This summer, Mrs. Vinci and Ms. Koral are taking students from St. Petersburg High School on a 10-day trip to Berlin, Prague, and the Alps this summer! Students will encounter both the natural and the man-made beauty of Europe through various tours and unforgettable experiences. They will be doing everything from visiting palaces in Germany to seeing cattle in the Swiss Alps, all while having the opportunity to learn and explore the fascinating history of the places they visit! These students are getting more and more excited as we get closer to the summer, and anticipation builds for this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
We got the pleasure to interview Mrs. Vinci and Ms. Koral, two chaperones on this trip, about their thoughts and opinions regarding the trip as it quickly approaches. Ms. Koral and Mrs. Vinci are both extremely excited for this trip, not just because of what they get to experience, but also the experience they get to give to their students.
Now, of course, students will be getting some enriching experiences from this trip and will have the time of their lives while on it! But we wondered what the chaperones hoped to achieve with this trip, other than just having a fun time. For Ms. Koral, her “goal is to get students out of their comfort zone to show them a different perspective.” She hopes that this trip can be an opportunity for students to become “more worldly, understand different cultures, new experiences, open their eyes to new possibilities.”
In general, visiting a new country and immersing yourself in a different culture can open a person’s eyes and mind to so many new things. This trip opens endless possibilities for the students going on it, as Ms. Koral puts it, “It can quite literally change the scope of their futures in terms of career and what their hobbies are, their interests.”
Of course, due to their different cultures, some students will have to step way out of their comfort zones when enjoying the customs and foods of these different countries. But despite how “different” these things will be or how “scared of” the variety of foods here, students may find some new things that they absolutely love. Taking trips to a new country presents so many opportunities to discover things you may have never even considered you may like. Personally, Mrs. Vinci says that she’s very excited about all the food that the kids will be able to try, and as someone who has been to Germany previously, I can confirm that the food over there is amazing!
Now some people, especially parents, may be worried about sending these students alone with only a couple chaperones thousands of miles away from home, and of course Ms. Koral and Mrs. Vinci have had their concerns, but despite this they believe that these kids will be in great hands, as Mrs. Vinci says, “every time think about something that can go wrong, [I remember] that one of us will be really good in that situation, so to say that I’m nervopus about anything is not accurate”
Ms. Koral and Mrs. Vinci want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and safe the entire trip, and make sure that no parents will feel worried about what hands their children will be in. To combat any fears, they have been having frequent meetings with both parents and kids to discuss the various aspects of the trip, address anyone’s concerns, answer questions, and be open with everyone involved with the trip. They have been working very hard to make sure this trip is a positive and beneficial experience for everyone involved.
“I’m looking forward to how this is going to change relationships and sense of mentorships and life experiences. It’s bigger than just education. It’s bigger than just being students and teachers. It’s going to be a life-changing event.” -Ms. Koral
