MONTCLAIR PRE-COLLEGE IN SICILY

A Crossroads of Cultures: Sicily in the Mediterranean World
HIST 102, Section 61
3 Credits

Taormina's Teatro Greco
with Mt. Etna and the Bay of Naxos in the Background

FLIGHT INFORMATION
*All times listed are the local times of the places you will be when you arrive.

FRIDAY, JULY 19
Lufthansa LH 413, leaving Newark Airport at 8:30 PM* and arriving Munich, Germany at 10:25 AM on Saturday, July 20
Lufthansa LH 1916, leaving Munich, Germany at 2:55 PM and arriving Palermo Falcone Borsellino at 4:50 PM

For Economy Class, Lufthansa Allows the Following Baggage, which is Included in the Fare:

1 Piece of Checked Luggage weighing no more than 50 pounds and whose size is no larger than 62 inches when totaling up its height, width and depth
1 Piece of Carry-On Luggage weighing no more than 17 pounds and measuring no larger than 21 inches high, 15 inches wide and 9 inches deep
1 Personal Item no larger than 15 inches high, 11 inches wide and 4 inches deep
Also, please make sure that you have packed according to the Transportation Security Administration's Liquids Rule

*Please arrive (with passport in hand! 😉) at Newark Airport, Terminal B at least 3 hours before departure. Prof. Houze will meet you at Lufthansa's check in line. Once you've been checked in, please wait for Prof. Houze's instructions. Please wait in the immediate area until all of your classmates are successfully checked in and you can make your way - as a group - to the security checkpoint. Once the security process is completed, the group will proceed together to the gate.

From the airport, we'll be taken to Palermo's historical center, where we'll settle in at our hotel, Quintocanto, located at via Vittorio Emanuele, 310. The following day, after our day-long field trip in Palermo and Monreale, we will be driven to Taormina, settling in at the Hotel Villa Chiara (via Don Giovanni Bosco, 10 B), where we'll stay for the rest of the program.

TUESDAY, JULY 30

Departure from Taormina's Bus Station to the airport is at ?:?? AM

Lufthansa LH 1907, departing Catania Fontanarossa at 11:55 AM and arriving Munich, Germany at 2:05 PM
Lufthansa LH 412, departing Munich, Germany at 3:45 PM and arriving Newark Airport at 6:45 PM

Faculty and Staff Contact Informaiton
Dr. Dawn Hayes	Staff of Babilonia	Prof. Dominique Houze
Faculty Director	Host Institution	Staff Chaperone
hayesd@montclair.edu 718-496-3929 (US Cell)	igiardini@babilonia.it 011 39 0942 23441 (Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM)	houzed@montclair.edu 646-339-4093 (US Cell)

Please note that Italy's time zone (Central European Time) is 6 hours ahead of New Jersey's (Eastern Standard Time).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This course is a transformative journey to Italy, offering students the opportunity to encounter first-hand, in an immersive setting, the rich tapestry of Sicilian culture through the island's history, language and cuisine.

OUR COURSE OBJECTIVES

Develop an appreciation for and understanding of Sicily's history.
Demonstrate the richness of the island's culture through culinary instruction.
Offer a greater opportunity to communicate with Sicilians through Italian language learning.
Provide an opportunity to demonstrate your new understanding of this culture through a series of travel journal entries.

