The final bell rang on Friday afternoon, Jan. 24, 2025, signaling both the end of the school day and the start of winter break. However, for 12 lucky Cubs, led by English teachers Sarah Gacina and Luke Chandler, it marked the start of a long, ten-day, adventure-packed global immersion trip to Northern Italy. From the floating city of Venice, to the fantasy of Romeo and Juliet in Verona, to the magical ex-capital of Italy, Turin, as well as pitstops in legendary airports like Paris and Amsterdam, these Cubs embarked on the trip of a lifetime, one that they will cherish forever.
As the airplane landed after a dreadful 13 hours of travel time, the cold “bora” wind from the Alps evoked an instant sense of excitement and energy in the exhausted boys. “Once I felt the cool, winter breeze as we walked out the airport, it started to get real. I felt like the excitement and the suspense of waiting for these past few months finally overflowed,” explained Ryan Kong ‘27.
Since Venice is a human-made, floating city off the coast of northeastern Italy, there are no cars, and transportation is limited to walking, small boats, and the city’s iconic gondolas. The Cubs had to take a boat taxi from the airport to arrive at their hotel.
“Venice was so quiet and dark, it was almost like we had just arrived in a completely different world,” reflected Ethan Eng ‘27 on the initial moments of their arrival in Venice.
The group made it to the dinner reservation, weary and starving, which made the first bite of the highly-anticipated authentic Italian cuisine heavenly. The hungry group indulged in bites of Diavola, Abruzzese, and Margherita pizzas, as well as carbonara pasta and sips of real Fanta—every bit unbelievably delicious—then took a relaxing late-night walk, exploring the city. It was the perfect start to the trip.
The group spent three total nights in Venice, touring the city and its most memorable attractions, including the stunning Basilica di San Marco in St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the humbling Jewish Ghetto, and the Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop. However, what many of the boys in the group will remember most is the three-hour scavenger hunt around the city, which required them to split into groups of four and explore every corner of the city on their own, visiting many famous attractions like the rubber duck stores, the fish market, and the Murano glass stores. It was a great way to finish their last day in Venice and a special way to enjoy the legendary city.
The next day, they left for Turin, though they first made a pitstop in Verona, home to the legend of Romeo and Juliet. They toured the city’s many historic sites, including the over 2,000-year-old structures and the Arena di Verona. After a six-hour bus ride, the boys were greeted at the J-Hotel, home to the storied Juventus franchise, with a tasty meal to kick off their time in Turin.
Surrounded by soccer-related energy and vibes, they had the incredible opportunity to attend a Champions League match between Juventus and S.L. Benfica from Portugal. The Loyola travelers even created a soccer team called What Happened FC, playing quick pick-up games with each other some nights!
A highlight was an immersion in the Italian Jesuit school Istituto Sociale, attending mass and going downtown with the Italian students. Here the Cubs immersed themselves in Italian culture and gained a firsthand glimpse into the daily lives of Italian teens. “It was really cool to see the similarities and differences of teen life in Italy, and how the Jesuit mission that we embody every day at Loyola is shared on a global scale,” said Julian Angelo ‘27 about his experience with Istituto Sociale.
Cubs met other Italian teens while spending the day as volunteers in a social services center, Arsenale of Peace, that cares for vulnerable members of the local community.
The group learned to make fresh pasta one day, and the next was up in the Alps snowshoeing under the gaze of the Matterhorn. It was an itinerary full of variety.
“This is one of those memories that I will never forget when I look back on my childhood in the future,” remarked Xander Tangri ‘27, reminiscing on the countless laughs, adventures, and unforgettable moments shared on this trip.
