Opportunity is where you find it. We just recently returned from 3 weeks in Italy. I had a work
assignment in Rome and since this trip landed during summer vacation for the
boys (12 and 10), we decided to seize the opportunity and add some vacation
time to both ends of my work trip.
Our family is all about soccer. My husband coaches youth
soccer and plays in an adult league (currently playing with the undefeated
Flanagan’s Pub team!) and both boys play on competitive traveling teams. Never
one to miss a chance to play or watch the game, Graham researched options for
playing in Italy and found a soccer camp for the kids that fit perfectly with
our travel schedule.
While I was busy working, Graham rented a car and drove the
boys from Rome to an amazing town over 2 ½ hours away in the Italian
countryside – Norcia. There were
80 boys in the camp. 77 Italians, 1 boy from the UK, and our two American boys.
Nothing like diving right in to
the culture. Although the camp was located in Italy, it was actually the remote
camp location for the Arsenal Football Club from the UK. 3 of the coaches were from
the English club – another great bonus for our boys since the players were
English speaking and didn’t speak Italian. The other coaches and counselors
were all Italians.
The training facilities for the camp included 2 pitches,
swimming pools, basketball courts, a gymnasium, and a hotel. The kids all
stayed on site at the hotel – my boys shared a room with 2 Italian boys that
didn’t speak much English. All in all the roommate situation worked; however,
we’re still hearing tid-bits of stories that slightly make me cringe (ding-dong
ditching at 3 am!). Camp was 6 nights and 7 days, Sunday thru Saturday.
Breakfast was served in the hotel and for lunch and dinner the kids walked into
the ancient walled town of Norcia.
After wrapping up my work in Rome, Graham again rented a car
and we drove to pick up the boys. We arrived on Friday late afternoon and
covertly caught the evening training session. With very limited communication
with the kids while they were at camp, it was a great relief to see them
completely immersed in the soccer program and fully at ease with the Italian
way of life.
On Saturday we reunited with the boys and they shared first
hand how great it was to attend soccer camp in Italy.
For more information on the camp, click here: http://www.soccercampsinternational.com/arsenal-soccer-camp
For more information on Norcia, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norcia
Below is an overview of the lower pitch:
Inside the gymnasium - the ARSENAL way:
Players walking to the walled city for lunch:
Kari On and Keep Traveling
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