Day One: Top Ten Moments from Where in the World is Mr. Lavoie

 

We are currently in the air...soaring over the Atlantic.  Take off was smooth, as was everything else about today, so far. What a good day to be a Sachem!  First, I'd like to thank Gail Hashem, and her husband, for taking time out of their Sunday (and vacation) by driving Mr. Sepulveda and I to the airport today.  I really appreciate it and I love that our Superintendent accompanied us to the airport.  I would also like to thank all of the kids and parents/guardians.  Everyone was on time and we checked in and got through security without any hitches.  After getting through security, we made our way to Gate E10 to wait for our flight...and here we are!

I am starting this blog earlier in the flight than normal in the hopes that I will be able to get some sleep when I've finished.  It is amazing to think about the connectivity I have right now when I look back upon all of my travels abroad. It is so much more effective!  Reflecting on those previous experiences, and being so early into this trip, has made me think about how fortunate I have been. This blog is now 10 years old.  Crazy, right?  I decided that tonight's entry will be a Top Ten list, but I am not nearly as witty as David Letterman, so I apologize if it gets sentimental instead of funny.  For the parents and guardians of Eurotrip23, I will do my best to make each entry relevant to our trip too.  These entries are also in no particular order.  I am free writing without notes and I am sure I will miss some amazing moments from Eurotrips' past.  So, without further ado, here is tonight's Top Ten list from the Home Office in Munich, Germany.

Number 10: The Flower Market in Amsterdam and Two Missing Eurotrippers

April 25, 2015. 

Random Amsterdam picture...definitely NOT the missing kids.

Our 2015 Eurotrip was a great experience.  We had one of our largest groups of kids, ever, but that also can cause some logistical concerns.  Walking through crowded city squares and navigating narrow walkways can be tough with almost forty kids.  In April of 2015, we stopped amid the flower market to catch the bloom and regroup...and it was discovered that two of us were not with the group.  This might cause a bit of panic in the reader's mind, but hold onto that feeling for just a few sentences.  First, we try to make sure that the kids are situationally aware.  Whenever meeting up in a square or queuing through a city, we point out geographic landmarks.  We discuss what to do if separated and what not to do too. On this day, the two missing Sachems were rockstars. They quickly realized they weren't with the group and went into a store to ask for assistance.  They were put in touch with Dutch police officers walking through the market and were quickly on their way to our meeting spot.  I remember how excited they were to see us and how the bright red sweatshirt (thanks again to the SHS Alumni Association for the donation) stood out in the crowd.  Today's travelers all have my cellphone and have been instructed that McDonalds and Starbucks almost always have free WiFi.  It is less likely they would be separated from the group, but on this trip I am wearing a bright yellow Red Sox cap.  We learn from every experience, the good and the bad. All of the Eurotrip15 kids learned from the moment and so did I.

Number 9: Tasty Treats and Edible Feats 

Collective memories from multiple trips.

I've adopted the motto "One Must Travel to Learn" for the trips that I go on with students.  The trips are definitely educational, but life is more than just textbook learning.  I also have taken my motto and modified it to read, "one must eat to learn" as well.  Frequent readers of the blog know that I like to write about the food we are eating. On these trips, we've tried some great and tasty treats, but we've also eaten some dishes that would test the bravest of stomachs.  Above, you see French Fry Pizza from April 18, 2016. I didn't order it, it was one of the kid's lunches, but it definitely stuck in my head. I may have tried to replicate it at home. In Belize, we tried termites.  They tasted like Mint. In Amsterdam, raw herring (grossest thing I ever ate).  In England, I had a muffin...English Muffin for our American audience...and it was divine.  I think my favorite experiences on these trips center on kids trying new things, but I also like my old standbys.  I will most likely be getting a Doner Kebab, some Currywurst, and a Trednlik....oh yeah, and some pizza!  I am also living a New Year's resolution by trying at least one seafood dish a month (I'm not a huge fan back home) and am planning on trying something in Italy. I just don't know what yet.  As I write this blog tonight, I wouldn't be surprised if I circle back around to food.  

