What is your favorite travel memory?
Ah, I feel like my memory is going into overload! I’m lucky that my parents have encouraged traveling from a young age, so a lot of different experiences come to mind. However, the freshest and most poignant has to be from my time spent in traveling with a friend in Turkey, including at the salt lakes of Pamukkale.
We spent the last few days of our trip in relaxing in Fethiye. It was such a beautiful city, with the clearest coast line I think I’ve ever seen. I’ve never been good at chilling at the seaside, but I loved how readily we were accepted by the locals, who were on their holidays.
There was an amazing sense of ease as we shared plums and nuts with people with whom we could not communicate. I think we stunned the older gentlemen with our poor games of draughts but, judging by the size of the crowd, we were at least supplying some entertainment!
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
It’s not a story, but I think the fact that so many previous students have become tutors themselves says wonders. They were gripped by the passionate, informative and adventurous AHA style. I think it’s fantastic that there are so many ‘generations’ of AHA tutors, it’s one big eclectic family with a thirst for Italy, fine art and knowledge.
Every anecdote I hear is from a student brimming with enthusiasm for AHA courses. They want to take the time out of their day to explain why everyone else should sign up for the experience of a lifetime.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
Obviously, I want to say the 90-day Semester course! It would be fabulous to wallow in history, philosophy, theology and gorgeous art for several months. However, I think I would be really tempted by the Southern course.
I have never explored the foot of Italy and I have seriously romanticized it in my mind. I’m sure AHA would keep that mysticism alive! I imagine Southern Italy to be less crowded, with more of the raw Italian countryside, and I would love to explore Sicily!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The tutors! They are just fantastic. I stalked them around the National Gallery the other day and I was so impressed by what they know. Not only that, they have such different styles of teaching.
They are all so passionate, and they just want their students to love their discipline. It’s contagious!
I think too many teachers and lecturers nowadays recite the same stuff they’ve been saying for years. AHA tutors are constantly building upon their knowledge to keep their subjects fresh, relatable and intriguing.