Traveling abroad can have beneficial outcomes to everyone who gets the privilege. It gives people a different perspective and a better understanding of history. It shows diversity, differences in languages and gives people insight to the rest of the world around them, said English teacher Amy Larson.

Teachers here have been involved in trips abroad over spring and summer breaks in recent years. In the past groups have traveled to places such as Italy, France and England. Spring break and summer trips are not school-sponsored, but teachers such as Larson, Sharon Crane and Jane Shipman said they are willing to take their personal time to travel with students.

Traveling abroad with students has been equally rewarding for the teachers who travel with them and the students. Amy Larson and Crane, both English teachers, will be leading a trip in July to Italy and Switzerland. Their group will see Verona and Venice, Florence and Rome, Italy. They will visit the settings of Romeo and Juliet, Michelangelo’s David, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum. They will leave July 8 and return on July 17.

“It’s an exciting time to visit these beautiful locations and it is a chance of a lifetime for these students to go back in history,” Crane said.

Shipman will lead a group over spring break to Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany; Shipman has never visited Germany, Austria or Hungary. In addition to the spring trip, Shipman will accompany nine students to Ecuador this July for the first time.

“I’m pretty excited,” Shipman said. “Becoming a part of another culture, even for a day, changes you, makes you grow.”

She encourages all the students traveling to research the culture and differences so that they have some idea of what to expect.

“I think it’s important to be exposed to other cultures and ideas. It’ll be nice to hang out and travel with friends before we all go off to college,” said senior Enzo Petrozza, who is going on the Ecuador trip. “I’ve started Rosetta Stone to become more familiar with the language before the trip. As for culture, I’ve read several books and articles on Ecuador’s history.”

According to the U.S. Department of State, very few Americans ever travel abroad. Crane believes traveling abroad can be intimidating for some Americans because of the foreign languages and changes in culture, but traveling abroad gives an opportunity to gain firsthand experience that cannot be grasped any other way.

“I absolutely believe that travel is the best educational experience available. Nothing in a classroom can compare with actually seeing the world,” Larson said, “I believe students should take advantage of every chance to expand their horizons by seeing other parts of the world. It is expensive, but the memories are priceless.”

Traveling to different countries can open students’ eyes to different ways of living and other people’s beliefs. Senior Ana dePedro went to France and Italy in 2012 over spring break with Shipman and believes the trip benefitted her immensely.

“I have grown up in such a small, sheltered place that I sometimes forget about the cultures all over the world,” dePedro said. “Going to a different country helped open my eyes to other traditions. I now want to see all the cultures and countries I am able to, so I can experience that new understanding of places.”

Teachers like Shipman and Larson encourage fundraising such as car washes, bake sales or raffles because affording these trips may be challenging. Sophomore Nora Harrison will be going on the Italy and Switzerland trip this summer and says she’s very fortunate to have the opportunity.

“Travel is so important but so many people live their lives without ever getting to see the world. I think it’s great that parents can find a way to make it happen,” Harrison said. “And for us, we have teachers that have helped us so much with fundraisers so it made it a lot easier. I’m really blessed to be able to go on this trip. I’m extremely thankful.”

Sophomore Brooke Vuyovich will also be traveling to Italy and Switzerland this summer and hopes to learn more about Italy’s culture. She has found it difficult but not impossible to earn the money needed for the trip.

“I’m actually having trouble raising money, but I feel like if you have a desire to go then you will succeed and get the money you need,” Vuyovich said.

Traveling abroad can be an amazing way for students to be outside their comfort zone and become more aware of the world around them, Larson said. They get to see how other governments function and open up their minds to new career opportunities. Other countries are rich in history and offer a visual learning experience as well.

“Travel changes you. It makes you into a different person. It makes you more accepting of other cultures and more generous-hearted toward differences,” Shipman said. “It makes you more aware of who you are and who you want to be. For several students I’ve taken it has changed their career path.”

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