Six months

I know I get obnoxious with countdowns sometimes, but when I realized we leave 6 months from today I got so psyched! I even had a little Freudian slip when a student asked me today's date and I said, 'June 14th!" I guess I really can't wait to go!

It was also strange not having a meeting this month. I actually missed it and look forward to getting together with you all again in January. Enjoy the holiday season with your family, we'll see you in the new year!

Thanksgiving

At this time of year there are a couple of things to mention. First, I'm thankful to be able to share something I love with such an amazing group of young people. Parents, thank you for providing such an amazing opportunity for your children. Travelers, thank you for your enthusiasm, curiosity and positive attitude. And thanks for being so nice to Katie & me!

Next, it's obvious that it's a busy time of year. Turn out to the last meeting was very low. Here are the important things... Get an appointment for a physical and dental check up for the traveler soon. You want to have both done before May. That way if there are any complications they can be resolved before we go. While you're with the doctor ask for a prescription for a general/broad spectrum antibiotic. I like Zithromax (Z-pack) because it works well and you only need 3-5 pills, but your doctor will know what works best for you. The travelers will need to pack the actual medicine with them when we go. Also, remember there is no meeting in December.

Finally, It's that week when people start their holiday shopping. Here are a few ideas for your travelers...
1- A suitcase. Don't worry about getting the most expensive model. We'll beat them up pretty well. I recommend a 24" but no more than a 26-27". More than that is too bulky and heavy. Beware of the 4 wheel spinners. They are great for regular travel but make navigating brick and cobbled streets of Europe a challenge. Rolling duffel bags are also a great option. The two section duffels work best. Check the weight of either choice. Depending on the airline, total weight allowed for a packed bag is between 35-50 lbs. Don't waste it all on a heavy bag. Most important, make sure whatever you get can be locked/secured.
2- A camera. Again, get something that works well but doesn't kill you if it gets stolen or broken. Consider size, weight and lens. Nothing too big & bulky but something with a decent zoom. Nikkon is making some great new models. Also think about how to power it up. If it's rechargable consider a second battery pack so when one loses power they can pop in the other one.
3- Watch. These days most kids use their cell phone to keep time but we recommend leaving the cell home. The travelers need to be able to be prompt on a tight schedule.
4- Toiletry Kit Bag. These are convenient as the kids share a hotel room with one bath. It allows them to just grab the kit and head to the shower. Get one that is lined so that if the shampoo bursts during the flight, everything else in the suitcase isn't ruined. LandsEnd.com sells some great ones.
5- Travel alarm. The hotel wake up call doesn't always come. It's best if the travelers don't have to rely on them.
6- Adapters/converter. These allow the kids to power up. The outlets in Europe are different shapes. Adapters adjust our plugs to fit. Europe also uses 220 volt vs. our 110 volt. The converter keeps the extra power from burning out our appliances. Check your gadgets. These days many are dual voltage and you won't need the converter.
7- MP3 stuff. If your kid has an i-Pod/i-Pad or other type MP3, get a wall charger. They won't have a computer to use to charge up. Another idea - noise reducing ear phones. This minimizes the background hum of the plane and bus (or roommates). Most types are rather big but I have a great pair of Sony's that are ear buds.
8- Exchanged money. How about some Euros and/or Pounds as a stocking stuffer? The main branch of Zions or Wells Fargo Bank will exchange. Your bank might have some at their main branch as well or can order some for you. You can also order on line but beware of service fees!
9- A Day Bag. The travelers will need a carry-on that doubles as a day pack. It has to be big enough for all their flight needs and comfortable/compact enough to carry their wallet, sunglasses, water bottle, maps, ect. around for the day. A backpack works great!

A lot of these things can be found around the house. It isn't necessary to buy everything new. Most of what you don't have can be found around town. I get my adapters at OfficeMax or Walmart. The iPod wall charger from Target. I bought my kids duffel at Costco & a CoolPix camera at Sam's Club. Shapiro's and Brookstone (both at Fashion Place Mall) are fun travel stores. They run a bit pricey but have cool gadgets. Some online ideas - LandsEnd.com, Magellans.com, REI.com, Overstock.com. If you have other great suggestions let me know & I'll get the information out to everyone else.

Last thing. Use the days off from school between now and New Years to take care of getting a passport. Time is flying. 205 days to departure!

It's Official!

What a fantastic group! It was great to see almost every traveler either at the meeting or represented by a parent. Katie gave us some great information on Greece - the politics, mythology, architecture, and art. Remember to review the paper that lists Greek people of note and the gods, heroes & legends.

Also, make a plan to get your passport. (Book not card.) I forgot to mention that if you have a passport that expires within 6 months of our trip you should get it renewed before we go. That means if it expires before December 31, 2012 get a new one!

Thanks to everyone for coming and for all the great questions. My favorite part of the night was practicing our group photo shot. Here it is.......


Oh, in case you're wondering we leave in 276 days!

300!

Three hundred days seems like a lot but with as busy as we will all be this school year those days will fly by! Katie and I sat down a few weeks ago and planned our traveler meeting series. Our goal is to make sure every student is as prepared and knowledgeable as possible, they have the skills to be a successful & happy traveler, and that we have some fun! First stop on the meeting plan - Greece!

