Packing Light

Tonight we talked about packing light. Here is a copy of the packing list so you can access it online when you need. Remember to pack LIGHT! Do not waste your energy hauling around lots of extra stuff.  Space on the bus is limited, many hotels are located inside cities where we cannot park a bus, and many don't have elevators so you will be lifting that suitcase up multiple flights of narrow stairs! Our recommendation is one 24-27" suitcase and a backpack/carry on that can double as a day bag.

Packing Checklist

PASSPORT!!!

TRAVELER JOURNAL 

CREDIT/ATM CARD, MONEY YOU EXCHANGED, PHONE CARD

NAME TAGS ON ALL LUGGAGE: make them bright & easy to spot

CARRY ON TO INCLUDE: Anything you can’t live without for a day

• TOILETRIES – All liquids 3 oz. or less in a small baggie - soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, hand sanitizer, contact stuff, your beauty stuff
• MEDICATIONS – pain reliever, prescriptions (in original container), allergy medicine, motion sickness medicine, antibiotic, etc. 
• CAMERA – Extra memory card, charger or batteries, (film?)
• STUFF – glasses, sunglasses, MP3, batteries, chargers, books, cards (for layovers), etc.
• ALL VALUABLES – don’t pack anything in your suitcase that might be stolen – bring it with you! (Cash especially)
• ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHES – including underwear (just in case your suitcase is delayed or lost)
• MUNCHIES – water bottle, snacks, gum…..

       SUITCASE – Label inside and out. Tuck a copy of the itinerary inside.

• CLOTHING FOR HOT & COOL WEATHER: long pants (1-2), long sleeved shirt (1), shorts (2), short sleeved shirts (6), jacket (1).  Choose lightweight & fast drying!
• COMFORTABLE SHOES: with socks - break in well before we leave!!!
• UNDERWEAR: at least 6 pair
• ONE SEMI-DRESSY OUTFIT: for the theatre (shoes to match?)
• BELTS, SWIMMING SUIT, HAT 
• TOILETRIES: This time 24 days worth - soap, deodorant, toothbruch & toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, contact stuff, your beauty stuff, hand sanitizer
• CONVERTER/ADAPTER & CHARGERS - if you bring any electronics you will need these!
• PLASTIC BAG FOR WET ITEMS (or plasticized section in luggage)
• LAUNDRY DETERGENT (close securely), CLOTHES LINE, STOPPER
• GUM & SNACKS
• FANNY PACK/BACK PACK: purses & wallets are easier to snatch. You could make your carry-on your back pack… just transfer everything to your suitcase once you get to the hotel then put your day items in the pack.
• RAIN GEAR: Jacket/windbreaker w/hood, poncho, or umbrella

PACK LIGHT! You must carry what you take & be sure to leave room for trinkets!

Baby, Baby!

Congrats to Katie and Kalani as they welcomed little Kawika Gary on Weds. Oct. 23rd. We're glad he's here safe and sound! I stole these pictures from their Facebook. He's adorable!

Meet the Leaders 2

My name is Christine Curtis Wright, I am 24 and very excited to be a chaperone for the 2014 Europe tour! With both parents as teachers, I grew up in the halls of high schools.  From the time I was small I tagged along to any event they would let me. My dad coached basketball so I went to a lot of the camps and games for the team. It was following

my dad that I gained a joy for playing sports. I'm sure trying to keep up with my brothers also added to that. Tagging along with my mom meant growing up in the halls of Highland and attending many Highland related things (especially rugby).  Luckily for me, tagging along with Mom also meant being able to go to Europe a couple times while in high school.

I graduated from Highland where I was in senate, pep club, and on the softball team. After graduation I did a semester at BYU Idaho and then 'converted' to Utah State. While at USU I met my husband, Todd. We have now been married for four years. We are busy adventuring and enjoying life while it is still just us and our dog, Lily. We have been blessed to live blocks away from my family. I have enjoyed being able to be so close to them and being able to continue to strengthen my friendships with each family member.

