I am Richard Lavoie. I have been teaching at Saugus High School for 16 years, but I was also a student here. It was sitting in the classrooms of SHS that I first discovered a passion for the past and where I met some phenomenal teachers. It was as a Junior in high school that I embarked on my first true International adventure. I was able to participate in a three week foreign exchange with students from France. It literally changed my life.
My adventure, back then, was different than the trip we are about to head out upon, but the outcomes may be life-changing nonetheless. I vaguely remember sitting in meetings with my parents, listening to teachers talk about what we would see, how we should pack, and how this trip would inspire us. I am sure I was told to keep a journal and to stop and take moments in. I may not have been the best student, back then, but I know that the trip made me into who I've become. Traveling can change us in unexpected ways.
In a few days, over 40 students from Saugus High School will forever be changed by a journey into our past. They will explore new cultures, try new foods, and meet amazing people. They may not change the way that I changed, but they will change. This blog, for those new to reading it, will try to capture that change. I try to look at those who are traveling and I try to listen to their conversations. If one can be transformed by our experiences, I hope to be witness to those transformations. For many of our kids, this is not only their first trip out of the country, it is also their first real significant trip away from home without their parents, or family. I am hoping to digitally connect us in a way that minimizes the hardship that some might feel.
I've been writing this blog for over three years now. I've shared some amazing highlights and retold some somber moments. I try to think of some points before we depart, but for most of the trips I've been on, the stories tell themselves. I can predict what we will see, and when we will see it, but I cannot predict how we will feel when we see it. We tell the kids to write down their feelings so that they may remember their thoughts, and while I hope they do, I am sure some do not. I am happy that this blog becomes a place thayt they can reference later on...to remember how they felt when they saw the Eiffel Tower, or swam with sharks in Belize, or walked through the halls of the Sistine Chapel.
Each night, when we return to our hotel, I will sit near the lobby...or some other visible spot. I take out my laptop and I start to write. Often enough, I run into wifi problems and it is difficult to upload photos. I try to go over the day's events. I try to personalize each post and include some anecdotes of individual travelers. It is very difficult to include everyone, and for that I apologize, but I will try. Italy and Greece are about 6 hours ahead of Boston. If I am writing around 10pm, and I don't have many issues, then you can expect a new post around bedtime. From comments I've heard, most people wait until the morning before they read about the previous day.
I usually write about three things. I write about our kids and what they are seeing, obviously, but I also write about what we are eating (the good and the bad). I try to ask the kids to try new things and then recount their approval or disdain. I also try to write about more intrinsic stuff. I examine things and try to think deeper about what is going on. I think, at times, we don't do that enough. It is that vein, that I sometimes get long-winded. No one has really ever complained about it, but I am a little self-conscious about my ramblings. I am not self-conscious, however, about my spelling and/or grammar. In my normal life, I try to minimize my mistakes, on tour, writing late at night, I am less worried about it. I will apologize a couple times, but I'm not going to promise that I won't make mistakes...they will happen, lol.
As a large portion of this trip is in Greece and Greece is known for philosophy, it makes sense to remind everyone about my travel philosophy. I stole it, with the assistance of Ms. Payne, from Mark Twain. It's been my motto for a few years and its taken me to more countries than states. I firmly believe that "One Must Travel To Learn."
I stress to those who are traveling that each moment is something they can learn from, but for those at home, you also learn through travel. Each time you open a good book and lose yourself to the words penned within its pages, you travel to another time, another place. You learn from the author's experiences, or their dreams. You may not be on this trip with us, but I hope that you will travel with us...that you will learn with us. I hope that you will take a moment, at some point, and consider writing me a quick note. I thrive off of the kind words I've received from parents, friends, grandparents, former students, and current students who couldn't make it away with us. I hope, too, that you will share this blog with others who might be interested in our travels. In the scope of making the world a little smaller and our trip a little bigger, I have some other ways to follow us as we go. First, I post many more pictures to Facebook than I do this blog. To see the album, please follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154770872165760&type=1&l=0f921bd2d4
Second, you can follow us on Twitter. My twitter account is History01906. I usually use the following hashtags: #Eurotrip16 and/or #OneMustTravelToLearn. I most often announce a new blog post on Twitter and then Facebook. Link: https://twitter.com/history01906
Lastly, I am trying something new this year. I will be instagramming the trip too. My account is mrlavoieshs. I'll probably use the same hashtags. Link: https://www.instagram.com/mrlavoieshs/
As my final thought, or test, I would like to leave a you with a quick moment from my first high school trip to Rome. You see, it was 10 years ago, and I came upon a great realization in life, but especially when traveling. We were in Rome shortly after the death of Pope John Paul II. The church bells started ringing and a new Pope had been elected. As we stopped for a quick cup of coffee, across the street from our cafe, I saw a TV news crew out of Boston. We decided to make our own luck and call out to them. Of course, they loved meeting us and decided to put us on the news. You can find us around the 2:00 minute mark. You never know what is going to happen when abroad, but if you decide to make something happen it can become all the more memorable.
Have a wonderful night and thank you for your time. My next real post will be from the Air or in Rome and our trip will be underway.
