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Published: August 4th 2016
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On the TGV now from Paris to Frankfurt, the final stop on this European adventure for our intrepid group of student travelers. It is a quiet coach as everyone sleeps. Many stayed up very late last night talking and reminiscing about the adventures that they have shared, hoping to prolong the experience and delay its inevitable end. It is an interesting mix of emotions as they prepare to depart for home. Everyone is looking forward to reuniting with families, even younger siblings, and to regaining access to what they know; the normalcy of life in general. They are also no doubt exhausted from our epic journey in Paris. It was four days of absolute non stop brilliance.
We visited museums like the Orsay with its incredible impressionists, the Louvre with its enormous collection of paintings like the Mona Lisa, sculptures like the Venus de Milo and artifacts from Egypt to Polynesia. We ventured to the Pompidou with its wide array of new age modern art that beguiled, confused and inspired. We stayed out late to watch the lighting of the Eiffel Tower and then rose early the next morning to ascend that most recognizable of world monuments, the beautiful city
of Paris spread out before us, its tree lined avenues and landmarks inviting further exploration. We shopped the Champs Elysee for hours and then climbed the Basilica de Sacre Coeur for dinner. We trekked to Versailles for a look at one of the most amazing royal residences in the world. Then, we shopped some more! There was no down time, it was all go, and it was all great!
They are of course saddened that this journey, and all of the amazing experiences that we have shared, are coming to an end. Heidi and I are too. These experiences though, will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the participants, helping to shape their view of this world In which we live. An indelible impact has been made on the minds of our students. New friends have been made in Germany, and the door to world travel has been unlocked and opened wide in front of them. The travel bug is extremely contagious, and we have twenty-two new cases Seattle bound. We also have twenty- two students who now have experience living, adapting to, and appreciating new cultures and ideas. They are now more tolerant and accepting
of those cultures and ideas to a much greater degree than they were when we left three and a half weeks ago.
There are also now twenty-two students returning home with increased levels of confidence in themselves and their ability to be independent and flexible. This will serve them well as they move forward in their lives, be it in school, work, or in the community. They will take this newfound confidence and broader perspective and share it for the benefit of whoever they come in contact with.
Our hope is that the participants of this exchange have had a life changing and life enhancing experience. That they can take the memory of these adventures and hold them dear. That they can apply what they have learned and the confidence that they have found to better themselves and those around them when they return home. We hope that they will be more willing now to challenge themselves, and be more willing to step out of their comfort zones.
It has been a wonderful experience for Heidi and me to have led this group! We have enjoyed every minute of it. The kids were brilliantly behaved and a
lot of fun to be around. Their eyes were open and their minds a sponge to what they were experiencing. We could not have asked for a better group of kids.
Heidi has led seven exchanges over the course of fourteen years. I have had the privilege of leading five over the past decade. In the span of that time, we have had the pleasure of seeing the positive impact of international travel be imparted on well over one hundred students. We have seen students find their true selves, grow into responsible young adults, and return home changed for the better. We have seen students cry with homesickness only to cry again when it was time to return home. We have seen students gaze in trancelike awe at Neuschwanstein Castle, and a Monet at the Orsay. We have seen students so perfectly content as they sat eating a kugel of eis with their toes in the water of the Binnenalstersee in Hamburg, relaxing on the beach in Travemunde, and jumping for joy at the sight of the Eiffel Tower.
We have talked with former students who are still in contact with their partners from a decade ago. Still
exchanging birthday and holiday presents and still traveling to visit every so often. We have heard from students who have chosen to study abroad in Europe due to their experience, or simply live a life of wanderlust, roaming wherever their hearts and minds take them, learning and living new cultures as they go. We have heard from students and parents about how this exchange has prepared them, changed them, and made them more successful in school and life.
This program has been an incredible thing to be a part of for over a decade now and I consider myself immensely lucky to have been along for the ride. It has been amazing to witness the power of travel on young minds. It has been phenomenal to hear how it has so positively impacted the lives of our participants over the years.
In life though, all good things must at some point come to an end. It is with heavy hearts that Heidi and I announce that this will be our last exchange. We are hanging up our backpacks and closing our passports. It is time to move on to other pursuits and responsibilities. We will forever hold dear
the memories and experiences shared over the course of this past decade of travel, but it is time to ensure that our trey tables and seat backs are in their upright and locked positions as we prepare to land.
We will do our very best to locate other teachers in our district that are willing to carry forward and continue this exchange. Our German partners are eager to keep it alive and well. If you have any suggestions as to who might be willing to pick up their passports and take this on, please contact Heidi or me.
It has been an incredible run and I am thankful beyond words to have been able to be a part of it. Thank you to Heidi, our German partners, and all of our current and former parents and students for making these great experiences a reality for everyone involved.
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Joan edson
non-member comment
Germany trip
We are Carson lee's grandparents we just want to thank you for all the blogs and pictures we really enjoyed reading your blogs we felt like we were there thanks for keeping him and all the kids safe we are glad to have him home but sad that is is over at the same time..sorry to see you move on but glad Carson got to be part of your last trip the kids will have memories to last a lifetime for sure a big thank you to you