Day 10: Our Final Day in Europe Did Not Disappoint

This may very well be my final blog post for this trip.  I sometimes try to write a summation after a few days of reflection, but it doesn't always happen.  Today was our final full day in Amsterdam and in Europe.  We will be departing tomorrow morning and slowly making our way home.  For those of you with travelers accompanying us, I'd like to thank you in advance.  Your kids have been one of the most sincerely gracious group of kids that I've ever worked with.  This is the largest group of SHS students to travel to Europe and you would think that there would be some major issues with 50 people flying half way across the globe, but, to date, there have been no issues...The kids have been great and we have been told so by many of the Europeans we've met.  For the family friends of those who are traveling with us, and to new readers of this blog, I would like to thank you.  Each day, I watch the view count increase by the hundreds and I am humbled by the words that I've received in personal emails, comments on the blog, and in the messages relayed to me by the kids.  It is those words of encouragement that let me know my efforts are not in vane and that this mode of communication allows you to peek into our trip and our experiences.

Today, we visited the Anne Frank house.  Our visit brought me to several places.  First, I went back to Logan Airport about 11 days ago.  Nearly 45 kids from Saugus has crossed through security and were anxiously awaiting their own personal adventure.  I tried my best to speak with many of them.  My usual question was, "What are you looking forward to the most?"  Naturally, some of the kids said the names of our cities or landmarks like the Eiffel Tower...things you'd expect.  A bunch of kids, however, said that they were looking forward to Anne Frank's house.  I was surprised that many of these kids had never even read her diary, but they all knew her story.  My visit brought me to last year's Europe trip as well.  Last year, we went on a History of the Holocaust tour.  A few of those travelers were with us today.  On that tour, we visited two concentration camps and many more memorials to those who lost their lives in Holocaust.  We were as prepared emotionally as we thought we could be.  A similar sentiment was felt today.  There was a somber mood on our bus as we approached Amsterdam today.  Our kids understood the magnitude of the events that caused our tour group to arrive at this little dutch house to honor a young lady whose live only lasted 14 years, but whose message of toleration and acceptance will live forever.  Whether walking on the grounds of Auschwitz or down the hallways of Anne's house, one can feel the weight of history upon their shoulder.  It is a heavy feeling of despair mixed with the awesome sense of responsibility one gains to never let it happen again.  As I've noticed with this year's blog, I find myself reflecting to my prior trips to Europe quite a bit.  The visit today brought me back to my first visit to Amsterdam, I was probably 19 years old.  My girlfriend at the time and I were visiting my brother Dave and my sister in law, Gina.  We drove into the city and parked.  I had promised my mother that I would visit the Anne Frank house, but when we got to the building and saw the line, I recommended that we skip it.  How selfish of myself to suggest skipping this important lesson of history.  I regretted it almost instantly.  It meant that I would have to lie to my mother about visiting...a lie that stood for nearly two years.  I was immature, but I promised myself that I would come back.  I did that three years ago.  I realized, instantly, how terrible my decision was and I was moved by the testimony provided by the museum and by Anne's words.  I am reminded of this because not one of our students complained about being there...none of them asked if they could go shopping.  All of them took their time to read, to understand, to grieve.

The museum is beautifully designed.  There are several chambers that include words from Anne upon the wall.  You walk through the original house and see displays regarding the eight people who hid from the Nazis.  At several intervals, video clips from Anne's father, a family friend who helped them while they hid, and one of Anne's school friends provide insight into her character.  At all of these places, and in all of these rooms, you would find kids from Saugus silently reading, or watching, reflecting on our past.  I am not a very emotional person, especially in public, but I was moved to tears when I entered into the Attic with one of our kids.  She turned to me and began to cry...it was deeply emotional and as I gave her a hug of reassurance, I felt the tears welling in my eyes.  She couldn't understand how people could be so cruel to each other.  I am sure she was not the only one of our kids who wept as we learned of Anne's struggle in that attic and in her world.  At the conclusion of the exhibit, there is a final video presentation.  It includes clips from Anne's father and others.  Nelson Mandela, Natalie Portman (who once played Anne), and author John Greene (The Fault in Our Stars) all provide their thoughts.  The video asks us to remember that all of Anne's would haves are our possibilities.  The things this little girl dreamed of are the responsibilities we share among ourselves.  I often ask our kids what they think of the things they've seen.  Normally, I get responses like, "It was good." Today, I let our kids keep their emotions to themselves.  It wasn't because I didn't care, it was because I knew they did.

I walked over to the guestbook to sign my name and record Saugus High School's presence, but I found computer terminals.  They were asking guests to stop and reflect.  They wanted us to write our thoughts and share them with the world.  Here is a link to the digital guest book.  I checked it out before writing tonight's blog.  I wanted to see if my words made it online yet.  They had, but I quickly realized I was not alone.  Many of our students took time to think and leave their mark on history.  Their words are more eloquent than anything I've written on these pages and their pledges to keep Anne's memory alive were inspiring.  As I read, I saw the words from the young lady whose tears had moved me earlier that day.  She ended her thoughts with this quote, "I wish I could be as loving as Anne."  Little does she know...she is.

Bailey walking into the museum and seeing some photographs of Anne.

This is the first set of stairs that ultimately led to the hidden annex.

It was behind this bookcase that Anne, and seven others, hid from the Nazis.

The words of Anne's father, Otto, were very moving.

A photo of part of Anne's diary.

Our day was not filled with sorrow.

A little before we entered Anne Frank's house, David took us to a memorial dedicated to homosexuals who have faced bigotry and intolerance.  As David explained it significance, two Nederlanders approached on bicycles.  They were most certainly under the influence.  They were pleasant enough and caused a few laughs as one of them asked us several times if we had cigarettes.  The other young man had informed us that he was gay (apparently because we were near the memorial), but his friend was single.  Eventually, the two men hopped back onto their bikes and rode off into the early morning dew.  I hope they made it home safely and us chaperons used it as an opportunity to remind the kids why they should not do drugs.

