Dear Parents et all,
It is a pleasure and a blessing to have your children here at HUF.
We are off to a great start!
Here are some of the things we have done so far:
Scandicci Walk (Scandicci is the city where we are located attached to the south-west side of Florence), Benvenuto Party (mixer), Worship with the italians at the Cappella Demidoff Church of Christ in Florence, Classes-classes-classes, Florence Walk (we climbed the Palazzo Vecchio with the group, 1st time ever!), Medici Godfathers of the Renaissance documentary film (with popcorm and sodas), Florence Scanvenger hunt and Religious center onsite classes (Baptistry, Cathedral "Santa Maria del Fiore", Museum of works of Duomo and Duomo climb), optional Horseback Riding in the Tuscan hills, Corri la Vitabreast cancer benefit walk in Florence with 35,000+ others (Run the Life - this is the 14th year we have participated in this great event), Florence vs Milan seria A (top category Italian National league) soccer game at the Franchi stadium, Cultural exchange "Festa della Lingua" (celebration of languages, this is the 5th year we have participated in this event) with the Spinelli middle school (we sang Amazing Grace and our national anthem and offered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and milk to guest), devotionals, chapel, worship and more.
Tonight we are going to the Santissimi Apostoli romanesque medieval church (a church that is 1000 years old) to observe a mass and to have a song service and supper, another beautiful cultural exchange.
We stay super envolved and try to offer as many experiences for your children as we can.
Please pray for us as we continue our travels and our adventure together.
Have a great day. God bless you,
-Robbie, director
It has been a little over a week since the HUF Fall 2016 group arrived here in Florence. Though I was a part of the tail end of the Summer semester, I consider this one my first on the job. While I am not new to HUF, participating in the program as a student during the Fall 2016 semester, there is still a lot of “new” that comes with being on the backend of the program. I am excited to help others learn things that I have already experienced but also learn alongside as there is still much for me to know. We have had a great start to our time together here in Italy, with so much more still yet to come and even more to learn along the way!
Thank you for sharing your sons and daughters with us. Every person who is a part of this program brings something different and new to the table. And that is what makes HUF so special; the fact that though every person comes from a different background, when we are together, we are family.
-Grant, assistant to the director
I’m overcome with amazement. I’m sitting in a corner of the villa to write this, trying to sort through the past few days. I mean, how cool is it that I get to write and tell you all about my new home, here in Florence?
We’ve made indescribable memories in just the past nine days because of the amazing people who are on this journey. Next to them, the city and its culture stand out to me the most.
On our first day walking around Florence, we couldn’t believe we were finally in the city we had waited so long to see. One of the first things we were able to do as a group was climb the tower at Palazzo Vecchio. The sea of terracotta rooftops and the Duomo elegantly towering over the city took my breath away. However, it’s only one of the picturesque views that we’ve been able to see in the short time since our arrival.
Each new street with its amazing architecture takes you back to Renaissance Florence. Wherever you wander, you will witness beauty. Everyday here at the villa is gorgeous. When I look out my window in the morning, it’s as if I’m in a postcard. Its rolling Tuscan hills sprinkled with golden villas, towering cypress trees, and seas of olive trees great you each morning. The new day holds the excitement of memories waiting to be made. We’re learning so much about Italy, whether we’re walking through the streets of Florence or forming friendships in the villa. It’s these moments with each other that make the trip so special. Whether it’s the teachers, staff members or fellow students, we share so much laughter, love, and joy.
With love from our Italian home away from home,
-Rebecca, HUF Student
Watch a video from our first Onsite Class visit of the semester!
