Twenty-two NHP students took an eight-day cultural exchange trip to France and Italy over the February mid-winter break, taking the opportunity to learn more about European history and culture. The students were chaperoned by Spanish teacher and trip leader Ms. Tiwari, French teacher Mr. Pierre, World Language department chairperson Mr. Rutigliano, and art teacher Ms. Livoti. ACIS tour guide Stefan Aquilina led the students to cultural sites and experiences, as well as provided historical context for each destination.
NHP students landed in Paris, France on February 14. While in Paris, students were able to visit a traditional Parisian bakery, walk up the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre museum, attend a macaron baking lesson, and enjoy a scenic river cruise on the River Seine.
Students were also given ample free time to shop, eat and explore the city in pairs or smaller groups.
“My favorite part of the trip was when we got to explore the cities on our own. We got to see a lot of authentic restaurants and stores, and we got to try so many different dishes,” sophomore Adel Chen said.
Students made two more stops in France: Provence and Nice. In Provence, Provence, students took a tour of the historical Palais des Papes in Avignon. In Nice, students had the opportunity to walk around the city and try the local cuisine.
As a surprise, the chaperones took the students on a day trip to Monaco before leaving for Italy. The students took in the views, bought souvenirs and witnessed the changing of the guards in front of the Prince’s Palace.
Before arriving at the next major stop, the tour group took a stop in Pisa to view the leaning tower. the next day, students were led through Florence with a local tour guide who highlighted the famous landmarks of Florence, such as the Duomo di Firenze and the Statue of David by Michelangelo.
For the final two days of the trip, the students visited the historical sites of Rome, such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum. The group crossed into Vatican City, meaning that the students traveled to a total of four countries throughout their trip. The students were able to view both original and restored artworks, including the famous “Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment” by Michaelangelo on the walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
“As someone who is passionate about art, getting to experience places like the Louvre and the Vatican Museum was an unbelievable experience. I was completely awestruck getting to see artworks like the Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel and the Statue of David in Florence in person,” sophomore Nikita Bansal said. “All of the cities that we visited were gorgeous but learning the history behind each place made me appreciate the beauty that much more.”
Students were brought inside Saint Peter’s Basilica as well. 2025 is a jubilee year in the Catholic church, which meant that students were able to walk through the Holy Door opened by Pope Francis, which will not be opened again until 2050.
As the trip came to an end, students and teachers alike reflected on the cultural exchange experience and the broader applications of their world language skills.
“I was able to apply my knowledge of French in unexpected ways, for example, when I spoke to a native French speaker while drinking hot chocolate. It was a very funny interaction and I’m very glad I was able to use the French language,” sophomore Phoebe Lu said.
“I truly believe there is nothing more valuable to cross-cultural understanding than world travel. Experiencing different situations and cultures allows students to gain firsthand knowledge and the ability to utilize what they learn in World Language classes. These experiences imprint upon students’ lives. Travel changes lives and our students experience this thanks to our international trip,” Spanish teacher Ms. Tiwari said.