After our tour of Anne's house, we had a guided city tour of Amsterdam.  A guide, Frank, climbed aboard the EF bus and we began.  After about 10 minutes of Frank sharing his thoughts on his city, he stopped the tour. His brother was randomly walking about and Frank had a quick chat.  It was really fun to see.  Frank told us that we were on our way to see the Mad Farmer.  As we crossed canals and made our way to the outskirts of Amsterdam, Frank relayed a story to us about his father.  He told of the day when the Canadians marched into the city liberating it from the Nazis.  Frank showed us the spot where his 9 year old father stood, flag in hand, and welcomed his heroes into his hometown.  That was cool.

Frank showing us where he lives in Amsterdam.

We pulled into the parking lot of the Rembrant Farm.  It was a last minute addition to our tour, but it quickly became one of the highlights.  I will start with the actual tour.  We entered into a little farm house and met our guide.  She was a lovely woman who explained to us the process used to create a traditional Dutch cheese.  She was super sweet and eventually offered a few of us a free sample.

After learning about cheese, we entered into the second part of the tour.  This farm makes Clogs.  At this point, our tour was taken over by a man who has earned the nickname among Coach Drivers as The Mad Farmer.  This man is a legend.  First, he explained, with many moment of comedy, how clogs are made.  His presentation was interactive and entertaining.  He made a clog right in front of us. Secondly, we've begun hearing rumors that he speaks over 10 languages and is a multi-millionaire.

Mad Farmer explaining his craft.

Making a clog.

 The Mad Farmer also mentioned to us that his 41 cows are among the best cheese producers in all of Holland.  His farm is a small one, but he makes a higher quality cheese and recycles all of the waste products from the process.  The cutest piece of news, however, was that his herd was recently blessed with the addition of a baby calf.  He told us the calf was 1 day old.  After the heart-wrenching visit to Anne Frank's house, this Mad Farmer and his baby cow were uplifting...and exactly what we needed.

It was now lunch time.

We went back to the Damrak area for lunch.  There are a lot of stores along the Damrak selling souvenirs and sandwiches.  We had 45 minutes to grab something to eat, but of course, a couple people couldn't tell time correctly.  As everyone gathered for the bus, it was apparent that 4 people were missing.  We had been really lucky for the past couple of days...with one little accidental hiccup.  Today, however, the missing 4 people were chaperons...and I was one of them.  I could tell you an elaborate tale of longer than expected food preparations or souvenir stores with slow service, but the fact is we were late.  We approached just as the bus was pulling away.  I quickly told David to carry on to the Rijksmuseum without us...we would walk there.  I told the other chaperons that I knew how to get there and that it would only take about 20 minutes.  Well, I am not nearly as good at reading Dutch maps as I think I am...and about 40 minutes later we walked into the museum to see paintings from Rembrant, Van Gogh, and a multitude of others.

The Night's Watch...It is not a Game of Throne's reference.

We stayed at the museum until it closed.  We walked across the courtyard to pose for some pictures with one of Amsterdam's most well known landmark.  I did my best to capture all of the kids:

It was dinner time.  Our last dinner together.  Cafe Funk produced a quality piece of chicken and a tasty veggie lasagna.  It wasn't the food, however, that caught everyone's attention.  One of the waiters looked like Justin Beiber...kind of...

Mr. Buss beliebing that this young man wanted his picture taken.

We eventually faced reality and caught the bus back to our hotel.  Our trip is ending.  The kids are supposed to be in bed asleep right now, but I am sure in a few of the rooms, there are whispers and quiet giggles.  The feeling of anticipation has given way to the thoughts of memories.  Their favorite food, or riding the metro, or solving the Jack the Ripper case is floating through their thoughts.  The little farmhouse in Western France which hosted the Flunch World Cup and the posh London hotel with a breakfast like no other are now distant memories.  The countdown to this trip has flipped.  Not all of the memories will stick with us forever, but who knows, 22 years from now, one of these kids from Saugus could find themselves once again on this continent.  When they least expect it, the will remember something about this tour...A Mad Farmer or his baby cow, their first kebab sandwich, or the feeling of national pride they felt while walking through the American cemetery at Normandy.  We've seen a lot on this trip and our brains are filled with mixed emotions.  It is our final night...it is bittersweet.

Author's Note: I would be amiss if I did not take some time to thank a couple of people for their efforts on this tour.  Jacqui Alongi has nearly finished her first tour as a group leader.  She has done a fine job of organizing our trip and ensuring the safety of all of our kids.  I am, as I always have been, proud of her and her efforts.  David Harrod will probably never read this, but I am thanking him anyways.  A tour director's job begins months before the tour begins.  The kids may never truly realize the effort he put into making this a magical trip, but I could tell...Thank you David.  The other chaperons also put forth tremendous effort to make the kids love every minute of their trip.  You learn a lot more about each other than you could ever do in a classroom setting.  I would also like to thank the Saugus High School Alumni Association.  This is the second year that they've donated sweatshirts to the travelers.  Mike Nelson also gave me a SHS baseball cap to wear with pride on this trip.  Together, the sweatshirt and hat helped kids figure out where we were and provided an additional layer of safety.  I am sure that I should be thanking someone else...but the greatest thank you of all goes to the 41 kids who I've come to know a lot better because of #EuropeTrip15.  If one must travel to learn, then we've learned quite a bit.  Thanks for another life changing experience kids!!! You Rock.

Mr. Lavoie, quietly packing his suitcase and preparing for his trip home.