SESSION Abstract: From Italy to Egypt: True Tales and Tour Guides' Truths in the Ancient World
Factual information about places visited in Europe will be combined with the experience and interesting anecdotes of escorting senior secondary students to Italy, Greece, Egypt and France, along with accounts of personal visits to these places.
Join us for this insightful, relaxed, creative session.
Date: Wednesday 30th September, 2026
Time & Format: The course will start at 10am, with a coffee and tea break followed by a lively facilitated discussion to answer all your curious questions. The course will finish at 12pm each week.
Location: We are delighted to be hosting at Hygge at Clifton Bay, 468 Clifton Road, Te Awanga 4180
About the experts
Julie Shears
Julie has a passion for the world of the ancient Romans and Greeks, having been a Classical Studies teacher for over forty years. Topics covered in this subject are history, literature, art, architecture, religion, socio-political life, mythology. Julie’s expertise has seen her participate in education initiatives over many years and co-author study guides for students.
In 2009 Julie became Deputy Principal at Iona College in Havelock North, also taking on the role of Acting Principal for short periods. There she continued to take senior students to Europe for a three week experience of history, language and culture. Julie has taken over a dozen school trips to Europe, mostly Italy, but also Greece, France and Egypt. Julie is on the committee for the Amici d’Italia (Friends of Italy) society, continuing her love for all things Italian into the modern day. Julie participates in a weekly Italian class and can converse successfully when in Italy.
Christina Tay - Learning Facilitator
Christina is a lifelong learner with a profound passion for exploring diverse cultures and disciplines. Her curiosity has inspired extensive global travel, from teaching English to Buddhist monks in Laos and volunteering at a Thai orphanage to visiting museums across Europe, the UK, and Asia. A highlight of her travels is the Bishop Museum in Hawai'i, which she visits frequently, including during the 2014 World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education.
Her academic journey began with law and politics at Waikato University, where she discovered dispute resolution. She subsequently earned a Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Strathclyde University, UK. This period included an exchange at the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and research in Hong Kong on the ombudsman's role.
Currently a Learning Facilitator for Love Heart Social Learning, Christina also teaches the Restorative Practices microcredential at Victoria University. A fully accredited restorative justice facilitator and assessor, she recently delivered mediation training in Micronesia. Previously, she served as Director of Employee Assistance Resolution Services at Victoria University.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys connecting with loved ones and attending international events, such as the 2025 Restorative Practices conference in Singapore, to continually expand her expertise.
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