Submitted by Joel Hebert
On July 1, just over a week after final exams, 39 Bedford High School students and 6 chaperones travelled across the Atlantic on a two week trip across Central Europe. The trip, a brainchild of English teacher Joel Hebert, started in Berlin, before continuing to Prague, Munich, Lucerne (Switzerland), and finishing with three days and nights in Paris. Students, who will be entering their junior or senior year in the fall, had the opportunity to visit countless cultural and historical sites, and upon returning on July 13, they raved about the trip.
Students celebrated the final night of the trip—as well as the birthdays of junior Asimina Morris and English teacher Chris Zellner—by lighting sparklers and eating crepes overlooking the brightly illuminated Eiffel Tower. As birthday girl Asimina put it, “I realized that if I had one night to relive for the rest of my life, I would choose that one.” Several other travelers echoed her sentiments, raving about Paris’ sites, smells, and tastes. Senior Nicole Powell mentioned the opportunity to “stumble upon a community of artist studios with open galleries” and how it allowed her “to experience new cultures beyond just the guided bus tour.” Students also connected their experiences with lessons from Bedford High School. Senior Taylor Anderson mentioned how she, Sarah Nosal, and other girls sang the song “Les Champs-Elysees” while walking down the famed street toward the Arc De Triumphe.
While Paris was a highlight for many students, no site proved more spectacular to the travelers than the views of the Swiss Alps. Taking the steepest cogwheel train in the world up Mount Pilatus, students experienced mountain vistas that took their breath away. Later that night, 29 of the students experienced a Swiss folklore dinner where they had the opportunity to blow a giant Alpine horn and yodel on stage. Those who did not attend the dinner were treated to a breathtaking sunset near their mountain hotel in Lucerne.
“Our itinerary allowed students to experience a variety of cultures and view cities that aren’t always on the typical high school trip,” Joel Hebert said. “Our students were able to take advantage of free time to pursue their own passions, whether it be hiking to the top of a clock tower in Prague or lighting a candle for a loved one in a German church. Meeting new people and learning about different cultures is important to being a member of the shrinking global community, and I am proud of our students who handled themselves respectfully and with open minds and hearts.”
Bedford High School has three trips planned for the 2015-2016 school year: Cuba, Costa Rica, and South Africa. Spots are still available for students interested in the Cuba trip (email: [email protected]) and the South Africa trip in July (email: [email protected]).
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