Day 20 - Home

Our program came to a satisfying end. We left London right on schedule and arrived back in the states late afternoon. We had a small snag at customs. Two students and one leader were pulled aside for whatever reason. The dog sniffing our carryon bags detected something (who knows what), but all 3 were eventually "released" if you will.

Then came the most gratifying part of my job. Getting to turn over the students - all in one piece, healthy and happy - back to their families.

I stayed the night in Dallas and flew back to Tyler on Saturday. All in all it was an excellent time had by all I'd say. Even with the few mishaps that occured.

Day 19 - London England

Today was the best last day we could have had, even if we did start a tad late. It was a jam packed day and being on time was imperative.

We woke to a light rain. Typical London weather I've heard. Our hopes was that it would stop since we were supposed to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. They don't do the full band procession if it's raining.

Our first activity was to pick up our guide Brian and go up on the London Eye. We made it just in time. The view from the observation wheel is amazing!

Next we took a short city tour by bus. Brian was very entertaining with the stories that he told. Unfortunately, time didn't allow for us to get out and visit The Famous Clock Tower (Big Ben) or Parliment up close. But the rain did stop, so we got to see the full procession for the changing of the guard at the palace. Then it was on to lunch at a local pub.

Unfortunately, the pub had us mixed up with another P2P group there and served them first. This almost made us late for our visit with a former member of Parliment, Patrick Nichols; but we made it just in the nick of time. I enjoyed his talk. Nothing like a Brit to make you proud to be an American (he's VERY pro-American).

After Parliment came a tour of The Tower of London. Brian again told romance/horror stories of the lives of people condemmed to death there. After his guided portion, we had just over an hour to see the Crown Jewels as well as other parts of the compound.

Next came dinner. Traditional fish and chips.

Lastly was the best part - Wicked! I got to see it when I was in London during the summer of '08 and it was just as good as I remembered! I love the play. It's sort of a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It gives the backstory on the good wich Glenda (Galinda) and the Wicked Witch. You find out how the cowardly lion, tin man, and scarecrow came to be. It's definately worth a watch.

Tomorrow - Home!

Day 17 - Omaha Beach France

Today was the most rewarding day so far. We left Paris and traveled to Omaha Beach. When we arrived in the small town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer we were greeted by the mayor. We also got to participate in a flag raising ceremony on the beach. The mayor read a lovely speech (yes the tears flowed freely). Afterward, 16 of our students went to raise the flags of the countries involved in the war. While raising each flag, the country's national anthem played. There were a lot of people crying when it was all said and done.

After the flag raising ceremony, each of us was given a small glass bottle to fill with sand from the beach and bring home.

After Omaha Beach we went to the Normandy American Cemetery, which is the last resting place of over 9,000 young soldiers who were killed in 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.

Next was Caen, the capital of Normandy. We visited the Memorial Museum, whose mission is to remember the operation of the 6th of June 1944, the causes of the 1939-45 conflict, and its multiple consequences.

Lastly, we departed Caen for our overnight ferry. Tomorrow - England!

Day 16 - Paris France

Today was the best day yet! We woke up to rain and were all worried. It's the day we go to the Eiffel Tower and they will not allow you to go to the very top if it is raining. Our fingers were crossed that the rain would stop before our reservations at 4:30.

We began with a visit to The Louvre Museum. We had a guided tour that lasted almost 2 hours and we still didn't see but a fraction of the statues, paintings, etc that the museum houses. What we did see was amazing though. And all the students were on their best behavior. And the rain had stopped when we exited!

Due to a reschedule by the Eiffel Tower, we had some free time for shopping. We began not far from the museum and had about an hour and a half. We then went to lunch and were given about another hour of shopping time after that. No one was complaining.

Next was the Eiffel Tower. No matter how many times you see it, it never gets old. We all went to the very tippy top and enjoyed the awesome view from up there, not to mention the wind that goes with being that high up. But again, no one was complaining. I mean how can you? It's the Eiffel Tower in Paris France!!

Tomorrow - Omaha Beach/Beaches of Normandy.

Day 15 - Paris France

Today was our first "real" day in Paris.

First was a guided tour around the city, part by bus and part by foot. We stopped at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, drove down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, and had lunch in the artists villiage known as Montmartre. It's the highest point in Paris, other than the Eiffel Tower of course.

