1. Italy Trip March Break, 2015

2. Your Tour Fly Overnight to Italy Arrive Rome Meet your Tour Director, Visit Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain Rome Guided Tour (Forum Romanum, Colosseum), Borghese Gardens Rome Guided Tour of Vatican City, Castel Sant’ Angelo Anzio, Monte Cassino Anzio Beach, Abbey of Monte Cassino Ortona Guided Tour of Pompeii, continue to Ortona Ortona Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, drive to Rimini, Tavullia Monument Florence Drive to Florence, Guided Tour (Giotto’s Bell Tower, Il Duomo) Florence Accademia Gallery, Guided excursion to Pisa Florence Uffizi Gallery, free time in Florence Milan Drive to Milan, Guided Tour, Visit the Duomo Fly Home Itinerary Highlights Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Discover Italy: From Ancient History to WWII 12 Days Departing March xx, 2015 From Vancouver, BC Tour Number: 1417213WE

3. What is covered?  Hotels  Transportation/ Flights  Breakfast and Dinners  24 hr Travel Director  Medical Insurance  Travel Protection, Emergency Assistance, Tour Cancellation  Baggage fees  Entrance fees to all sites

4. Participation:  Limited to those students in Grade 11 and 12.  Priority to Grade 12s, especially in CC12 or History 12  Student must have NO incident records  If approved applications exceed the maximum group number, a lottery system will be employed  You must complete an application form, Abide by the Rockridge School Code of Conduct  Demonstrate exemplary behaviour on other school field trips and functions (dances)

5. IMPORTANT INFO  SIGN UP and join the group list TODAY  Early 2014 there will be a MANDATORY MEETING for all those who have decided to apply (tba)  You will bring your parents  You will pick up an application form  You will receive official tour dates, and application deadlines  There will be snacks.

6.  Failure to abide with these expectations could result in your removal from the Italy trip and loss of funds that have been paid

7. Hotels  You will be sharing a room  Girls with girls, boys with boys.  You are NOT allowed to share a room with the opposite sex.  No shenanigans of any kind. If you think “I wonder if we are allowed to…” the answer is NO  You are subject to local laws, and Rockridge Secondary School’s Code of Conduct. YOU WILL BE SENT HOME and be sad.

9. Packing  Pack, go to sleep, then take out half your stuff. You still probably have too much.  YOU and ONLY YOU are carrying your suitcase around Italy. If you cant lift it, you are going to have a bad time.  Imagine. YOU lifting it UP and DOWN stairs, and carrying it down cobblestone streets.  Bring comfortable walking shoes.  Average temperature in Rome in March is 10c, with rain.  Rain coat would be smart.  A small daypack or travel purse is a good idea  If you won’t wear something MORE than 3x, don’t bring it.

10. What to bring  Passport and student ID  Photocopies of ID  Proof of Overseas Medical Insurance  Copy of Itinerary  Map of Rome (and any we give you at meetings )  Clothing for dressing in layers  Sweater or hoodie for cool mornings/evenings  Pajamas  COMFORTABLE walking shoes with rubber soles. 2 pairs.  Rain gear  Money pouch  Sunglasses, extra contact lenses/prescription glasses  Day pack or shoulder bag  Camera (name labeled with tape. Must be registered before you leave the country. See Selzer)  Extra memory card.  Toiletries  Medication  First Aid items  Grocery bags for dirty laundry  Hat  One small travel alarm clock per room  One hair dryer per room  Pens/pencils/erasers  Snacks  Mini flashlight  BATTERIES  Electrical outlet adaptor

11. They are Catholic  RULES in all Cathedrals  No shorts, bare shoulders, or cleavage  Generally no photography  NEVER photograph during a religious ceremony  Whisper.  Most things are closed on Sundays.

13. Pickpockets target tourist sites  Suggestions:  A BORING travel purse  Wear a money belt.  Keep belongings out of side and hard to access  Keep NOTHING of value in outside pockets on bags, coats, or purses  Use the hotel safe for passports  Do NOT put your bag on the floor or on a seat next to you…  Do not hang your bag on the back of a chair

14. Expectations!  FOLLOW the Rockridge Code of Conduct  Be respectful, positive, and kind!  Polite, cooperative with teachers and other adults  Do not leave the group. Ever.  Be on time for breakfast / the bus.  No alcohol, drugs, or smoking  REGARDLESS of the legal drinking age in Italy.  ONLY Rockridge members may be in your room  Ie: No Italian boyfriends/girlfriends  No vandalism…. Or crime…?

15. Individual and Group Responsibilities  You will be responsible ensuring THREE others are still with us.  You are responsible for: your personal luggage, property, PASSPORT, and money.  You are responsible for being on time and staying with the group.  Administering your own medication / cold medication/Advil  Keep all emergency contact information with you. And your Consulate.  School dress code in effect  Conservative in places of worship.

16. Consulate in Rome  Via Zara 30, 00198, Rome

17. My skills and abilities  Can you walk? IN THE SHOES YOU BROUGHT?  Can you go up stairs?  Can you carry your own bag?  Can you speak Italian?  What am I like when I am VERY tired?......  What are my expectations at night?

18. Destination Boundaries  Cultural expectations  Emergency number: 113 (police) 118 (ambulance)  STAY WITH THE GROUP unless otherwise authorized.  NEVER leave the hotel without a chaperone

19. Possible Risks  Loss of personal property / luggage / passport  Ms Selzer will kill you if you lose your passport. And then Ms Kashani will kill you.  Getting lost, separation from the group  Injury or death  Slips, trips, falls  IF YOU MISBEHAVE WE WILL SEND YOU HOME AT THE COST OF YOUR PARENTS

20. Right to be excused  If you feel your safety is at risk, you have the right to excuse yourself from the activity.  … I don’t know what that activity would be on a SIGHTSEEING trip….

21. Safety First!  Italian tour director has First Aid Training  We will have a First Aid kit  BRING your OWN medication / Advil etc  Common sense… don’t jump into a pool if you can’t swim?  If you get hurt you must tell a chaperone!

22. Emergency Contact  WE WILL HAVE A SATELLITE PHONE.  # tba  EF Tours  1-800-263-2806  113 = Italian Police  118 = Italian Ambulance