Mid-trip PM Reflection

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Throughout the many blog posts and photos shared on Instagram during our program, our activity coordinator has tried to capture what it truly feels like to experience this journey alongside your children. Now that we have reached the halfway point of our adventure, I would like to share a few reflections on our time together.

Together, we have travelled through Siena, Firenze, Venezia, and now Sardinia, immersing ourselves in centuries of history, culture, and tradition. Sorrento & Rome still awaits us.

Many of these learning experiences take place in a formal setting, where teachers or local guides provide historical and cultural context as part of the experiential education that Global Summers Academy offers on every program. Equally valuable, however, are the moments when students explore on their own in small groups. It is often during these informal experiences that they immerse themselves, truly absorb their surroundings and develop a genuine appreciation for Italian culture. This program is about much more than visiting Italy’s remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites—of which Italy has more than any other country. It is also about learning everyday customs and traditions. Our students now know, for example, that cappuccinos and lattes are only breakfast drinks, and that tropical fruit does not belong on a pizza!

The students are making the most of every opportunity and embracing each destination with curiosity and enthusiasm. They recognize how special this experience is and are approaching it with increasing maturity, independence, and reflection. Many parents may have wondered whether their son or daughter was ready to spend a month away from home. I can confidently say that this group has demonstrated they were more than ready. They have embraced every opportunity that this experience has offered and have shown tremendous growth throughout the journey.

From the very first day, our staff emphasized that this program is about more than academics and travel—we are building a community. Supporting one another, both academically and personally, is essential to the success of the program. With families thousands of kilometres away, kindness, empathy, and encouragement become even more important as students navigate the highs and lows of travelling abroad.

We will soon leave Sardinia and continue our journey to Sorrento before finishing our adventure in Rome.

Sincerely,

Richard

Program Manager

Global Summers Academy – Italy 2026