After lunch we went to the Chateau de Versailles, which was commissioned by the Sun King, Louis XIV. It was the seat of the royal court from 1682 to 1789, when the French Revolution put an end to the monarchy.

Day 14 - Bruges Belgium

Today we got to explore the city of Bruges by horse and carriage. It's a beautiful city with cobblestone streets and a lot of pedestrian streets for shopping! We found out that Belgium is best know for lace (I had no idea) and chocolate (this one I knew!).

After our city "tour", we got to visit the one true handmade lace shop, The Irma Lace Shop. It's the only shop in the country of Belgium that is given permission to include a handmade card with their lace. They've got from 400+ lace makers to just at 150. The gentleman who presented to us said that if we came back in 10 years, there would be no authentic Belgium lace.

After our lace orientation we went on to a chocolate shop to learn how they make truffles and other chocolates. This was by far the highlight of the day, at least for me.

After lunch in Ypres, we went and visited a WWI museum, Flanders Fields. It opened in 1998 and is as devoted to the promotion of peace as it is the remembrance of war.

Next came a 3 hour bus ride to Paris!!

Day 13 - Bruges Belgium

Today we left The Netherlands and headed to Belgium.

We started our day at The Hogue, or The Peace Palace where the United Nations trials occur. It was a beautiful palace to say the least. We saw the room where the International Court of Justice meets for trials between countries, and the "Opinion" room. This is the room where advocates selected by parties help mediate arguments.

Next we went to Kinderdijk. It's a 17th century windmill park. We rode bicycles through the park and had lunch on a grassy field. Our students met up with some Dutch students and played soccer and badminton.

Today was a travel day, so not a lot of activities.

Day 12 - Amsterdam Netherlands

Today was one of the best days so far. We awoke and went into a nearby town where we watched a husband/wife team make wooden shoes and Dutch Gouda Cheese. Seems like quite a combination, but it works for them. The shoes were beautiful and the cheese was excellent. I bought 3 types which they vacuumed sealed for transport into the USA. The most unique thing about the husband/wife team was that he is from the Netherlands and the wife is from the USA. She loves having the American People to People groups come in.

Next we drove into Amsterdam and walked to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Afterwards, we had a long walk to the river boat harbor. We took a canal cruise, which ended up leaving late. We were going to miss our reservation time at the Ann Frank's House, but our delegation manager talked our canal cruise captain into dropping us off at her doorstep.

We had a gentleman (Huib) talk to us about Ann Frank and her family/life/home. It was very enlightening and educational. Then we got to walk through her "house". It's amazing that she was able to deal with the things she went through.

Now the kids are outside in a grassy area in front of the hotel playing soccer and throwing frisbees. They all agree that it was a GREAT day!!!

Day 11 - Utrecht Netherlands

Again, another travel day. We departed Koblenz fairly early and headed to Cologne. There we spent time at the Cathedral and then had a little time for shopping. Then we had a pretty long bus ride to Utrecht. Nothing exciting happened, which was welcomed after the port-a-potty incident from the day before.

Day 10 - Koblenz Germany

Today was one of those ever so lovely travel days. We picked up the students from their home stays. Some enjoyed it more than others, but ALL survived it. We had one minor medical incident with a student from another group. She hit her self with a door and chipped her front tooth. All was repaired by the time we got back together. You can't even tell that anything happened when looking at her. That's a major thing at this age.

After we all had our small reunion, we were off to our first stop of the day - Ruedesheim. Here we had lunch and then took a small hike (that's our delegation manager's adjective - to us it was long, and ALL uphill. But the kids had fun) to a monument at the top of a mountain vineyard where they could look down at the town. It was a beautiful view.

Again, there was a small incident while trekking through the vineyard. A student got turned over while in a port-a-potty. Only with junior high students does something like that happen. Luckily the student was unharmed, just maybe a tad smelly.

We left Ruedesheim via a river cruise down the Rhine River. We ended the day at our hotel in Koblenz Germany where we stayed for one night.

Day 8-9 - Home Stay Germany

Since this blog is about the students and we are not together during the home stays, I will not be adding anything for days 8 and 9.

