Eurotrip14 Blog Preview

Typically, before departing on a tour, I try to type an introductory blog.  I did not do that this time.  I hope that this quick entry will suffice and give any new readers something of an idea as to what this blog is all about.  We are now cruising at roughly 35,000 feet.  The take off was smooth and the kids seemed to have settled down.  We are just over 6 hours from Frankfurt and I am on my computer.

This past week at Saugus High School was a hectic one.  We had grades due on Tuesday.  The single hardest transition for me, now that I am back in the classroom, has been building a schedule for grading items in a more timely fashion.  I swear I've been working on it, but I still find myself scurrying around last minute trying to finish on time.  We also had to have our evidence for evaluation submitted by Friday.  This is part of a new wave of education reforms in Massachusetts and it basically requires teachers to put together a packet showcasing their hardwork.  Much like with my grading, I procrastinated.  It is all submitted now and I am hopeful for a favorable review (Truth in advertising: I put this blog down as evidence of connecting with the community and families).

I arrived at Logan around quarter past 5 this afternoon.  I was able to sneak past the hundreds of kids preparing for their own #Eurotrips and check in with the Agents at the Lufthansa desk.  With my charming personality and friendly New England persona, I was able to convince them to provide me a seat with extra leg room.  I then scouted out a Dunkin Donuts and settled down in a comfortable nook in Terminal E to await the kids.  One by one they showed up...all excited, some nervous, and others anxiously waiting for me to tell them it was time to go through security so that their travels could begin.  It is important to note, at this time, that I witnessed my very first "prom-posal."  A young man, not traveling with us, had made his way to Logan with a sign asking Gianna if she would consider going with him to the Senior Prom.  He had a whole entourage with him...someone was evening videotaping the event.  She said "Yes."  As you can imagine the entire terminal erupted in applause (little exaggeration there).  Some of our group then found itself stuck in line behind another school and so we made the decision to have the larger half proceed though the checkpoint, but we were soon together once again.  Terminal E was jammed up like a piece of toast at breakfast time.  The place was packed.  We were able to find a spot to hangout and before we knew it, we were boarding.  The normal shuffle of seats began taking place and everyone found a place to sit.  Our flight has at least four different school groups on it.  That, to me, is super cool.  Adding to the neatness of it all is that one of the other groups is also from Saugus High School.  These kids are traveling to Italy with Senora Morando.  Some of them traveled with me last year and it is good to see them expanding their international horizons even further.  The first drink service has concluded and the German guy next to me is already passed out.  I am super jealous of those who can sleep on command. [Edited Post: At dinner, they forgot to give me a Coke Zero, I drank water instead]

Well, I am going to go.  I will be back on sometime tomorrow from Munich...everything has been going well so far and I am so very eager to see the excitement on the kids' faces when we get to the Marienplatz and we try some Germany street food.  There is a webcam positioned inside the square and if you look closely, in about 8 hours, you might be able to see us. Visit it by clicking here.

Mr. Lavoie, currently 35,000 feet above the Gulf of St. Lawrence, cruising at 630 mphs, and wishing I had asked for an extra bag of pretzel sticks.