The second week of the internship marked a turning point for the four French students in Soverato. After the initial days of discovery and adaptation (read more about the first week here) Annabelle, Camille, Clara, and Tessy began to move with greater confidence, both inside the FERMENTIS art studio and within the rhythm of daily life in Calabria. What had felt new and unfamiliar during the first week now started to become a space for experimentation, reflection, and personal expression.
Immersed in the creative environment fostered the local artists, the students shifted from observing to actively participating, opening the door to deeper involvement, new challenges, and a growing sense of belonging to the territory.
Here there are some of their reflections they shared with us:
“This week, we had the opportunity to continue working in Luna and Antonio’s workshop. We created a Christmas wreath, sanded and painted small wooden frames, and decorated them with mosaic. We also continued working on our jewelry pieces. I would like to once again thank all the people who welcomed us.”
Annabelle Kradje
“This week has been productive; we continued the work we started the previous week. We were able to attend a very productive business meeting. Luna and Antonio are incredibly thoughtful; it’s a real pleasure to work with them. They even treated us to a hot meal, which was a welcome change from sandwiches. During the week we went to Soverato and saw some beautiful houses. We took our time and it was pleasant.The villa is still as charming as ever; we’re managing as best we can with meals, but the staff are still so welcoming!”
Camille Delaude
“This week we made bracelets in Luna and Antonio’s workshop, and also worked with wood, which we sanded, painted, varnished, and decorated using mosaics and seashells. This weekend we also visited the Roccelletta Archaeological Museum, which we really enjoyed because the view from the top is superb.”
Clara Ihuel
“This second week was just as good as the first—actually even better and much more productive, especially during the internship. Luna and Antonio gave us many more activities to complete (setting up Christmas decorations, making decorative frames, creating wooden paintings, and designing new bracelets).
Everything is also going very well with the staff at Villa Gabriella, and we want to thank Pietro and everyone who takes care of our comfort. The four of us also go out on weekends, taking the bus to visit the surrounding areas. We visited a museum in Roccelletta and toured some ruins.
Honestly, it’s an amazing experience to live, whether in the internship, the accommodation, or the activities we get to do.”
Tessy Voisin
