Outside of a Textbook: Seeing Greece and Rome

Students enjoying Pompeii. (Top row, from left) Sydney Kays, Hannah Burnett, Gillian Pfeil, Elijah Berry, Mark Masterson, Meredith Milholland (second row, from left) Logan Jones, Hannah Hawk (third row, from left) Alyssa Miller, Stephan Faldyn, Emma MacDougall, Claire LaFevers (taking the photo) Molly Egan

 

As the summer was coming to an end and everyone was struggling to finish their summer reading and get all their new school supplies, most students found themselves wishing the summer was just starting. They thought to themselves, "How did three whole months go by so fast?"

Forty-three high school students find themselves really wishing the summer was just beginning. They got to spend their first two weeks of summer abroad on a school trip in Greece and Rome. Because the students spend so much time studying the countries and its culture, the school sends out an open invitation every three years for all high school students to attend the trip. The chance to experience the Forum and Coliseum with their own eyes was far better than any photo in their textbook could capture.

From riding up a mountain on a donkey to cruising through stunning islands with crystal-clear water and white beaches, Rome and Greece were the perfect start to the summer vacation. Ice-cream parlors were a regular stop for the students as they roamed the city streets experiencing the life that they had learned about in the textbooks.

Students in front of the Coliseum (from left) Alex Aultman, Marilia Sampaio, Sydney Kays, Kelly Perish, Andrew Johnson

Pompeii was one of the favorite stops as the students had learned about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in sixth grade. The sites were unforgettable, but you can’t leave out the food. The students never missed a meal in which they ate native food such as lasagna, baklava, pasta, gelato, and other local dishes that never failed to impress. After walking all day, a visit to a fish pedicure was one of the many enjoyable stops. 
  
After a week exploring the scenery on foot, the group boarded a cruise ship and headed out to explore the islands and beaches. The clear water with all the sea life, including fish and coral, was amazing. The students posted tons of photos to show off to their friends at home the most beautiful places, scenery, and people they met. Although the kids were told to stick in groups, conversations with the locals were frequent.

“The locals were so cool and told us a lot about their island and their way of life,” said Valerie Herrscher, ’16. They met a lot of people in the streets and on the beach who thought that the school trip was such an amazing opportunity.