(‘25)
This past summer, forty-three Indian Hills students explored Europe on the eleven-day Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain trip. This non-school sponsored trip was run by Ms. Murphy through the tour company Education First (EF), which designs tours to help educators and students have a positive and fun experience while also learning more about other cultures, perspectives, and themselves.
There was a wide variety of current sophomores, juniors, and seniors on the trip. Despite the large number of students, however, all the students were able to bond by participating in fun activities. One fun activity on the trip was students competing to name every single person on the trip which allowed for competition, fun prizes, and new friends to be made. Many students had a fantastic experience on the trip and were able to create everlasting memories. One of the highlights was exploring new places, trying new gelato flavors, going cliff jumping in France, seeing the Swiss Alps, and being able to swim in clear blue water almost every day.
Junior Kate Giletta said, “My favorite memories on the trip were the beach nights in Italy and Spain. The sun would set at around 9:30 p.m. so we had a lot of time after dinner to go to the beach. I also liked when we swam in Pont Du Gard, the French Riviera. We went cliff jumping and our tour group got into a seaweed fight with local French tennagers.”
Sophomore Shannon Cassidy shared Kate’s sentiment and said, “My overall experience was fantastic! I had never been out of the country before, but going with the school made me feel much safer, and comfortable. I didn’t run into a lot of language barrier issues, we had an amazing tour guide, and it was truly the trip of a lifetime!”
Group leader Ms. Murphy said, “There were so many amazing moments from this trip, whether [it was] seeing new sights during the day, learning about different cultures, walking to explore and get snacks after dinner, everyone hanging out at the pool or beach or any other body of water we could, or eating lots of great food. One of my favorite evenings was completely unplanned. On the first night, our amazing tour director realized there was a little town not far from our hotel, so we walked along the river, explored, and even found a hilltop church with a great view of the valley. I love little unplanned moments that end up being so much fun.”
After all the pizza, gelato, pasta, swimming, shopping, and making new memories, travelers were also able to reflect on their experiences and give advice for students interested in traveling.
Kate Giletta said, “The biggest piece of advice I would give to students interested in traveling is to get out of your comfort zone. Visiting several countries in eleven to twelve days with a big group is definitely a once in a lifetime experience, and looking back on it, you should have no regrets. Try new foods, talk to new people, and seek new experiences. Don’t be scared to try new things, but at the same time, you shouldn’t put pressure on yourself.”
Every day on this trip was enjoyable but there were moments that definitely stuck out. On the first leg of the trip travelers visited Switzerland. Some iconic moments were watching locals do the bridge dive, eating Swiss Chocolate, seeing the spectacular views from Mt. Pilatus, and taking a boat ride on Lake Lucerne. In Italy, the group visited Lake Como and Cinque Terre where travelers swam in the ocean, visited 5 beaches in a single day, enjoyed eating pizza and gelato, celebrated 4th of July, and went on a sunset swim. In France, the group visited Cassis which had a scenic coastal cruise, and Avignon which had the beautiful Palais des Papas castle and shopping areas.
Shannon Cassidy said, “The biggest piece of advice I would have for other students interested in traveling would be to not be afraid of travel. It can take a lot of courage to travel, especially without family, but the memories you gain are so worth it! I would also suggest for foreign travelers to get a locked suitcase, pack light, have enough sunscreen, and have at least two portable phone chargers!”
Ms. Murphy enthusiastically stated, “Travel every chance you get! There is so much more of the world to see, experience, and explore. Some of my favorite trips have been to places I didn’t even know I wanted to go (like to Mozambique or to Budapest, where we’re going in 2024). While travel definitely costs money, I’ve never regretted money I spent on a trip and those memories last longer than most of the other things I would have spent it on. Save whatever you can and use it for something unforgettable, because travel changes you.”
As the trip continued in Nimes, France the group competed in a city scavenger hunt, and visited Pont du Gard Aqueduct where travelers went cliff jumping and swam in the river. In Monaco, the group visited the famous Formula 1 racing tracks and explored the city highlights with a fun history lesson from chaperone Mr. Miller. Lastly, the group visited Barcelona, Spain where travelers shopped around the city, went swimming in the ocean, visited famous Gaudi sights, and watched a Flamenco Show in the evening. Overall, this trip had many fun moments and everlasting memories.
This upcoming summer Braves Abroad will travel to Berlin, Prague, Krakow, Budapest, and Vienna. Those interested in attending should contact Ms. Murphy if interested.