OUR DAILY SCHEDULE


DATE	GAME PLAN
FRIDAY, JULY 19	🛫 Depart from Newark Airport. Please Meet at Lufthansa Check-In (Terminal B) NO LATER THAN 5:30 PM. (flight details are above)
SATURDAY, JULY 20	🛬 Arrive in Palermo +/- 4:50 PM! 🚌 Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Transfer to City Center and Settle in Quintocanto 🍽️ Dinner at Al Casato dei Ventimiglia at 8:00 PM Appetizer: Caprese Salad and Hot Appetizer (Small Arancini, Panelle, Potato and Mini Croquettes) Main Course: Penne alla Norma (Tomato Sauce, Eggplant, Basil and Salted Ricotta) Dessert Water and/or Coke
SUNDAY, JULY 21	🥣 Breakfast at Quintocanto 🧳 8:45 AM - Check out of hotel, put our luggage on the bus and meet our guide ⛪️ Tour of Palermo (Morning): St. John of the Hermits, Cappella Palatina and Palermo Cathedral (All are Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List) Please read my article on the king who was responsible for constructing a number of the buildings we will see today, A Self-Made Medieval Monarch: Roger II of Sicily, Medieval World: Culture and Conflict 5 (2023): 28-34. 🚌 Bus to Monreale for 🥗 Lunch at Pizzeria Art Libri Toto at 1:30 PM Your Choice of Pizza from their Menu Water and/or Soft Drinks ⛪️ 3:00 PM: Tour of Monreale Cathedral 🚌 Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Bus Transfer to Taormina 🏨 Early Evening: Settle in Hotel Villa Chiara 🍽️ 8:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Ham and Mozzarella Cheese First Course: Artichoke Risotto Main Course: Beef Rolls Side: Sautéed Spinach Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee Please bring a deck of cards and/or a board game to dinner! ♠️♥️♣️♦️ 📝 Journaling: The First Thing I Noticed or Felt When I Arrived in Sicily Was . . . (Be Specific and Descriptive, At Least 150 Words) 🏓 Time to Relax!
MONDAY, JULY 22	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🗣️ 9:30 AM: Italian Language Class at Babilonia (2.5 Hours) 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Rustic Appetizer First Course: Pasta alla Norma Main Course: Omelette with Vegetables Side: Salad Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 🕶️ 3:00 PM: Walking Tour of Taormina, Including the Teatro Greco 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Sweet and Sour Caponata First Course: Legume Soup Main Course: Veal Stew Side: Fresh Peas Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 📝 Journaling: A Thoughtful Comparison of Palermo and Taormina Reveals . . . (Again, Be Specific and Descriptive, At Least 150 Words) 🎬 Movie: The Mafia Only Kills in Summer (IMDB Description)(Comedy/Crime, 2014, 1 hour 25 minutes) 📕 Please review pages 309-336 (Chapters 16 and 17) in Norwich's Sicily, which share some observations about the development of the Mafia on the island. 🧐 Questions to Consider: Based on The Mafia Only Kills in Summer: How would you describe the Mafia? What is its function in Sicily? And what are some of the steps that have been taken to combat it over the past decades?
TUESDAY, JULY 23	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🗣️ 9:30 AM: Italian Language Class at Babilonia (2.5 Hours) 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Ham and Fruit First Course: Maccaroni with Sea Bass and Cherry Tomato Main Course: Grilled Swordfish Side: Grilled Vegetables Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 🧑‍🍳 3:00 PM: Intro to Sicilian Cuisine (Lecture) and Cooking Lesson at Babilonia (3.5 Hours) 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Eggplant Parmigiana First Course: Risotto with Asparagus Main Course: Roast Chicken Side: Rosemary Potatoes Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee Please bring a deck of cards and/or a board game to dinner! ♠️♥️♣️♦️ 📝 Journaling: My Impressions of the Italian Language and the Way it is Taught in Italy Are . . . (Please Use this Assignment as an Opportunity to Make Connections with Today's Italian Language Class Using at Least 150 Words) 🏓 Time to Relax (Some Combination of Bingo, Cards, Charades, Ping Pong, etc.)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24	🥣 7:00 AM: After picking up our breakfast boxes at Hotel Villa Chiara, we'll meet at the bus terminal 🚌 Full Day Excursion to 🏛️ Agrigento's Valley of the Temples (First Stop) and to Piazza Armerina's Villa Romana del Casale Please review pages 41-59 in Norwich's Sicily. 🥗 1:30 PM: Lunch will be Enjoyed between the Two Visits at Trattoria del Goloso House Appetizer Pasta Choice: Pasta alla Goloso (Sausage, Zucchini, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Onions) Pasta alla Siciliana: Cherry Tomatoes, Eggplant and Fresh Ricotta Pasta with Pistachios and Pancetta (Pork) House Dessert Water and/or Soda 🍽️ 8:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Beef Carpaccio, Arugula and Parmigiano Flakes First Course: Fusilli Pasta with Basil Pesto Main Course: Cutlet Side: French Fries in Extra Virgin Olive OIl Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 📝 Journaling: Experiencing Sicily's Ancient Greek and Roman Remains Today Has . . . (Take this Any Direction You'd Like, So Long As You are Descriptive and Detailed and Use at Least 150 Words) 🎬 Movie: Benvenuti al Sud (IMDB Description) (Drama, 2010, 1 hour 42 minutes) 🧐 Questions to Consider: According to the film, what are the major differences between Northern and Southern Italy? Are these regions of Italy similar - or are they distinctive? Explain your answer, providing justification and perhaps even drawing on your experience in the South so far.
THURSDAY, JULY 25	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🗣️ 9:30 AM: Italian Language Class at Babilonia (2.5 Hours) 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Salad, Ham and Mozzarella Cheese First Course: Penne Carrettiera (Tomato and Basil Sauce) Main Course: Grilled Steak Side: Grilled Vegetables Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 🧑‍🍳 4:00 PM: Cooking Lesson at Babilonia (3.5 Hours) 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Ham and Mozzarella Cheese First Course: Artichoke Risotto Main Course: Beef Rolls Side: Sautéed Spinach Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee Please bring a deck of cards and/or a board game to dinner! ♠️♥️♣️♦️ 📝 Journaling: What Differences Have You Observed between American and Sicilian Approaches to Eating? (Detailed/Descriptive, At Least 150 Words) 🏓 Time to Relax (Some Combination of Bingo, Cards, Charades, Ping Pong, etc.)
