stops in between. “My favorite place was Florence, specifically the Tuscan farm we visited. I also found the islands of Venice very beautiful, with Burano being my favorite due to the colorful buildings and overall pleasant atmosphere,” said Pierson junior, Ava Garabedian, who also explained the trip as “unforgettable, inspirational, and life-changing.”
From Venice to Florence to Rome, each stop and journey introduced new cultures, foods, and history. “Learning from authentic experience was a really effective way for the kids to absorb the things they were learning,” said Solow, who designed the itinerary back in 2021. Solow continued to note that when students travel beyond the classroom together and conquer something new, it creates a stronger bond.
Together the students tried a cooking class, listened to tours through vineyards, churches, museums, and colosseums, re-created authentic Venice Mardi Gras masks, and much more. “Being able to experience the large-scale churches, chapels, and basilicas, was amazing,” said Garabedian. “Seeing the frescos and statues in these ancient buildings was astonishing and witnessing people in these religious places that were built far before they were born was humbling, to say the least, and is not something one could see back here in New York.”
Beyond the Italian history and heritage, however, students also learned about sharing a room, getting up without a parent, and other responsibilities that may be on the horizon post-high school. “I am incredibly glad and grateful that I went,” said Garabedian. “It was not only fun to experience it with some of my friends but being in another country exploring its culture was something I will never forget.”
Garabedian then went on to offer advice to her peers saying, “This trip helped me to feel more connected to other parts of the world in ways I would not have been able to do otherwise. I highly recommend people going on this trip or other trips like it if they are interested in experiencing culture in a new way.”
Photo caption: Pierson High School students embarked on an experiential learning trip across Italy.