Mr. Lavoie, sitting amidst many piles of clothes and travel accessories trying to prioritize and pack.
My adventure, back then, was different than the trip we are about to head out upon, but the outcomes may be life-changing nonetheless. I vaguely remember sitting in meetings with my parents, listening to teachers talk about what we would see, how we should pack, and how this trip would inspire us. I am sure I was told to keep a journal and to stop and take moments in. I may not have been the best student, back then, but I know that the trip made me into who I've become. Traveling can change us in unexpected ways.
In a few days, over 40 students from Saugus High School will forever be changed by a journey into our past. They will explore new cultures, try new foods, and meet amazing people. They may not change the way that I changed, but they will change. This blog, for those new to reading it, will try to capture that change. I try to look at those who are traveling and I try to listen to their conversations. If one can be transformed by our experiences, I hope to be witness to those transformations. For many of our kids, this is not only their first trip out of the country, it is also their first real significant trip away from home without their parents, or family. I am hoping to digitally connect us in a way that minimizes the hardship that some might feel.
I've been writing this blog for over three years now. I've shared some amazing highlights and retold some somber moments. I try to think of some points before we depart, but for most of the trips I've been on, the stories tell themselves. I can predict what we will see, and when we will see it, but I cannot predict how we will feel when we see it. We tell the kids to write down their feelings so that they may remember their thoughts, and while I hope they do, I am sure some do not. I am happy that this blog becomes a place thayt they can reference later on...to remember how they felt when they saw the Eiffel Tower, or swam with sharks in Belize, or walked through the halls of the Sistine Chapel.
Each night, when we return to our hotel, I will sit near the lobby...or some other visible spot. I take out my laptop and I start to write. Often enough, I run into wifi problems and it is difficult to upload photos. I try to go over the day's events. I try to personalize each post and include some anecdotes of individual travelers. It is very difficult to include everyone, and for that I apologize, but I will try. Italy and Greece are about 6 hours ahead of Boston. If I am writing around 10pm, and I don't have many issues, then you can expect a new post around bedtime. From comments I've heard, most people wait until the morning before they read about the previous day.
I usually write about three things. I write about our kids and what they are seeing, obviously, but I also write about what we are eating (the good and the bad). I try to ask the kids to try new things and then recount their approval or disdain. I also try to write about more intrinsic stuff. I examine things and try to think deeper about what is going on. I think, at times, we don't do that enough. It is that vein, that I sometimes get long-winded. No one has really ever complained about it, but I am a little self-conscious about my ramblings. I am not self-conscious, however, about my spelling and/or grammar. In my normal life, I try to minimize my mistakes, on tour, writing late at night, I am less worried about it. I will apologize a couple times, but I'm not going to promise that I won't make mistakes...they will happen, lol.
As a large portion of this trip is in Greece and Greece is known for philosophy, it makes sense to remind everyone about my travel philosophy. I stole it, with the assistance of Ms. Payne, from Mark Twain. It's been my motto for a few years and its taken me to more countries than states. I firmly believe that "One Must Travel To Learn."
I stress to those who are traveling that each moment is something they can learn from, but for those at home, you also learn through travel. Each time you open a good book and lose yourself to the words penned within its pages, you travel to another time, another place. You learn from the author's experiences, or their dreams. You may not be on this trip with us, but I hope that you will travel with us...that you will learn with us. I hope that you will take a moment, at some point, and consider writing me a quick note. I thrive off of the kind words I've received from parents, friends, grandparents, former students, and current students who couldn't make it away with us. I hope, too, that you will share this blog with others who might be interested in our travels. In the scope of making the world a little smaller and our trip a little bigger, I have some other ways to follow us as we go. First, I post many more pictures to Facebook than I do this blog. To see the album, please follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154770872165760&type=1&l=0f921bd2d4
Second, you can follow us on Twitter. My twitter account is History01906. I usually use the following hashtags: #Eurotrip16 and/or #OneMustTravelToLearn. I most often announce a new blog post on Twitter and then Facebook. Link: https://twitter.com/history01906
Lastly, I am trying something new this year. I will be instagramming the trip too. My account is mrlavoieshs. I'll probably use the same hashtags. Link: https://www.instagram.com/mrlavoieshs/
As my final thought, or test, I would like to leave a you with a quick moment from my first high school trip to Rome. You see, it was 10 years ago, and I came upon a great realization in life, but especially when traveling. We were in Rome shortly after the death of Pope John Paul II. The church bells started ringing and a new Pope had been elected. As we stopped for a quick cup of coffee, across the street from our cafe, I saw a TV news crew out of Boston. We decided to make our own luck and call out to them. Of course, they loved meeting us and decided to put us on the news. You can find us around the 2:00 minute mark. You never know what is going to happen when abroad, but if you decide to make something happen it can become all the more memorable.
Have a wonderful night and thank you for your time. My next real post will be from the Air or in Rome and our trip will be underway.
Mr. Lavoie, sitting amidst many piles of clothes and travel accessories trying to prioritize and pack.
Yay! Safe (and fun) journey to you and your fellow travelers! You're a great guide with the right mindset. I look forward to your observations, vivid storytelling, and even your humor - such as it is. Go get 'em!!
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