| Quotes & Stories From Past Students 1998- 2003 |
Quotes from Students in Past Sessions
of the Live & Learn Italian Program...
*1998-2003* |
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1998-
I had a wonderful time (in Italy). Thanks for everything. This trip may have been the single best experience of my life time.
David M., Germantown, MD
I want to say thank you for everything. My stay in Arba was amazing. It is a memory that I will recall constantly throughout my life. You must say "Grazie" to all of my friends in Arba; Argia, Enrico, Donatella, etc. But especially to you in your successful and hopefully lucrative (someday at least) business venture.
Heather McM., Charlottesville, VA, Student
I spent a lovely month at your villa in Arba. Thank you for everything. You are a very special person. You can cook very well, thanks for all your recipes. You are a lovely hostess and you are very pretty. You also sing well! You are a good Italian teacher and you are very brave to start your own business.
Ellie S., Rockville, MD
We had a wonderful experience in Arba. We'll miss the festivals...unfortunately!
Alma P., Beltsville, MD
I had a wonderful time in Arba. I'm sure you miss "Leone"! (il cane carino)
Rabecca C., Washington, DC
1999-
We all sorely miss our days in Arba and Tuscany. We really had a fantastic summer, starting with our time and lessons with you in Arba... Oh, for a cappucino at Bar Venilio!
We have great pictures of everybody on the balcony of the villa that we'll send. We're eager for an update and news from Arba!
Steve C., Charlottesville, VA
I always wanted to know the language of my father's side of the family and this is a fantastic way of doing it. It's just the trick to cure those summertime blues, see new places and learn something valuable at the same time.
Paul R., Blacksburg, VA, Student
Thanks for everything. You are a great hostess and you have a wonderful program. That reminds me, "Questo messaggio deve essere in Italiano!"
David C., Charlottesville, VA |
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Arba was fun and I enjoyed myself in Italy. It was great meeting you. I hope you had as much fun as I did!... I have very little time to myself now and it makes me wonder about life in Italy! I do miss it! Say hello to Alice, Argia, Enrico and Tarcisio! Ciao!
Rose Mary L., Greenwhich, CT
When do you plan to be back in Arba? Have you heard from Argia or other friends there? Sam (5 year old son) is planning to draw pictures to send Argia. He often speaks of his days in Arba and plots his return....
Ellen C., Charlottesville, VA
2000-
Cara amica, I miss you and Arba. I was thinking of the fun; your singing, us drinking wine together, and scurrying down the street in the rain in Udine. Yes, it's hard to adjust to the anxiety level here (in the states). It's in me or in the air when I'm here. I really do miss the peaceful easy ways of Arba and how it was all so different from the U.S...I'm practicing Italian tapes. I'd like to return to Italy... who knows?... It was a heartfelt, emotional farewell at the bus station for me because of the sincerity of the new friends we made there, and the natural fun of all we did... and then it was over! God bless you! I loved being with you. I wish you an easy trip back to the U.S. culture! Please write. I yearn for news from Italy!
Frances W., Virginia Beach, VA
I loved Italy and it seems like I'm regularly dealing with not feeling good physically here. I think the water and food there are healthier, don't you?
Fran T., VA Beach, VA
Thank you for the wonderful time I had in Arba. How was the festival? Arba was my most rewarding trip ever! Please tell Argia, Enrico, Luciana, Roberto, Karin, Donatella, and Claudia that I enjoyed meeting them! I had an event free trip back to the states.
J. D., Washington, DC, Phd.
My visit to Arba, Italy was the most rewarding trip I've ever taken.... I had a very enriching time....
Joan D., Washington, DC, Psychologist
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2001
We got back with minimum difficulty, except that my Arba plate was broken. We are still transitioning to the U.S.. A rather watered down cappucino at Starbuck's just doesn't do it, even with strains of 'Grande, Grande, Grande' still running through my head. Tonight we are planning to see a film that takes place in Venice called 'Bread & Tulips'. I'm sure youre enjoying your week hiatus.
We are so glad we went to Arba and your program. You did a splendid job teaching us Italian and providing an interesting base for exploring Italian culture. Even daughter #2, a tough critic, enjoyed herself! We've already looked into Adult education programs in Italian at our local high school.
Give the smartest, cutest dog in all of Italy a pat for me.
A hello to all. Stay in touch.
Judy P., Brookline, MA, Teacher
Great to hear from you. Glad you got the pictures. We had such a great time (on the program) that we are enrolled in an evening class to expand our Italian. The teacher doesn't speak much English, so we are sometimes at a loss. But the work book helps us moving forward. She is not as good as you were but we are making headway.
Jim P., Boston, MA, University Professor |
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2002
It was a delightful surprise to see you in Washington, D.C. Life has been very full since we left you in Italy last year. But we still tell everyone about our wonderful trip, as Joe was doing when you walked up to him in front of the Holy Rosary Church! It was a wonderful experience and one which we will never forget. I want you to know how much we enjoyed it...
Joe and Carol S., MD. |
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I was browsing through "Blue Ridge Outdoors" and noticed your ad. It's nice to see your language school is still going well. We miss Arba and hold fond memeories of our time there. Does Leone (cane) still stay with you each summer? How are Argia, Enrico, Alice, Doris and Elisa doing? We're still working on our Italian and have managed to spend the last couple of summers in Tuscany. Your lessons have served us well...
Steve C., Charlottesville, VA. |
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| One Student's Experience... |
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| My visit to Arba Italy was the most rewarding trip Ive ever taken. Arba is a tiny town in Northern Italy, about two hours from the Austrian border. Arba has a population of about 1000. There are more bikes than cars. People in their 70s, 80s, and 90s bike around the tiny town. They come to the center every day to visit one of the 5 bars, 2 butcher shops, 1 bank, 2 grocery stores, 1 bakery and 1 variety store. Thursdays is market day. Carla, the Italian language instructor, had a group of 3. We spent most of our time visiting the nearby villages. We probably visited 10 other villages. Most of the time we took the bus but on several occassions one of Carla's friends drove us around. She took us to the beach one Sunday night at 9 p.m. I danced with a local 20 year old at one of the local night spots. Carla invited several of the local families to her villa to meet us. Everyone was very friendly. Last Saturday we rented a car and went to the former Yugolslavia, now called Slovenia. We visited the capital, Ljubiana. We found a hotel for only $45 a night for three of us. The first thing you do in each town is to look for the center. That's where all the action takes place. Our action began on the way to Slovenia... (too wild to print, I'll have to tell you about it... in Arba) |
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When we visited the small towns around Arba we were always there around Mezzogiorno or middle of the day. People gather into the bars and have snacks; meats, cheeses, etc. on small rounds of bread, and also much wine. ...A description of the villa I stayed in. It is over 200 years old. The furniture is very very old and the windows don't have screens. A rooster crows and doves sing every morning. There is a sense of safeness about the town. Carla left her front door open whenever we were home.
I didnt go to Venice as I had hoped... I went to Slovenia instead. I thought about spending the night in Venice at the end of the trip, but the hotels were too expensive, my luggage was too heavy, and I was concerned about finding transportation to the airport in Venice. I ended up taking a taxi at 4:30 a.m. (from Carla's) to get to the airport at 5:30 a.m. It cost $90 but was well worth it!
I took many pictures, especially of the beautiful flowers that I saw in each village. I had a very enriching time. ...I would like to visit a small southern town in Italy next, and see what that's like. |
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