On Montessori and Naples

I love our Montessori schools at home in New Zealand.

The lemon is as big as Clara's head!

The preschool is beautiful and peaceful.  It nurtures the little people inside our children, bringing forth their innate love of learning. And our lovely primary school, which is three classrooms inside the bigger school of Bellevue, has grown in the last 10 years from just a handful of students to over 50 learners.

Our kids have flourished with Montessori and will remain our first choice for education for the Douglas monkey’s….

However, one’s eyes do stray a bit…. Especially mine, when it comes to travel. I understand the importance of the community and a home base. It is fundamental to giving children the stability to go forth in the world.  So I couldn’t help but research the Montessori school that one of my friends told me about in Italy. And it just so happens to be in Naples.

And so that is how we happened to be on the hydrofoil from Sorrento to Naples early (well, 10am) the next morning. When we told the kids we were going to look at a potential school for them they were all horrified. No way, New Zealand is our home. Of course it is, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to spend six months in a different culture, learning another language and making friends? Hmmmm, they weren’t too sure.

On the Sorrento Docks

The school is quite unique (and similar to our own Bellevue Primary school) in the fact that it was founded by a handful of NATO parents wanting a better education for their children. The school opened in 1958 and now has over 400 students from preschool to 10^th grade. It is located in Naples, securely situated on the NATO military base.

I have called and made an appointment for an observation, so after the hydrofoil we took a taxi to the military base and waited at the heavily guarded gates waiting for someone to come and escort us up. Only they didn’t come, due to the mother’s day pageant, (this is still Italy) and finally the guards called and got permission for us to come up. Apparently we weren’t too much of a military threat with our four charming children, as they let us hike through the base up to the school itself.

It’s always interesting to see another school and how they do things and of the different challenges that they have. Children from 27 different countries, some not speaking either English or Italian, would certainly be one hurdle. Needless to say they have a lot of focus on language and culture, which is brilliant.

The head directress, and her son (who runs the administration side of things), was so very welcoming and kind, and give us a full tour of the school.

The view of Mt Vesuvius from the Bay of Naples Hydrofoil

Liana was sold as soon as she found out (and saw pictures) of the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th grade classes and their field trips. They regularly go to places like Scotland, Ireland, Germany etc…. it’s all pretty close by. Clara joined in one of the younger classes and made friends right away.  Suddenly all their hesitation was gone. So, when do we start mum and dad?

We had a picnic lunch on the patio of the school, admiring the view across the Bay of Naples. And wondered if we should do something like this for a while. I guess you can say, “watch this space”, but then, there are many places still to explore before we can commit to anything.

Always at home in a wheelhouse!

From the base we all cram into one tiny taxi and head back to the hydrofoil. The driving in Naples is absolutely nuts. Lanes? What lanes? Red lights? Just a suggestion. It has a rougher, more gritty, feel than the other cities we’ve been to so far in Italy. (One of the minuses of the school, its location.)

The Cliffs of Sorrento

Naples is a beautiful city in it’s own right. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. With known settlements dating back to the 9^th century BC and today is the third largest city in Italy (behind Rome and Milan) with the fourth largest economy. In addition to the NATO base, it is head to MSC shipping line, among other big corporations. And the port is giant. It has the second largest passenger flow in the world, second only to Hong Kong. And yet it still retains a patina of its history. Most of the downtown is a UNESCO world heritage site and displays so many facets of the cities past - Naples the Greek and Roman town, Renaissance beauty, and the powerful Kingdom of Naples (which only fell with the unification of Italy in 1861). And most importantly it is the birthplace of my family’s favourite food – PIZZA!

The cruise back across the harbour is beautiful. Mount Vesuvius standing tall to our left as we come into view of the cliffs of Sorrento. All six of us go up to the wheelhouse and enjoy the view. Liam is sporting new Italy sports clothes and trainer shoes for practising soccer in so he’s Happy As Larry.

Liam in his football kit....

By the time we get back to the Palazzo Montefusco it is late afternoon and Liam is champing at the bit to go find a soccer match. While I was sick they discovered the local boys get together in the afternoons at the church and play soccer in the courtyard.

So off he goes, minutes after arriving home - with his father’s blessings. I am not totally comfortable with him walking five or six blocks through a foreign town without a mobile phone and not speaking much of the language, but then he’s been doing it for several days now. And later on when I go to spy on him he’s in his element running around and high fiving the local boys. They walk off after a goal with their arms around each other. Liam couldn’t be happier.

Eating out is a fancy affair

Sorrento town closes the streets to cars for the evenings on the weekend and the whole town must come out to stroll along the streets and be seen. And of course there are the tourists. They can be easily spotted though and sidestepped if needed.

After the obligatory and amazingly delicious pizza we fall into bed, looking forward to the adventures tomorrow…. Capri awaits!