The Experiment: Italy: Culinary Training & Culture

The experiences I had while travelling in Italy will affect me for the rest of my life. Being able to see the history and culture of so many cities and interact with people, firsthand, is something that I would never have been able to do. It was a busy month, but there was a good balance of "down time" where we got to explore. The homestay is by far the most unique part of the whole trip. It was mind blowing to be so welcomed into a family and see what day-to-day life is really like. You can travel your whole life and never see that. I came into this trip with a passion for the culinary industry, however, this trip provided such a rich look at food on a world wide level. The culinary school experience is appropriate for all levels of skill. I learned so many different techniques and cooking methods that we just don't see at home very often. The tours we went on to different kinds of farms and restaurants were also something you cannot do without the Experiment. I met wonderful people, saw beautiful cities and museums full of art, and ate my way through every city. I am forever grateful.

Italy was really fun and I am glad that I got the opportunity to experience it. I learned a lot about the food and culture and it was really interesting. Seeing the different cities was wonderful and beautiful. While I did love Italy, I didn't like my group as much. Out of the whole group only two people were black and one of them was me. I just wish that the groups were more diverse. I also wish that I had someone my age when I did the host family. The host family was great but I was a little lonely with no one my again around.

This is a very impactful trip. I learned new things made new friends and have skills I can use later in life. When I met everybody we were all quiet at first but as we traveled more we all became really good friends. We all did not like the heat considering it was in the Hundreds. We all took lots of pictures at the art museums, at the restaurants and even at the country side itself. When we all went to our host families we all made some really good memories but they were very sad just like us when we had to go. But we all still remember and love them. This trip was so much fun I might think about coming back

I went on The Experiment in International Living's trip to Italy this past July and it was an incredibly unique and exciting experience. I got to see new places and experience new things all while learning about Italian culture and cuisines and connecting with the other kids in my group along the way. The in country partners and individual group leaders were amazing and really helped the trip go smoothly. Overall it was a very positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to really get a feel for many of the different parts of Italy.

On my trip to Italy, I did many different activities and explored many ancient places. I started off in Rome and I explored the ancient city and New Rome. I ate my first pizza in Italy and had delicious pasta. I got to walk around and go shopping and see the beautiful sites. I ate many flavors of gelato throughout the month and never got tired of it. It was a nice snack to cool down on in the hot weather. When I got to my homestay I got to meet my family and connect with them. They took me to their beach house for the weekend and they also took me on their boat. That was a nice way to spend time with my family and also get to relax on the beach. This was one of my favorite moments because the water was so clear and I was relaxing while having fun. My homestay family cooked many delicious foods that I very much enjoyed and I had a blast with them. On this trip, I also took cooking classes which were really cool because I got to learn how to cook traditional Italian foods and it came out great. I was able to take back what I learned back home and share it with the people I know. This was a once in a lifetime trip that I will never forget and something everyone should experience first hand.

Never did I ever think I would have the opportunity to cook in Italy!! It was so much fun, I ate more pizza, pasta, and gelato than I can count. Each place we visited: Rome, Cortona, Florence, Cosenza, Asti, and Venice, we all beautiful and all different from each other. I never got tired of eating the food and comparing ti from place to place! My favorite part of the trip was definitely homestay. Meeting people my age and seeing the differences and commonalities we shared were great! My host family was wonderful and I adore them all so much ! Experiencing a different culture opened my eyes to what I was missing in my life, and that I do need to travel the world and make multiple stops in Italy! I would do this program again if I could.

You will really get the chance to taste Italy. We had tons of pizza, pasta and gelato. We were able to make many authentic dishes during the culinary training. Italy is such a beautiful country, we were able to see all sides of it. Venice, Rome, Asti, Cortona, Cozensa, all absolutely stunning in their own ways. Everything about the trip was great, the leaders, the group, the food, and the adventures. Without a doubt I would recommend this trip. You will have the opportunity to learn Italian in the lessons. Personally, I loved the homestay. You will have the opportunity to be part of another family and learn their culture, customs and way of life. This is something fun to do and spend your summer out in another country. Overall, the trip was so great!

I never believed Italy, the tiny little boot by the Mediterranean, could teach me so much in a matter of days. This was my first experience--traveling alone--without my family or friends, but with strangers from all over the U.S. On top of that, I experienced and was entirely immersed in a culture, that was seemingly not like my own, but that I connected to by the end of the program.
I adored my homestay family, I even text them on a regular basis now that I am home! Although, I did miss home. I won't deny it. I knew I was in another foreign country, one I hope that others get to visit, and not only to check off a tourist-like list. The culture is so vibrant and nearly everything in Italy is gorgeous. However, Italy wasn't about its aesthetic, but rather what it allowed me to learn. For the first time in my life, I was taught, that even with a language barrier, people are all interconnected.

Italy, at the moment, is facing a lot of immigration issues and corrupt policies, just like back home. In Houston, there are constant protests and rallies held in support of immigrants, the Black Lives Matter movement, Women's Rights Movement, and many more. In Italy, protests were consistently held in Rome, and I appreciated it. Italy was not just another place for a vacation, but rather to engage with. My host family and strangers--that I now call friends--taught me this, and I couldn't be more thankful for it.
If anyone is reading this, I hope that when you travel, you also get to enjoy the unique culture and not simply spend endless hours in gift shops.