Day 7 - Home Stay Germany

This morning our group got to spend a typical Saturday at a German swimming pool. There were so many people there! It was fun and I can see how someone could make an entire day out of it. There was a HUGE lawn area to put out towels and belongings before going into the pool. The pool had a kiddie pool and a regular one. Each had their own water slides attached. Some students took advantage while others just enjoyed the sun and time to relax!

After pool time, students were given 6 euros and broken up into small groups in order to find lunch. They enjoyed the time to explore.

Next we did a city quest. Students were given questions whose answers were hidden on signs and monuments and such around the city. They enjoyed this as well. It encouraged them to connect with the locals.

One of the best parts of the program is the chance for students to participate in a home stay. This is where local families take in our students for a couple of days to immerse them in the German culture. For this home stay, our students are staying with a student (approximately their age) from a local school. All the students were placed by themselves, so they were quite nervous (understandably). Our students will get the chance to go to school with their German brother/sister on Monday. I've been told the school will make a big production out of the whole thing. I'm sure our kids will have a fabulous time!

We leaders are given home stays as well, when possible. We stay with teachers from the same school. I'm guessing not many teachers want to participate, because only one of us got a home stay this year. It wasn't me. Instead, me and a 2nd leader have been put up in a hotel in the same town as half of our group, while the other 2 leaders with no home stay are in a different town with the remainder of our students. We need to be close in case they have any type of emergency or need us in any way.

So, Don (the 2nd leader in my hotel) and I got to explore a little of Mannheim Germany on our own this evening. We walked down to the main gathering place and ordered authentic German food and enjoyed the light breeze while sitting outside. It was quite entertaining. The Germans had just won their round against Argentina in the World Cup. There were cars driving around the square honking, people haning out screaming and blowing horns while waving German flags. I don't think we get quite that excited about soccer in America. I can only compare it to our Super Bowl. But now having ever lived in a town with a winning Super Bowl team, that's only an assuption on my part.

Anyhow, the kids will enjoy their first evening in their German homes I'm sure. I have a feeling they'll get to see quite a bit of soccer while here as well.

Don't worry parents, we are close by if needed. But, since this blog is mainily about what our GROUP is doing, I will not update it until Tuesday, when we all get back together as a delegation. Farewell till then, or as they say in Germany, Auf Wiedersehen!

Day 6 - Heidelberg Germany

Today was a full day for our group. We began with breakfast at the hotel in Freiburg. Then we completed our second service project at a local cemetary. The students broke up into groups. Two groups cleaned the "floor" of the cemetary by gathering the mowed grass and taking it to a certain area while the third group cleaned the stone wall of the cemetary. While working, a German lady who worked in the States for a while and knew English stopped some of our students to talk with them. She thanked them for all that they were doing. The kids enjoyed chatting with her and you could really see the appreciation in the lady's face and words.

Then it was off to Heidelberg. It was quite a long drive. We stopped in a small village for lunch on the way. Homemade pasta with carmelized onions and grated cheese on top.

Once we arrived in Heidelburg, we went to a birds of prey show. It was very interesting. We got to see how owls, different breeds of falcoms, and a baby bald eagle were trained.

Dinner was in the center of Heidelberg and I must say was very good. At least I thought so. We had a typical german meal of Flammkuchen. It was almost a tortilla like pizza, but much better!

Tomorrow - Home Stays!

Day 5 - Scoul, Switzerland to Freiburg, Germany

Today was mainly a travel day. We left Scoul and headed to Freiburg Germany. We drove down the Swiss Alps on our way out of the valley. It was a beautiful site. the students kept wanting to get out of the bus and touch the patches of "snow".

Our main stop today was here in Freiburg at the Black Forest Cuckoo Clock factory! It was very interesting and educational. I enjoyed the presentation and loved seeing all the types of cuckoo clocks there are. But my heavens, who knew they cost so much!!

Tomorrow we head to Heidelburg Germany!

Day 4 - Scoul Switzerland

Today began with a lesson in the language of Romansh. It's one of the 4 national languages in Switzerland. We all learned quite a few terms. It's amazing how similar it is to the Spanish language.

After our language lesson, we took quite a hike - 7.6 miles! We ate lunch when we arrived in the small village (sorry, can't remember the name) and then completed a service project for the community. We helped cut down small trees and cleared the forest floor.

After our service project we took a shuttle bus back to Scoul and gave students about 1.5-2 hours to shop before hiking back to the hotel.

Tomorrow we leave for Germany!!