Williston, N.D., April 22__WSC students, faculty, staff and community members traveled to Italy in March as a school-sponsored trip. 13 travelers landed in Rome March 8th and hit the ground running. Throughout the ten-day trip, the WSC travelers experienced Italy at its finest.  Pompeii, Rome, Vatican City, Ostia Antica, The Tuscan Countryside, Florence, and Venice were just a few of their major destinations.

From driving on roads that are thousands of years old in Naples to taking a hydrofoil to the island of Capri, Italy took their breath away. "You would be walking down the street in Rome and there would be building 200 to 300 years old and you could turn a corner and then there was one that was 2000 years old. It was simply amazing how old everything was and how much it is treasured," Kim Weismann, Arts and Human Sciences Chair, Associate Professor explained.  They experienced Italian culture at its finest. They learned to cook authentic Italian meals, how to identify leather, determined the value of gold, witnessed the filming the newest Bond film in Rome, and even trained to be a gladiator after visiting the Coliseum. "We had swords, shields, and bows and arrows. At the end of training there was a duel.  It was a lot of fun," Weismann, stated.

From museums and gondola rides to piazzas and food, each moment there was a learning experience. "My absolute favorite part of the trip was spending time on a family farm in Tuscany.   Lunch was planned for us and we were able to sample the cheese, bread, salami, pasta, olive oil and wine all produced there," Andrea Heller, WSC Bookstore Manager explained.  "If I ever get the chance to go back that will be my first destination." Katie Peterson agreed, "I enjoyed getting to experience some true Italian culture. We were able to learn to cook Italian food, experiencing an Italian farm, had a Italian BBQ prepared for us by our tour guide's friends, and learned Italian culture from our amazing tour guide."

WSC worked with WorldStride, a company that specializes in travel packages for schools. WSC previously worked with them on past trips to Norway, Spain and their upcoming trip to Peru in March 2016. The group who traveled to Italy will be giving a presentation to the public with details of their trip, Tuesday April 28th 7:00pm in room 116 in Stevens Hall.

For more information, contact Kim Weismann at 701.774.4503
for other information regarding Williston State, visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.