Please bookmark this page, as it will be the main portal storing our internal information about the exchange.
LATEST AND GREATEST SECTION: (ALL INFO BELOW IS OLD- from the Oct 2019 hosting)
- I will put the newest or most pertinent info here, so please always check this section.
- (Nothing has been updated below for the October 2022 visit. Please check back after July 2022.)
Hosting Schedule / Itinerary:
Please print out the document, which is linked here, and post to your fridge or carry with you while the Italians are here. It has ALL the details (jammed onto one page), such as pick-up and drop-off times, when to pack a lunch, and the address to the potluck party! Please look it over well to see if questions come up. Ann will post all updated copies here, along with the most recent revision date (currently 9/25/19).
[Ann will re-post this schedule as a pdf soon.]
[Ann will re-post this schedule as a pdf soon.]
Hosts-Guest Contact List:
This list is where you can find telephone numbers and addresses and who is hosting whom. PLEASE check your information on this google form. You can access it by clicking here.
Arrival Day Details:
On Tuesday, October 8th, our Italian guests will be flying to Charlotte from Rome and then onto Washington. Their itinerary is below:
American Airlines (AA) Rome (FCO) 11:15am to Charlotte (CLT) 4pm
American Airlines (AA) Flight #1855 Charlotte (CLT) 6:05pm to Washington Reagan (DCA) 7:37pm
Since Reagan is a hike, I (Ann/Mrs. M) will be driving a Highland mini-bus, and Angela Killinger has kindly offered to drive her 14-passenger mini van, so we have a lot of seats to go pick up the majority of the Italians. They will have a lot of luggage though, and I know that some of you actually prefer to grab them from Reagan. We will only, therefore, take those Italians (to meet you at Highland) whose hosts have alerted Ann/Mrs. Maclean that they want their Italian guest to have a seat on that bus. Please see the itinerary (posted above) for other details, like where to meet at the airport, if you are going.
American Airlines (AA) Rome (FCO) 11:15am to Charlotte (CLT) 4pm
American Airlines (AA) Flight #1855 Charlotte (CLT) 6:05pm to Washington Reagan (DCA) 7:37pm
Since Reagan is a hike, I (Ann/Mrs. M) will be driving a Highland mini-bus, and Angela Killinger has kindly offered to drive her 14-passenger mini van, so we have a lot of seats to go pick up the majority of the Italians. They will have a lot of luggage though, and I know that some of you actually prefer to grab them from Reagan. We will only, therefore, take those Italians (to meet you at Highland) whose hosts have alerted Ann/Mrs. Maclean that they want their Italian guest to have a seat on that bus. Please see the itinerary (posted above) for other details, like where to meet at the airport, if you are going.
Highland School Day Planning Document:
Please click here to access the Word doc. It should be filled in for each Italian guest staying at your house, and there should be a daytime class host for each individual Italian (rather than two Italians going around to classes with one American). After you have received verbal approvals from all your teachers, please turn this form into Mrs. Maclean. She can return it to you, but she wants to keep a copy to know the plan for each Italian visiting.
Exchange Rules and Expectations:
Click here for basic rules and expectations. Students and parents are asked to sign that they have read and understand these guidelines.
Ann Maclean's Contact Information:
Ann's cell phone is 703-408-2015. Her home phone is 540-547-7572. Feel free to call in the middle of the night for emergencies. She lives on Ben Venue Road in Flint Hill, VA (Rappahannock County), and she works at Highland teaching Upper School Latin. Her mailing address is Box 610, Flint Hill, VA 22627.
Our Italian Chaperones:
Stefano Bucci and Stefano Rossi are the two teachers who are accompanying the group of Italian students to our area. Stefano Bucci teaches upper-level English to the (4B group of) students we are hosting. Stefano Rossi is a teacher of law at the same school in Cortona. Ann Maclean is hosting both teachers in her home in Flint Hill.
The principal of the school, Beatrice Capecchi, is coming as well. She is staying in the home of the Highland tennis coach, Paola Riccetti, who is Italian herself. This will be Preside Capecchi's second visit to Highland.
The principal of the school, Beatrice Capecchi, is coming as well. She is staying in the home of the Highland tennis coach, Paola Riccetti, who is Italian herself. This will be Preside Capecchi's second visit to Highland.
Italian Embassy Visit:
The Italians (and about ten, additional Americans) have been invited to the embassy!
The visit will begin Fri., Oct. 11th at 10:30am and last about 90 minutes. A tour will be given of the building (not sure yet if this is just for the Italians and we will wait in the audience hall, or whether we can tag along - I have actually experienced both there in the past). After the tour, a diplomat or two will give a talk in the audience hall. In the past both the tour and the talk have been exclusively in Italian. It has been a great experience for the Italian students, who ask questions, like "How many Italians are living and working in the US? How easy is it to work or go to university here? How did you get into the civil service, and how can I take that path?" I am happy to translate during the tour, but I will be unable during the talk. On occasion afterward the diplomat will treat everyone to espresso and/or a gelato in their very own gelateria! (I cannot make this promise though, and everyone should know that the embassy keeps this talk and tour as "tentative" all the way until the morning of - just in case international business necessitates otherwise.)