FRIDAY, JULY 26	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🗣️ 9:30 AM: Italian Language Class at Babilonia (2.5 Hours) 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Rustic Appetizer First Course: Pasta alla Norma Main Course: Omelette with Vegetables Side: Salad Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 🕶️ 3:00 PM: Visit to Isola Bella and Beach Time (Wear Bathing Suit and Bring a Towel), Followed by 🚢 Boat Trip from Porticciolo Saja! ***If you want to swim, bring a bathing suit and towel. 🍽️ 8:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Sweet and Sour Caponata First Course: Legume Soup Main Course: Veal Stew Side: Fresh Peas Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 📝 Journaling: The Mediterranean Sea has Shaped - and Continues to Shape - Sicily's History and Culture . . . (Yep - Descriptive and Detailed and at Least 150 Words) 🎬 Movie: Terraferma (IMDB Description) (Drama, 2011, 1 hour 28 minutes) 🧐 Questions to Consider: What does Terraferma suggest about the challenges migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea face at home and during their journeys? What challenges do Sicilians and, by extension, Italians, face as so many people arrive on their shores illegally? Finally, what are some of the similarities and differences between the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and the issues the United States is currently confronting?
SATURDAY, JULY 27	🌋 8:00 AM: After having picked up our breakfast box at Hotel Villa Chiara, we'll head over to the Bus Terminal for our Excursion to Mt. Etna 🥗 Early Afternoon: We'll Enjoy our Lunch Boxes 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Ham and Fruit First Course: Maccaroni with Sea Bass and Cherry Tomato Main Course: Grilled Swordfish Side: Grilled Vegetables Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 📝 Journaling: The Most Interesting Thing I Learned or Encountered Today Was . . . (Again, Be Detailed and Specific, At Least 150 Words) 🎬 Movie: The Godfather, Part I (IMDB Description) (Crime/Drama, 1972, 2 hours 55 minutes) 🧐 Questions to Consider: “I believe in America.” The opening words of The Godfather are uttered by Amerigo Bonasera, a Sicilian-American undertaker who has done well for himself and has kept himself apart from the Corleone family and its associates. But then something happens and he feels betrayed by the country with which he shares a name. How does Bonasera’s story provide insight into the broader immigrant experience as, over decades, communities have attempted to navigate power and wealth in their new country? Do Michael Corleone’s two wives – one Sicilian (Apollonia Vitelli) and the other American (Kay Adams) – represent values that are considered specific to the cultures from which they come? What are they? And what might they suggest about Michael’s own identity as a Sicilian-American? “That’s my family, Kay. That’s not me.” During the movie, Michael Corleone transforms from celebrated American war hero to violent, calculating Sicilian-American mob boss. What changes does he undergo in the process? And when his transformation is complete, how does he better resemble his family – and how does he remain distinct? Given its extraordinary popularity, how do you think The Godfather has shaped people’s perceptions of Italian-Americans and of Sicily over the past 50 years?
SUNDAY, JULY 28	🥣 7:00 AM: Having picked up our Breakfast Box at Hotel Villa Chiara, we'll meet our Driver at the Bus Station 🚌 Full Day Excursion to Syracuse (the Ortigia as well as the Archaeological Site) Please review pages 7-40 in Norwich's Sicily. 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at Schiticchio Appetizer: A Mix of French Fries, Onion Rings, Stuffed Olives and Mozzarella Bites Pizza (your Choice!) Water and/or Soft Drinks 🍽️ 7:00 PM: Dinner at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Beef Carpaccio, Arugula and Parmigiano Flakes First Course: Fusilli Pasta with Basil Pesto Main Course: Cutlet Side: French Fries in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 📝 Journaling: How has this study abroad experience changed you and/or helped you grow? (Again, be specific and think about how this entry, which can draw on any and all of the previous ones you've written, might feed into a strong college essay. This one is a bit longer than the others, coming in at 200 words or more.) In order to do some "big thinking" about your time in Sicily and what it all means, you might think about reviewing Norwich's epilogue, pages 337-42, especially the final 3 pages. 🎬 Movie: The Godfather, Part II (IMDB Description) (Crime/Drama, 1974, 3 hours 22 minutes) 🧐 Questions to Consider: What insights does the second part of The Godfather give you into Sicilian life in the early 20^th century? And what elements of that culture are transferred to New York City? How does the Corleone family change over time as it becomes further invested in other regions of the United States? Does it become more “American” and less “Sicilian” over the course of the film? In the penultimate scene, Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor has just occurred and Michael announces he has just enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Some members of the Corleone family make fun of Michael for doing this, but Tom Hagen reminds the family that Vito has great expectations for Michael – ones that we now know involve a fine university education and distinguished careers in both armed and public service. But this American Dream never pans out for the Corleones. Why? Given what you have learned about Sicily’s long and turbulent history during our program, can you think of reasons why the natural family is such an important institution and why Sicilians put so much faith in it?
MONDAY, JULY 29	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🥗 1:00 PM: Lunch at I Giardini di Babilonia Appetizer: Salad, Ham and Mozzarella Cheese First Course: Penne Carrettiera (Tomato and Basil Sauce) Main Course: Grilled Steak Side: Grilled Vegetables Dessert or Fruit Water and Coffee 🛍️ Afternoon: Final Stroll through Taormina's Center and an Opportunity to Purchase Souvenirs 🧑‍🍳 4:00 PM: Take Public Bus for Final Cooking Lesson and Farewell Dinner at A Massaria 🧳 +/- 9:00 PM: Return to Hotel and Pack for Tomorrow's Departure
TUESDAY, JULY 30	🥣 Breakfast at Hotel Villa Chiara 🚌 8:30 AM: Bus Transfer from Taormina to Catania Fontanarossa Airport 🛫 Depart from Fontanarossa at 11:55 AM 🛬 Arrive in Newark Airport +/- 6:45 PM!