Number 8: Learning About Ourselves While Learning About Others

April 25, 2014

In April 2014, our group traveled to Central Europe on a History of the Holocaust tour.  It was a truly amazing experience.  It was also especially interesting because we shared our trip with a group of roughly 20 Saskatchewan students.  On this trip, we were fortunate enough to visit Dachau and Auschwitz.  Each Concentration Camp taught us something different.  In addition, everyone on the trip taught each other lessons from humanity.  It is hard to reflect on this without choking up a bit because it was such a transformative moment even for me. Three distinct memories from this trip all connect to my general theme. First, our school nurse, at the time, went with us. Joanie is Jewish.  She not only taught us about the concept of a remembrance stone, but she brought the experience to a more personal level than we might have otherwise experienced.  Second was Vic Thunderchild. He was from Saskatchewan.  Vic was also a Plains Cree. Being part of one of Canada's First Nations, Vic sang a song of honor and prayer for our group.  It was surreal.  Sadly, Vic passed from Covid in 2021.  Ian Jefferson, one of our travelers, is the final memory of the day that I will share.  After Vic had finished, Ian led our group in prayer.  I am not a religious guy, but Ian's words resonated nonetheless.  He didn't direct his prayer to us, nor did Vic, nor did Joanie; all three dedicated their thoughts to all...those with us and those who perished at the hands of evil.

Number 7: Planes, Trains, and Autobuses...and boat loads of fun!

Collective memories from multiple trips

Yes, we even sailed the Mediterranean Sea on our very own cruise ship

Being part of roughly 15 of these trips has been surreal.  I have witnessed some pretty exotic places and met some incredible people, but how we get to these places really matters too.  As an example, after dinner tonight, some of the kids got up to use the restrooms.  They were in awe to find that the plane had a second floor (downstairs) where the bathrooms are...the little things amaze us sometimes. I makes me think of when we missed our ferry when crossing the English Channel. We had to wait for the next boat.  Or the motor boats that took us from Belize to the La Isla Bonita. Or the many train rides that have zipped their way through Europe at breakneck speed to help our journeys progress. More than any of these modes, however have been the people who have made the journeys fun. We've had some great Tour Directors and Bus Drivers over the years.  In 2013, Danny took us all over Ireland and told us jokes along the way. Even before this blog, Zoltan drove an intrepid group of Sachems through Central Europe.  Our Tour Directors have also added such value to our trips as well.  David helped us navigate the tube in 2015 while Joseph did the same in 2018 (He was an English television star).  John guided us through Italy in '16 while Johanna (and Flavia) took care of us last year.  I especially enjoyed working with Gina in 2017.  She was a first time Tour Director and it was fun to, kind of, help her find herself in that role.  We kept in touch for a bit afterwards as she led a few other tours.  I felt honored when she would reach out for advice.  

Number 6:  The Strangest Bone in Britain is Fred...Fred Strangebone

Collective memories from multiple trips

With every trip that revisits a place you've been...there is a strange sense of familiarity.  This is never more true than on the streets of White Chapel in London.  Every time we've visited, the best local guide in history has greeted us with a crumpled up fast food bag which actually contains a lantern.  Fred Strangebone is a comic actor and Jack the Ripper tour guide.  He is a highlight of all of our British trips. He is also a Facebook friend, lol.  I hope he is with us next year too.  

Fred is just one example of excellent city guides who have narrated our expeditions into the past.  In Berlin, we've had Matt several times. He's an American who lives and works in Berlin.  He was very relatable to our kids and where they were in their own journeys. Last year, Irene wowed us with her wit and humor throughout the day.  Her puns and delivery were just as good as mine! Jon Luigi mesmerized us with his tales of the Colosseum and his piercing eyes.  Wherever we go, there seems to be a local guide or two that stands out above the rest. Their knowledge is unparalleled and their charm is welcoming.  They make the EF stand for Education can be Fun...and I am always grateful for their efforts.

Number 5: Haunts and Jaunts into the Unknown

Collective memories from multiple trips.