The Acropolis

The Island of Poros

London Olympics

It's been exciting to watch today as London has been in the spotlight. All the reports are talking about the 2012 Olympics starting one year from today. Every time they show the city or a venue I get so excited. The down side for me is with every mention of the timeline I think, "One year from today we'll have been home for 2 weeks." That means we're 10 1/2 months away from departure. Now back to London... I'm hoping we can talk our bus (coach over there) driver into a cruise around the city to see some of the Olympic sites. Even if that doesn't happen we'll still see something. Beach volleyball will be held at the Horse Guard Parade which is a stones throw from Buckingham Palace. How cool is that? We're still waiting to hear what West End theatre production is on our itinerary, but everything else seems good to go. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone when meetings start in September. Enjoy the remainder of summer!

Missing You

I spent a few minutes this morning going through pictures from the 2010 tour. I miss those kids! We had such a great group of travelers - informed, interested, positive, adventurous. They were nice to the adults, nice to each other and fun to be around. All have moved on to bigger & better things - college, missions, etc. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to spend a minute of their life with them! Remembering how much I love the 'old crew' makes me excited to get to know the new crew better!

Here's to 350 days until departure!

The Official Countdown Begins.....

I got an interesting phone call this weekend. A business man from Wasatch County was interested in how we go about planning a student trip to Europe. Turns out this gentleman had traveled with Dean Collett on the Highland tour back in 1963(ish). He talked about the impact that trip had made in his life, expanding his view of the world. Now he wants to provide that opportunity to the young people in his community.

When I tell people about escorting 30-40 students around Europe I often get comments like, "Wow, that sounds like a lot of work!" or, "You're crazy!" Yes, it's a lot of work, and yes, I'm crazy. Crazy about sharing my love of culture, history, art, and architecture. Crazy about what our country learned from others that helped America become a great nation. Crazy about helping kids open their hearts and minds to new ideas and new people.

Katie & I celebrated today when we realized it's just one year until we leave. There is so much to be done and even more to look forward to. Here's to a great group of travelers, intellegent and well prepared to make the most of an amazing opportunity!

Our first group photo of the 2010 tour. SO much to look forward to!

374 Days!

The last Monday of school this year. As I run into travelers in our Europe group we comment on how we can't believe it is just a little more than a year away! WOW!!

427 Days until Europe!

With Spring Break quickly approaching and summer break not far behind, it seems like we are getting close to our one year mark before we leave! Next summer we will be in Europe!! My nephew, Michael (8 years old), absolutely loves maps. He lives in Virginia and we love playing games online. He just sent me a map game. I'm not going to lie -- I was a little embarassed at my score -- I thought I was better with geography! Anyway, give it a try! The link is http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/europe-puzzle.html

What are we watching?

There's the craziest movie on right now titled "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be..." It's set in the '60's and all about a tour group traveling through Europe. I'm laughing as the clepto character tries to stuff a stolen ash try into a suitcase already too full of contraband. Then the group complains because they only get burgers when travelers from another tour get salad with their meal. Next the traveler that knows everything and another that thinks the most amazing sites are boring. Then the girl who's sure she's in love with a foreigner she's met Switzerland and the guy who thinks if he just speaks louder the locals will understand him. Now the tour is in Venice and a traveler is meeting his family roots. They've got a young daughter and even though no one speaks English it's obvious a wedding is afoot. I'm laughing hysterically recognizing so many scenarios from my own tours (except the wedding of course). There are so many great things when visiting and learning about new cultures, but its the stories and memories we create along the way that make the trip amazing. I'm still so excited about the group & can't wait to leave! 438 days to go....

Can You Say Great Group?

I got the travelers together for a short meeting today. Some things happened over the weekend that had me worried and I was hearing that some of the travelers may not have the best intentions for the trip. Seeing the kids together eased my concerns. They are so cute & I think we are going to have a fabulous time. Having the entire bunch in one place at the same time made me want to pack them all up and leave today but I know they're not ready yet. Katie & I talked about starting travelers meetings before this year is out instead of waiting for the next school year to begin. It'll be fun!
P.S. 463 days and counting!

STATE!

Okay, this blog is supposed to be about traveling but how can the events of this weekend go without notice? The Highland boys took the 4A basketball title last night. It was actually a bit anti-climatic. After the nail biter against Lehi Friday, the Bountiful game was pretty calm. Bountiful had a lead 2-3 the first few minutes and then HHS led the rest of the way. Special congrats to Matt & Max, 2 travelers on the team and also to the many cheerleaders and fans that made Highland look good all the way!

Estrogen

The first early registration deadline has passed and two dozen travelers are signed up! It's a bit unbalanced right now with girls outnumbering boys 3:1. There are however, some really great guys that told me they were coming that aren't on the list yet so I'll start working on them. I'm sure the guys already on the tour don't mind these odds but there tends to be less drama if there is a bit more balance either way.

The Excitement Begins

The response to the trip has been amazing! Kids are getting registered right and left. It's looking like a great group so far and Katie & I are already excited. After Parent-Teacher conferences we were ready to go - now!

2012

Starting up with a new group makes me excited and nervous at the same time. Will there be enough that sign up? Will they be a good, trouble free group? Oh, look there's one of my favorite students... Thanks to all those that came to the first meeting last night. It helps allivate some of my concerns. It looks like there is more than enough interest and fun kids. Hopefully the website is up and running on Tuesday.

And the Winner Is....

Bids are in! Looks like we'll be traveling with Explorica the summer of 2012. They came in with the most competitive bid and then added London as a bonus. I was thinking to avoid London that close to the Olympics but how can you resist when it's thrown in practically for free?

Waiting....

Wow, the travel agencies are slower than expected! They seem to be stumped by a custom itinerary. I'll be sending out interest cards tomorrow. No sense waiting for the companies before I start building our travel group!