REQUIRED BOOK TO BE READ CAREFULLY IN ADVANCE AND BROUGHT WITH YOU
John Julius Norwich, Sicily: A Short History from the Ancient Greeks to Cosa Nostra (London: John Murray, 2015). ISBN: 1848548974. So long as you get the right book, feel free to buy it however you'd like. With that said, Amazon or AbeBooks is likely your best bet. And you'll probably want to opt for the softcover, which will likely be both cheaper and lighter in the luggage.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Students will be required to actively participate in all 3 components of the course: (1) Italian language, (2) culinary instruction and (3) the travel journal project (the eight entries will be graded as Complete/Pass (100) or Incomplete/Fail (0) and will be averaged). Each of these three components will contribute 33% to your course grade.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Please familiarize yourself with the policies of MSU regarding academic integrity. These rules, including the ones concerning plagiarism, will be observed.

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IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL (NON-ACADEMIC) INFORMATION

We will be staying at the Hotel Villa Chiara, which is located at via Don Giovanni Bosco, 10 B. Rooms are doubles with single beds.

The walk from Hotel Villa Chiara to Babilonia will take us approximately 5 minutes. The trip includes some manageable uphill walking. There will be some stairs to descend once you arrive at via Timoleone, the street on which Babilonia is located.

Map of Distance between Hotel Villa Chiara and Babilonia School