Stanmore spend time with the Tupou College boys, who are so kind, friendly and generous. We were fortunate enough to go to classes with the boys for our final three days, which was certainly a highlight for us all. I was also lucky enough to play alongside the Tupou College Brass Band and Choir, which was an amazing experience. On our second last morning, we all went to the dining hall to have breakfast with the Tupou boys. This was a great opportunity for us to learn about life at Tupou College while also forming bonds with our Tongan brothers. The way the Tupou boys shared their food with each other and us was just another example of their generosity. Newington students work with Tupou College students on the Food Bowl project. What parts of this experience are you most grateful for? There were many sacrifices made by the families embody gratitude. One of the I am very grateful for the opportunity to Toloa community to make our stay most moving parts of the tour was when visit Tupou College and to have this special – from the masses of delicious we cooked a BBQ to feed every Tupou experience – it was something that I will food served to us to the beds that were boy and had the chance to serve it to never forget. The kindness, generosity brought out from the staff houses for us them. The smiles on their faces and their and hospitality of the Tongan people is to sleep in. appreciation was so special to see and is something I am also very grateful for. I think the Tupou College boys, staff and something I think we can all learn from. Bringing the ancients to life Newington’s Classics Tour offers students what everyday life might have entailed Non-stop discussions justifying Greece in Years 9 to 11 the opportunity to visit for these civilisations. The tour was also as the greatest nation in the world, key historical sites in Italy and Greece, a great opportunity to make friends. accompanied by blaring Greek music, bringing to life whatstudents learn in the Visiting well-known ruins, such as the made the second half of the tour very classroom. Jack Lu (10/JN) and Luke Colosseum and the city of Pompeii, was energetic and lively. Mesterovic (10/MA) took part in this year’s incredibly eye-opening. Other highlights –Luke Mesterovic (10/MA) tour and shared some of the highlights. included the Amalfi Coast and Delphi, Before going on tour, I thought I couldn’t –Jack Lu (10/JN) not only for their historical value but love classical history more than I The Classics Tour gave me a lot of insight also for the amazing views. already did. I was wrong. Every one of into the content that I have been studying What was surprising to me was the the sites served as a majestic regarding Ancient Rome and Ancient enthusiasm and excitement from the testimony to the wonders of antiquity. Greece, allowed me to better visualise Greek boys as we headed into Greece. Whether it was wandering through the streets of Pompeii, testing the acoustics at the famed theatre of Epidaurus or viewing the final resting place of Julius Caesar, every site was more historically enriching than the last. Greece was easily the best part of the tour. Of course, this is completely biased, as I’m Greek, but the atmosphere in Greece was spectacular. As soon as the locals realised that some of us could speak Greek, their faces lit up. But the real highlight of the tour was the site that was originally considered the centre of the world – Delphi. Photos cannot capture the unparalleled beauty of this ancient hub. From the theatre to the Temple of Apollo, to the race track and the ruins of where the oracle gave her prophecies, The 2018 Classics Tour visiting the church of Monreale in Sicily. the site radiated an indescribable magic. GRATITUDE | NEWS SPRING 2018| 13