Seniors Abroad

Going to Europe is a luxury. Europe is a beautiful place, with tons of different and unique things to offer compared to the United States. Many seniors went on the trip, and through the new sights and experiences, they had much to say about it.

“My favourite part was when I visited Saint Peter’s Basilica, which was the most structurally ornate building that I visited on the trip,” shared senior Jayden Hughes. “There was also an organ and choir performance that went on when I was in the building, and that was like ethereal.”

Hughes expressed interest in the structural aspects of Europe, while other students expressed other interests. The seniors thought the trip was amazing. They went and got food from all sorts of places and enjoyed their own favourite dish at each place they visited. For example, Liam Wall, another senior who went on the trip, enjoyed food even from gas stations/rest stops.

“We have eaten everywhere from rest stops/gas stations to somewhat fancy restaurants,” described Wall. “The food has been quite incredible, and unlike the United States, the lowest quality food options are still quite good. Gas station pizza in northern Italy, for example, is better than virtually every pizza I have had in the US. It seems that no matter where you get food, it doesn’t disappoint.”

To many students, the food was amazing– possibly the best part. Europe was undoubtedly an epic experience, though sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Senior Finley Bullis was far from expecting to get sick upon arriving in Pisa, Italy, and yet he and senior McKenna Adams both got the cold.

“I got to bed really early Monday night and ultimately decided to sit out the next day. I missed Florence, which was very sad for me, but a decision I had to make to recover from my staggering illness,” explained Bullis.

Along with visiting places came staying at a hotel. All of the students had thoughts on the hotels. They enjoyed the free breakfast, comforting rooms, and getting to spend this time with friends. This, however, may not be said for every hotel. Katie Proctor, another senior at JA who attended the trip, elaborated.

“The hotels we stayed in were pretty hit or miss. The first hotel had four of us in my room, and it was pretty small. There were two twin beds and a sofa, so one bed had to be shared. The food was okay there,” claimed Proctor. “The next hotel’s breakfast was really good… the views were really pretty– you could see the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, so we woke up to the sunrise.”

The faculty on the trip made sure that it was an unforgettable experience for the students. Mr. Thimsen, a history teacher at JA, explained how they try to make this experience completely unforgettable.

Mr. Thimsen passionately explained: “I want to bring them exposure to different places, different people, different cultures, and, if I can do that, and make them appreciate it and give them a love of travel, then I feel like ‘mission accomplished.’”