[Editor's note: I have made the switch to collective memories to speed up my writing process, lol]

When we depart, we have a good sense of knowing where we are going, but there are micro-adventures along the way.  These usually make the blog, but they sometimes stay as memories for those who traveled on a particular trip. Sometimes, they only impact a few of us at once. Number five on this top ten list will recount a few of my favorites starting with the Hand Hotel in Wales.  It is supposedly haunted and Mr. Bemis and I stayed in the most haunted of the rooms.  I didn't see any spirits that night! If you think I sound salty, imagine how we felt in the Salt mines of Poland.  The walls were literally made of salt and we were encouraged to taste for ourselves.  In Morocco, before this Blog was developed, we witnessed snake charming and lay atop magic carpets.  Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, it has always been super fun to explore the unknown realms...boneyards, cemeteries, and ghost tours abound us while on tour...who knows, perchance we will have a similar experience over the next eleven days.

Number 4: Hints from Home

Collective memories from multiple trips

I know it is too early to be talking about home, but I hope you will indulge me this thought...the further from home we are the more we look for reminders.  I love how there are signs, literally signs, that remind the kids of home whenever we travel.  The Kowloon sign in Vienna is a great example. There is a Cheers sign in Dublin and a plethora of Dunkin's scattered across the Rhineland.  These subtle reminders of where we come from resonate with me whenever I see one and I often talk to the kids about them too.  It's fun to find things familiar in an unfamiliar place.  It brings about a sense of comfort in much the same way that food can do.  I have no idea where this year's sign will be, but I am sure it will make me appreciate our trip even more!

Number 3: Being Boston Strong even in our Darkest times

Collective memories from multiple trips

I have no idea if this video will play, but if not, I will fix the link when we are on the ground...it is a clip from 2013.  That was, without a doubt, the hardest trip I've ever led.  It was also one of the most special. We had just returned to our hotel when we learned about the Boston Marathon bombings.  I tried my best to reassure the kids that everything would be okay. The next day, we headed to Dublin.  It was late the next night that we learned that Nancy Lemoine, the high school drama teacher, had lost her battle with cancer.  We had to break the news to the kids...and all of our hearts were broken.  We crossed the Irish sea early the next morning as word from Watertown came across our news feeds.  We were so uncertain...until a group of Welsh men, finding out where we were from and what we had experienced, built us back up again with a night of song, laughter, and tears.  I lead these trips in April and we are always reminded of the marathon through the news from back home.  This is the 10 year anniversary of that trip.  I will never forget the victims that day, but I will also never forget the night a group of old men from Wales reminded me of what compassion really means.

Number 2: My Family in France and other close encounters.

Collective memories from multiple trips.

This is Franck and he is my family.  He isn't a blood relative, but he helped me fall in love with travel and seeing the world. When I was in high school, Franck stayed with my family for 6 weeks one summer.  He's a few years older than me and back then, I thought him weird, lol.  His trip ended, but then I traveled to France the next summer and spent much of my time with him...and then the distance between our families grew into a few cards and letters, but no more meetings...until 2015 and Facebook. Franck saw that I was taking kids to France and on a beautiful day in April we met at Versailles.  We wept.  We've visited each other since and we keep in touch. He is my family and his family is as well.  The size of the world hasn't changed, but technology has certainly made it feel smaller.  Throughout these trips, I've watch quite a few kids meet with distant relatives and family friends. In most cases, the kids had never met a part of their family that was visiting....maybe a cousin or a grandparent.  I hope that all of my travelers find more connected to family when returning from trips like these.  I hear, often, from kids that a relative had traveled with me before and that was part of why they were joining me on their particular Eurotrip...I've already heard it today!

And, now, the number one moment from "Where in the World is Mr. Lavoie?" is...

The collective memories from the next eleven days.

If you've made it this far, and I truly hope you have, I encourage you to like this post on social media...or comment on this blog post.  It helps fuel my creative energy when on the road.  That said, it isn't hyperbole. Each trip brings about a particular set of memories...they are all special in their own right.  I know our itinerary.  I am confident in our tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. I know the food will be an adventure.  I know there will be moments to reflect upon and others to forget.  I know the unpredictable will happen.  I know all of these things and yet, I know nothing of their details.  Each time we take to the road, we learn new things. We cherish the bond we make with each other, the new family that we forge, and the shared experience of humanity that awaits us.  I am so eternally grateful that I have these opportunities and that parents continue to put their children in my care.  

I haven't written this year's blog yet because the memories have yet to come, but they will...and I hope that all of my readers understand that one must travel to learn.

Mr. Lavoie, currently typing by the light of his computer monitor while the plane slumbers on...