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Art Trek explores all that Italy has to offer

Brandi Williams & Sadie Johnson - Arrow Staff

Seniors Amelia Freeman, Nova Wood, Jon Fetter-Vorm, Anna Saverud, and Nick Heaton join art teacher Susan Arthur in front of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy.

   The trip may have only lasted for a little over a week, but those who went on the Art Trek say the journey gave them memories to last a lifetime.

   "The Italy trip was so amazing; it is impossible to use words to describe some of the thing we saw," says senior Amelia Freeman. "I fell in love with everything about Italy. I can't wait to go back."

   While in Italy the kids saw sights such as the bronze statue of Juliet, the home country of Marco Polo, Michelangelos's Pieta, and the Sistine Chapel.

   "Just before I went into the Sistine Chapel I got goose bumps and I was very nervous," says Jon Fetter-Vorm. "I remember losing my breath when I walked in and looked up."

   Art teacher Lavonne Burgard's favorite part of the trip was visiting the town of Pompeii, where a volcano erupted and covered the town in ash.

   "For me as an art person I saw some things that I studied since I was a kid," says Burgard. "As art teachers we learn so much by seeing the real thing. We were glad that we spent every Tuesday with the kids giving background before we went."

   I scream, you scream - and the art trek kids were screaming for ice cream. As it turns out, they were in luck. Ice cream was developed in Italy. Early Italians would send people to the Alps to get ice and bring it back to make ice cream. In Italy they call it gelato.

   "I used to love pasta, but every time I see pasta with red sauce, thinly sliced pork and stale bread I get nauseous," says senior Nova Wood. "They fed us the same thing every night. Other than that, the trip was excellent!"

   Seniors Brandon Newgard and KC McBroom thought otherwise of the pasta in Italy.

   "The trip was a lot of fun," says Newgard. "The pasta was great-just ask Mrs. Longhart."

   "Italy was amazing. I love people and the food and the culture. Men just come up to you and tell you you're beautiful," says McBroom. "I enjoyed eating pasta every night."

   The program that took these students and teachers to Italy was Global Classrooms.

   "The global classroom enriches lives, educates, and gives confidence and teaches each one of us something about ourselves," says art teacher Sue Arthur. "I was honored and privileged once again with my colleagues and such an outstanding group of young people to travel with. They represented America in a superlative way. Their engaging participation allowed them latitude to be taken to sights that were not even on our schedule."

   The students also went to discos, similar to dance clubs in the states. The students got to attend one and on the screen was "Welcome Flathead High School from Kalispell, Montana."

   "Our trip to Italy was a great experience. I got lost in Florence, that was a little scary, but I was invited to a disco by three different guys," said senior Katie Miller. "So I guess that it wasn't too bad."

   Overall, the students had nothing but positive things to say about the trip.

   "My experience in Italy was really great. I was so excited to be able to experience the culture and art in Italy," said senior Meagan Funk. "It is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen and I would love to be able to go back. I am very thankful to have had this opportunity."

   "It was amazing to see all of the artwork and differences of our cultures," said senior Shannon Berry. "It was definitely worth it."