The following Highland family have reserved a spot for this opportunity:
(ALL ADULTS MUST BRING A FORM OF ID FOR ENTRY. THE FOLLOWING HIGHLAND STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN WITHOUT ID)
Forrester Belanger
Marc Belanger
Jackson Gill
Bridget Conlon (+ sister, Greta)
Brendan Conlon (driving athletes back in time for games)
Malachi Harris
Emma Hopkins
Ann Maclean
Benji Maclean
Emily Salazar
Suzahn Vollstad
N.B. This embassy visit means that our day in Washington is a little bit dressier than we might normally expect. I am actually fine with casual outfits- even shorts and t shirts, but please no ripped jeans, revealing clothes, or leggings.
The visit will begin Fri., Oct. 11th at 10:30am and last about 90 minutes. A tour will be given of the building (not sure yet if this is just for the Italians and we will wait in the audience hall, or whether we can tag along - I have actually experienced both there in the past). After the tour, a diplomat or two will give a talk in the audience hall. In the past both the tour and the talk have been exclusively in Italian. It has been a great experience for the Italian students, who ask questions, like "How many Italians are living and working in the US? How easy is it to work or go to university here? How did you get into the civil service, and how can I take that path?" I am happy to translate during the tour, but I will be unable during the talk. On occasion afterward the diplomat will treat everyone to espresso and/or a gelato in their very own gelateria! (I cannot make this promise though, and everyone should know that the embassy keeps this talk and tour as "tentative" all the way until the morning of - just in case international business necessitates otherwise.)
The following Highland family have reserved a spot for this opportunity:
(ALL ADULTS MUST BRING A FORM OF ID FOR ENTRY. THE FOLLOWING HIGHLAND STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN WITHOUT ID)
Forrester Belanger
Marc Belanger
Jackson Gill
Bridget Conlon (+ sister, Greta)
Brendan Conlon (driving athletes back in time for games)
Malachi Harris
Emma Hopkins
Ann Maclean
Benji Maclean
Emily Salazar
Suzahn Vollstad
N.B. This embassy visit means that our day in Washington is a little bit dressier than we might normally expect. I am actually fine with casual outfits- even shorts and t shirts, but please no ripped jeans, revealing clothes, or leggings.
Potluck Party Plans: RAIN OR SHINE :)
Columbus Day (Mon., Oct. 14) from 4:30 to 7pm at Bridget Conlon's house.
The google doc "potluck", which will be linked here, will be a place for you to sign up for a dish to bring.
There are many fun things to do in this area of Loudoun County, so consider making a day of it! Here are some possible places to visit:
Great Country Farms for Apple Picking, Corn Maze, and tons of kid fun!
Dirt Farm Brewery for views and brews (family friendly)
(Anecdotally Mrs. Maclean grew up in Loudoun with the Zurschmeide family who runs Great Country Farms- they know her by her maiden name "Renzy", and Janell and Bruce, who run Dirt Farm Brewery are good friends of hers!)
Don't forget to bring serving utensils for the party, as well as marking your dishes with your name, in case you leave it at the party by mistake.
Address of the Conlons: 35290 Prestwick Court, Round Hill, VA 20141
Thank you, Conlons!
The google doc "potluck", which will be linked here, will be a place for you to sign up for a dish to bring.
There are many fun things to do in this area of Loudoun County, so consider making a day of it! Here are some possible places to visit:
Great Country Farms for Apple Picking, Corn Maze, and tons of kid fun!
Dirt Farm Brewery for views and brews (family friendly)
(Anecdotally Mrs. Maclean grew up in Loudoun with the Zurschmeide family who runs Great Country Farms- they know her by her maiden name "Renzy", and Janell and Bruce, who run Dirt Farm Brewery are good friends of hers!)
Don't forget to bring serving utensils for the party, as well as marking your dishes with your name, in case you leave it at the party by mistake.
Address of the Conlons: 35290 Prestwick Court, Round Hill, VA 20141
Thank you, Conlons!
Departure Day Details:
On Tuesday, Oct. 15th, our Italian guests are headed up to New York City to finish their American tour. They will arrive in NYC at noon, at which point they will travel directly to their hotel. For this reason you might want to send them off with a few snacks and a bottle of water. Either way, getting them to the bus ON TIME is the best gift you can send them off with! :)
Our schedule says, "Manassas Commuter Lot: Cushing Road". It is also sometimes called the Gainesville Commuter Lot. ARRIVAL TIME should be 6:30am in order to have time to put your guests' bags onto the bus and get their seat of choice. The "Go Bus" will leave promptly at 7am, and I imagine they will not tolerate late arrivals.
The actual address associated with this commuter lot is: 7312 Cushing Rd, Manassas, VA 20109-2412
Google Maps says it is 25 minutes away from Highland (without traffic). Please allow for morning traffic (assume the worst) and leave time to find the place!
The actual address associated with this commuter lot is: 7312 Cushing Rd, Manassas, VA 20109-2412
Google Maps says it is 25 minutes away from Highland (without traffic). Please allow for morning traffic (assume the worst) and leave time to find the place!