Written by Italy & Greece Overseas Educators, Megan & Mary
Ciao! The Terra 23 group has been whisked away to the Italian countryside at the beautiful property of Panta Rei in Umbria. We’ve been knee-deep in orientation activities- fun games, learning about tools to build a healthy community, getting to know each other, and immersing ourselves in Italian language and culture. We have been spending time with Tom and Mauro from Panta Rei, running around the property for a scavenger hunt, learning about mushrooms, and gaining insight to the sustainable designs of the property. The farm dogs Fred, Muschio, and Nia have been a huge hit and are receiving many pets.
Our Highlights of the Week:
🐕 Playing with the cats and dogs of Panta Rei
🍨 Visiting the town of Passignano and getting gelato for the first time
🎃 Eating a 10/10 pumpkin risotto (and having a dish-washing dance party after dinner)
But growth always comes with challenge … what were your students challenged by this week?
We walked down from the farm into town, passing George Lucas’ house and beautiful views! However the way back up was steeeeeep. We struggled a bit but can’t complain because the views from our first accommodation are stupendo!
How’s the group getting along?
The community blossoming within our group has made our transition here feel smooth. We laugh, we play, we learn, and engage in meaningful conversations as we plant our roots in this new and incredible country. As much as we are enjoying life on the farm, we are also teeming with excitement to head to Firenze next week. Many of us are especially interested in delving into the art history of this iconic city. For now, we feel deep gratitude to be present and held within the lush greenery of Umbria. Updates to come soon, thanks for tuning in!
