Rafting
One of my highlights of last week was an evening rafting trip along the Arno, organised by AEF. A group of us Italian language students met by the river feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, as for many of us it was our first time rafting. Fortunately, it turned out to be much easier than we had imagined, which meant we could relax and enjoy the experience.
Seeing Florence from the water was very special. As we made our way down the Arno and passed beneath the city's famous bridges, our guide shared fascinating stories and historical facts that brought Florence to life in a completely different way. One fact that I found particularly memorable was learning that Mussolini altered the windows on the Ponte Vecchio specifically for Hitler’s visit in 1938!
The trip was not only great fun, but also a wonderful way to learn more about Florence beyond the classroom. Spending the evening with other students helped us get to know each other better and we had plenty of opportunities to practise our Italian along the way.
Trip to Pisa
One afternoon last week, we had the fantastic opportunity to visit Pisa. Accompanied by one of AEF’s wonderful teachers, who acted as our tour guide for the afternoon, we explored the city while listening to explanations entirely in Italian about its history and cultural importance. It was a great chance to practise our language skills outside of the classroom and challenge ourselves to understand Italian in a real-world setting.
As someone who had never visited before, it was amazing to finally see the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. Seeing such an iconic landmark up close felt surreal, and it was entertaining watching everyone take the classic funny photos pretending to hold it up or push it over!
However, what surprised me most was discovering that Pisa has so much more to offer than just its famous tower. The entire Piazza dei Miracoli was stunning, with its impressive architecture and fascinating history. Before visiting, I had never realised how beautiful and significant the whole area was.
Even the train journey there and back was part of the experience. Travelling through the Tuscan countryside gave us the chance to admire the landscape and take in our surroundings, making the trip feel even more special. I would love to return and explore even more of Pisa while I'm here in Italy.
‘The Light in the Piazza’ Musical
Finally, I was lucky enough to attend a performance of ‘The Light in the Piazza’, staged by AEF’s own students from Elon University. The musical took place in the stunning Cortile delle Colonne within the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, which provided the perfect backdrop for a story set in Florence. As the evening light filled the courtyard, the setting made the whole experience feel even more magical.
The production itself was very well put together. The acting was excellent, the atmosphere was warm and joyful, and the cast brought so much energy to the performance. Despite many of us being already familiar with Florence, seeing the city woven into the story made it all the more engaging and relatable. The plot kept us intrigued throughout, and it was clear how much hard work and dedication had gone into the show.
More than anything, it was one of those evenings that captured the special sense of community at AEF. Surrounded by new friends and colleagues in such a beautiful setting, watching a talented group of students perform, made for a truly special and memorable experience.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
- Favourite meal: Una schiacciata dell’Antico Vinaio
- Favourite place: Piazzale Michelangelo
- New phrase learned 🇮🇹: ‘Fare l’orecchia alla pagina’ (literally ‘to make an ear on the page’, meaning to fold over a page in a book to remember where you were!)
- What I am looking forward to: A weekend day trip to Siena!
Until next time, baci e abbracci!
Charlotte Young
