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VIVA ITALIA!: International Club Visits 'Bella' Italy

Diman students pose in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome

By Meagan Parsons ‘09 and Ms. Guida

The International Club is a school-run organization that provides Diman students with the opportunity to travel to other countries during school year vacations. This is the first year that Diman has had an International Club; the club was started and is run by Mrs. Jonsson. The trip this year was to Italy for nine days. Italy is a beautiful country on the coast of Europe. Full of beautiful scenery and amazing attractions, there were many reasons the I.C. chose to travel to “bell’ Italia” (beautiful Italy). The I.C (International Club) left April 14th and arrived home on April 22nd.

Sixteen lucky people, including students, teachers, and some of their family members, went on the Italy trip this year. Travelers included Mrs. Elizabeth Jonsson, Brittany Duclos, Darianna Frometa, Mrs. Brenda Guida, Ms. Trisha Guida, Nicholas Guida, Katherine Machado, Mrs. Mary Lou Machado, Sandy Medeiros, Cynthia Miranda, Edmund Miranda, Carina Moreira, Veronica Moreira, Brittany Pimentel, Sonya Pimentel, and Elizabeth Sousa.

The itinerary of the nine day getaway included seeing many beautiful places. On the first day in Italy, the I.C arrived in Venice and went on a guided tour of this ancient city. They saw such sites as St. Mark’s Square, the Campanile Bell Tower, and Doges Palace. They also went on an early morning gondola ride and watched a glass-blowing demonstration.

On the fourth day of the trip, the I.C. traveled to Florence, Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance. There, the I.C enjoyed a guided tour of this beautiful location. The travelers visited Uffizi Palace, which houses the famous David statue by Michelangelo. At Bar Firenze, a world famous gelato vendor that has been featured on the Food Network, the tourists enjoyed their ice cream Italian-style in view of the Duomo. They also saw the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to survive WWII. Here, the girls (and some of the adults) bargained for designer handbags and scarves in the square next to the beautiful Gates of Paradise. The fifth day of the trip took the I.C. to Siena. There, they walked along the city streets and visited the grand square in the middle of town, home to a festival called Il Palio, which features an exciting horse race twice a year. Ironically, when the race is over, the winning horse is honored, and not the man riding it!

The sixth day in Italy took the I.C to Assisi where the club visited the Basilica of Saint Francis. At the end of the day, they traveled to Rome. The seventh day of the trip included a visit to the Vatican City, a guided tour of Rome, and a walking tour of Rome. The club witnessed the beauty of the mighty Colosseum and the legendary Trevi Fountain. They toured the Sistine Chapel and visited the Pantheon and the Spanish steps.

The eighth and final day in Rome included an optional trip to the lost village of Pompeii, with a stunning view of Mount Vesuvius, a volcano that is still active today. Next there was a quick stop in Naples for real Neopolitan pizza! The International Club ended their trip with some free time in Rome. At this time the weary travelers had time to explore the shops, museums, and cathedrals. On the ninth day, the International Club boarded their homeward bound flight. Over the course of the trip, the I.C. saw some breathtaking sites! Years from now, the participants of the first International Club trip will still remember their nine days in paradise as one of the best trips of their lives. “It was an amazing experience,” said Brittany Pimental, an Office Technology senior who traveled to Italy. “It was like a dream come true.”

The International Club is planning another trip for next year to Italy and Greece. To join the International Club, please contact Mrs. Jonsson in ROOM B233