Living and Learning in Italy: Parents Week...or, Maybe I’ll be in the Blog too!

November 1, 2010

The last week of October was devoted to welcoming the parents and families of our students to CCI and Lanciano. Although there were only three days of official events, many took advantage of the opportunity to extend their stay to a week in the area of Lanciano or further a field to encompass more of Italy. It was a delight to have so many families with us so that they could experience for themselves what their children have been experiencing since August.

Wednesday evening was marked by a Welcome Dinner at the Allegria and the place was packed!

On Thursday, our parents and families took an escorted tour to San Vito and Ortona.

The first stop was in San Vito San to see a trobocchi, which is a fishing platform first devised by the Turks in the 17^th Century. Due to the high winds and waves they were not able to actually go onto the platform itself.

At Ortona, Mr. Joe Murray, one of our teachers and a person who is very knowledgeable about Canada’s war efforts during WWII here in Italy especially, showed them exactly where Canadian and German troops were fighting in this town.

The tour included a visit to the war museum cared for by Tomas (pictured below) who was a boy at the time living with his family in Ortona. Their home, along with many others, was destroyed in the fighting and because of the fighting, he along with the many residents of Ortona were virtually starving. The Canadians liberated Ortona and fought the Germans back in battles that were estimated to have a 10% survival rate for both sides; that is, only one in ten survived the fighting there. In gratitude to the Canadians, Tomas committed to the upkeep of the museum.

Afterwards, the group went outside to see the statue dedicated to the Canadian troops entitled ‘The Price of Peace’ and lovingly cared for everyday by Francesca, also a long time resident of Ortona and a war survivor. Her gratitude is demonstrated by her weekly placement of flowers on the monument.

The group was also introduced to another Tomas, who was cook for the Canadian troops in WWII. Like his fellow citizens, he honours Canada and the sacrificial role its troops played in the liberation of his town. Meeting these three people was an emotional part of the day for everyone.

Thankfully, there was a bit of a break as everyone was able to enjoy some lunch in the local restaurants.

The early afternoon included a visit to the Moro River Cemetery. It is here that 1,375 Canadians who fought in this campaign are buried. During the eight days from December 20-28^th 1943 approximately one quarter of the Canadians killed in Italy were slain then. There is also war dead from other Commonwealth countries buried there. What is so striking is their relative youthfulness when they died. The youngest soldier laid to rest here was 16 years old at the time of his death.

One story that brought it all home to everyone is that of Corporal Ash who was killed on October 20, 1943 at the age of 22. He had recently married before leaving for the war. Then, some sixty-seven years later and week before CCI’s visit, his wife who had remarried, returned to pay her respects to her late husband on the day he died so long ago. Bringing with her red maple leaves, hand prints of her great-grandchildren’s and their wedding photo, she left them at his grave along with a card that bares the inscription, “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

On returning to CCI, parents were treated to an adaptation of a Greek play performed by Mrs. Irons Murray’s Classic Civilization students. Entitled ‘Thesmophoria’, Arsitophenes explores the stereotypical roles of women and men. Following the play, a group of students and teachers performed two songs, one of which was performed earlier in L’Aquila.