Carolina Lizzio: Months of anticipation finally came to an end on Saturday (Sept. 6) as the team met at JFK Airport to begin our 10-day-long trip to Italy. After our 9-hour flight to Milan, the excitement of the entire team is completely evident as it overcomes the feelings of exhaustion that have formed throughout the flight. As we depart Milan, we still have a three-hour bus ride to our first destination, Lucca, in the region of Tuscany.
Unlike the other members of my team, this trip is an incredibly unique experience for me. My mother traveled to America from Italy when she was only 25 years old in the hopes of finding a career and experiencing the new, exciting culture. After meeting my father within her first few years in America and beginning a family, she was adamant about incorporating her Italian roots into the lives of my sister, Veronica, and I. As a result, throughout my childhood, I had the privilege of traveling to Italy several times a year (often accumulating at least five months in Italy a year) visiting my mother’s side of the family and absorbing the Italian culture and language as I aged. Since Italy has become my second home as a result of these 50+ visits, having the opportunity to show my Northwestern Lacrosse family this country is easily one of the most incredible trips I will ever experience. Through constant contact and collaboration with my parents, Kelly Amonte Hiller and the Northwestern coaching staff planned this trip to begin at my family’s villa in Lucca. As we approach the villa and the familiar winding roads upon our arrival, we are welcomed by the friendly faces of my parents and the other members of the staff of the villa.
The next couple of hours were spent settling into our rooms and enjoying the beautiful Italian weather and scenery that surrounds the villa. We were able to enjoy lunch and some free time before we began our training for the day: hiking about 3 miles up a nearby mountain to a large cross that sits on top of the hill (a trail I have only hiked up once in my life). At one point during our walk up the mountain, we were informed that we would actually be running up the same mountain within the next couple of days, a challenge that our competitive team happily accepted. When we reached the top, we filled the Italian mountains with our loud chants of the Northwestern fight song, and then commenced down the long road back to the villa. The rest of the day was spent once gain enjoying each other’s company and participating in several of the activities that are available at the villa, including the swimming pools, tennis court, hot tub and golf. To conclude our night, my mother and our chef, David, hastily attempted to feed the starving group of about 50 people with fresh pasta, pizza, salad, and appetizers. Sitting outside in the Italian air with this incredible food and best friends surrounded by the mountains of Lucca is a memory I will never forget.