On Monday, a group of nine GHS students will depart for Paris, where they will begin their tour of Europe. Spanish teacher Mrs. Mindi Ward leads these trips every two years.

The tour takes place over 10 days, beginning in Paris, then travelling to Strasbourg and Lucerne, and ending in Munich. The average cost for this trip was $5,000. 

“I think that the fact that we are going to a different country is so cool. I have only been outside of the country on a cruise. Being able to use my passport is also exciting. I am looking forward the most to Munich, Germany. I have always been a fan of Germany, and that is where I want to live in the future. I can’t wait to see all of the sites,” sophomore Mari Salazar said. 

From sightseeing within Paris to biking through the gardens of the Versailles to touring the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, the trip will provide historical and cultural background to the group.  

“I am not well-versed in the historical factor of the trip. I am interested to see the history of how things were created and how things came about because we don’t focus on European history a lot here. It will be interesting to figure out and learn about the culture and history of each place,” Salazar said. 

A goal of the trip is to introduce the students to different aspects of each country, such as transportation, art, food, architecture, transportation, traditions, and geography.

“I am very excited to go to new countries with my friends. I am excited to pay attention to how people live differently within different environments compared to the United States. I think it will be something I will appreciate seeing,” senior Ryleigh Canfield said. 

The trip will include time in Paris, which is a popular tourist city. Paris will be followed by Germany and Switzerland

“I think that all of the places are very aesthetic. I am excited to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, but I have also heard that Switzerland and Germany are very gorgeous, so I am excited to see all of them,” Canfield said. 

For many, attending or not, visiting three countries within 10 days is a once in a lifetime experience. 

“I have never been out of the country. I have only been to states nearby. It is going to be a totally different culture, new languages, new experiences, and overall just very different from what I am used to,” senior Ian Ratliff said. 

There are many different activities that range from food tasting within small French villages to physical activity by biking through Paris. 

“I am looking forward to going to Engelberg to the Swiss Alps because we are travelling up through a cable car. It will be cool to see the new lands and different cultures that are in other countries outside of the United States,” Ratliff said. 

With the trip quickly approaching, the excitement and anticipation of the trip and the new experiences that will come from it has become apparent to the students attending. 

“I wanted to go on the trip because I have always been interested in immersing myself in completely different and unique cultures, not to mention a trip to Paris sounded like a dream, so I jumped at the opportunity. Also, this trip is an experience of a lifetime so I felt that I needed to go,” senior Chandler Sheppard said.