Most students choose to spend their spring break going on college visits or catching up on sleep, but for some, spending time abroad in a historic city for a week for the first time sounds pretty promising. Over the years, WJ has sent students all around the world for their annual spring break. In 2017, juniors and seniors traveled to Switzerland and Italy. Last school year, students went to the United Kingdom. This year, students are going to four different countries: Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain.
Special Education teacher Linda O’Reilly is the head organizer and host of this year’s trip to Europe and is excited to be a part of these trips.
“For this trip I’m collaborating with a friend who teaches at Rockville High School. This was a trip that she has always wanted to do. It has a really great reputation for being a fantastic trip. I chose to go to Europe because a lot of my colleagues always go on trips to Latin America or Africa,” O’Reilly said. “I have been to Europe before, in high school I went to England and Germany and a tiny bit of Switzerland on a tour, it was the band quire at my school In college I went to England again for a week and last year I took students to France and we toured Paris and the west coast of France.”
Counselor Benjamin O’Hara will be an additional chaperone alongside O’Reilly. This will be his first time stepping foot into Europe.
“I have never been to Europe before, I’ve never left North America. I’ve only been to Canada and Mexico and I’m not getting any younger, so I figured that it would be the perfect time to go. I’m looking forward to being in completely different countries,” O’Hara said. “When I was in Canada, it didn’t feel like I was in a different country, but with Italy, Spain and Switzerland, it’s going to feel like I’m not in the U.S. anymore. I’m looking forward to exploring a whole new world.”
The trip will commence on April 12 and will end on April 22. It will begin in Zurich, Switzerland, and end in Barcelona, Spain. They plan to stop in Provence, Italy and the French Riviera. Sophomore Jaheim Brooks is very excited to explore more different parts of Europe.
“I have been to Europe before, my uncle is British, so we flew to and from the U.K. in 2019 for a couple of weeks. We took the train to France, I’ve been to Paris as well. I’m looking forward to the French part of the tour, the part we’re going to is basically Italy, but they speak French, so I’m excited to be on the Mediterranean and see all that’s there,” Brooks said. “[I am] especially [excited for] the food, the culture [and’ architecture because I’m a history nerd. I am really excited for the food because I’m a foodie.”
Junior Lindsey Wurback is thrilled to be going back to Europe to explore more of each country and enjoy trying new foods.
“I went to Germany last summer and went to Austria as a day trip. I’m looking forward to creating close bonds with the people I’m traveling with. I want to see the places more than trying the food,” Wurback said. “I’m [also] looking forward to the water views and beaches. I want to see Italy the most.”
