Traveling around the world can be a way to learn about new people and cultures, and Business teacher Mr. Michael Piccolo finds great value in this activity. Piccolo teaches various electives at EHS, including Economics, Business Management, Personal Finance, Business Law, and Savings & Interest. Piccolo’s love for traveling started when he was eighteen, after graduating from high school. Upon graduating from college, he went backpacking through Europe, cultivating his desire to explore the world. Since then, he has been to over sixty-four countries, and one of his most recent travels was on a cruise in Bermuda. Some other countries he has been to include Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia. In the future, he would love to go on an African safari.
Piccolo’s favorite trip was a month’s stay in Italy. Since he is of Italian origin, he had the chance to visit his ancestor’s birthplace and learn more about his family history. The opportunity to sit in a Vatican audience with Pope John Paul was one of his most memorable experiences on the road.
“There was such spirituality on the occasion. It is an experience that will never leave me,” said Piccolo.
On one of his other travels, he stayed with a Buddhist family in Thailand. He took his time learning the spiritual religion of Buddhism as he stayed with them. In every country he visited, he stayed with families that taught him different cultures, lifestyles, and religions, increasing his knowledge about people around the world.
“Traveling is a great opportunity to learn,” Piccolo said. One of his main goals is to embrace diversity throughout his explorations.
Piccolo believes that discrimination occurs due to a lack of knowledge. Throughout his travels, he developed this idea from the cultures and backgrounds he discovered, helping him become more accepting and understanding of others. He tries to use this mindset to try and “create an inclusive environment in his classroom, hoping that students will embrace diversity.”
“If you really understand and know, it really makes a big difference,” said Piccolo.
