Hearing from Harkness Travel Trips

Italy: STEM and Design
          During the days leading up to spring break, Annabelle Yao ’26 could not wait for her Harkness Trip to Italy. This trip was centered around STEM and design and lasted for 10 days. Since Yao is passionate about cars, especially those in Formula One—the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition—she had her eyes set on this trip, as it would involve visiting many vehicle factories. Some highlights from her trip were visiting the Ferrari factory and the Ducati factory. She received an inside tour of both, which Yao found especially“fascinating,” as she was able to see the assembly lines, testing process, and the Formula One training centers. In the Ducati motorcycle factory, she took an engine creation class. 

          Yao also learned about features of engines, such as horsepower, torque, and intake manifold, as well as how V6, V8, and V12 engines work. Students then visited Verona, an Italian city featuring many Roman ruins, and saw an amphitheater, which was “ginormous” and had a place for beast and gladiator fighting. Although most of the amphitheater had collapsed, Yao thought the gate that was still standing was “cool.” The food was also very “memorable,” especially the pizza, which “was nothing like American pizza”; it had a thin and chewy crust, with really “flavorful” cheese and chunks of salami and mushrooms on top.

          Yao enjoyed bonding with other people on the trip through meals and exploring the city together. Since students often split into small groups, Yao was able to bond with people she normally wouldn’t have talked to. Yao is “excited” to apply this new knowledge to engineering classes at Lawrenceville. After participating in this trip, she feels that she has “a very solid foundation” in engineering.

Greece: Math, Mechanics, and Music in the Ancient World
          On March 1, Elizabeth Asiedu ’26 excitedly boarded a plane to start a 13-day trip to Greece. This expedition focused on math, mechanics, and music and was longer than many of the other spring Harkness Travel Trips. Asiedu especially enjoyed the language and music aspect of the trip. Having always wanted to visit Greece, Asiedu knew this trip would be very “fun [and] relaxing.” Her favorite part of the trip was spending one night at a farm located in Crete, an island in Greece. There that she learned Cretan dancing and how to cook Cretan foods. Cretan culture is often known for its unique character and rich history, while Crete itself is popular for its blend of many cultures, dynamic geography, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality.

          Asiedu visited an ancient theater that used a stone to act as an amplifier for the actors and singers on stage. She found it “very interesting” to see how an ancient civilization with no microphones was still able to “flourish in the entertainment industry.” Asiedu enjoyed this experience, as it was very different from what she sees in theaters today. She also visited the Acropolis, a historical landmark in Athens. Although students were not able to go inside, Aseidu appreciated the remnants of history that surrounded her such as the Temple of Poseidon and Temple of Athena. While visiting the Acropolis Museum, the group saw sculptures of ancient Greek gods.

          During this trip, Asiedu learned how “cultures can connect” and how “history has a huge influence on our daily lives.” She plans on applying these lessons to history courses at Lawrenceville as she reviews medieval times and revolutions to see how these aspects of history impact lives today. Asiedu also felt that she strengthened friendships while meeting a new group of people. She found that experiences such as cooking and dancing together, having downtime, and playing cards allowed the group to bond. 

Italy: The Living History of Rome
          During spring break, Dorothy Lee ’26 embarked on a trip to Rome, eager to explore a place she had always longed to visit. During this trip, she learned about ancient Roman history and Latin, which aligned with her love for classical history. One highlight was visiting a buffalo farm, where she learned about the cheesemaking process and was served fresh mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Lee enjoyed a “really nice” lunch that consisted of yogurt and cappuccinos made from buffalo milk. In addition, Lee enjoyed visiting Ostia, an archaeological dig site. She preferred Ostia over Pompeii, another archaeological site, as she felt that Pompeii had “a lot of tourists and restoration,” which made it feel less like a historical site. On the other hand, Ostia had fewer tourists and restoration; instead, it showcased a variety of “beautiful” mosaics covering the ground. Another highlight from the trip was the gelato, which Lee thought was so good that she couldn’t bring herself to eat ice cream again. 

          Something Lee found “really cool” was that Rome was built on top of ruins that span as far back as the time of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers in Roman mythology. As a result, sightings of modern buildings directly next to archaeological ruins, such as a classical temple, were a common sight. This trip rekindled her love and interest in history, which faded during her middle and high school career. She concludes that this trip was “historic and cultural,” and an “enlightening” experience. This “collaborative” trip has taught her to be aware of the role she plays in communities, helped “build endurance,” and increased her spatial awareness, as she was constantly reminded not to fall behind the group or lose focus. She also enjoyed applying archaeological skills to identify objects she observed. Lee hopes to bring these skills to her work at Lawrenceville going forward.