 I love biology and like to think this is somehow related to the fact that I absolutely love being outdoors! My favorite activities are hiking, exploring, camping and running my dog. We have been training Lily in obedience and agility. One goal is to teach her to be a therapy animal. I have had the opportunity to learn how to teach basic training and have started teaching obedience classes. It has been fun to be able to use my knowledge of dogs to help others live in a better environment with their pets. I hope to be an animal behaviorist one day. I am also very artistic; be it crafts, paintings, drawings, music, photography, or just doodles. Even my shoe collection shows my artistic side, along with my love for having fun. I am currently working as a nanny for two energetically cute boys (4 and 1.5 yrs) who never fail to remind me to never take life too serious. 

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I am truly excited and grateful to be able to explore Europe again! I look forward to getting to know the group and being able to share such a marvelous opportunity with them!

2014 meetings begin!

First meeting over and done! I was really scattered but Katie had it together. Everyone was really nice and took the frantic pace in stride. I'm starting to get a feel for how big this group is going to be. It will take some careful management but its going to be a great bunch to travel with.

The chaperones met  briefly after the meeting and decided we should dedicate the next few blog entries to introduce ourselves. Hopefully this gives the travelers and their parents a better idea of who we are and why we do this.

We'll start with me - Wendy. I grew up traveling. My parents had lived in Germany and frequently flew our family back there over the summers to visit old friends and then we would take off exploring some region of Europe. I've visited all of Western Europe, Scandinavia, much of Eastern Europe and the 'Soviet Block' countries, and the Middle East. My favorite places are almost all in the United Kingdom.

I graduated from Highland, the "U" with a degree in FCS Education, and then earned a masters degree from Utah State University. I had the opportunity to write some of the architecture curriculum used in interior design classes across the state. Returning to Highland to teach in 1992 I was mentored by Dean Collett who invited me to join him on his Europe tours. Dean is still a pillar of the Highland faculty but age made it difficult to continue traveling so I inherited the program back in the '90s. (Dean turns 85 on Sept 29, if you are a student or former student stop by room D102 and wish him a happy day!)

In 2004, I invited the fabulous new humanities teacher to come along and enhance the trip. What a great plan! You'll learn about how amazing Katie is in another post.

This summer I will celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary while on the trip (my husband is a home body). I have four children: Stephen, Christine (Todd), Drew and David. I drag them along to Europe when I can.

I am addicted to exploring Europe and love to share that addiction with new generations. My favorite parts of travel are exploring the markets or any place the 'locals' hang out and finding the yummy special treats in each country. I also love watching as the student travelers gain confidence as they learn to navigate these foreign lands on their own, realize how big and diverse this planet is, and become citizens of the world. 

Are you a tourist or traveler?

It's time to begin the official countdown... By this time next year we will have been home for a week!  We have a lot to do in the next year to be ready to travel. One of our goals for this trip is for the kids to become citizens of the world. Part of the fun is really getting in to the cultures we visit. We learn not only from the things we see about history and art but from the people that live there. As we rush from site to site stop and talk to people along the way. Our travelers from last year became best friends with the owner of the small restaurant across from the hotel in Poros. A few still keep in contact with that awesome lady. One of my favorite things to do in any city is to find the market. Not the tourist trap shops but the place the real people shop. It is fun and educational to see the "natives in their natural habitat" along with finding really yummy food. Those that have the best experience on the trip are the ones that become travelers instead of tourists. Here's how...

We will be starting our meetings for travelers and their parents on September 9th, 7pm. Katie and I are already planning a course of classes that is fun and informational. Remember that you can earn school credit while on the trip. We'll explain how in September. See you then!

Oh, and remember to sign up to follow the blog. Along with my  narrative and opinions it will keep you up to date and informed about the trip.

We have a group!

So, in case you hadn't heard, Katie and Kalani are expecting a little Ieremia this fall. Congratulations, we are so excited for you! The first thing they did was make arrangements for grandmas to stay with the baby while they are away. That is true committment!

The trip is nearly full and we haven't even finished school yet. Talk about an eager group of travelers! We were a bit pushy recruiting because the cost of the trip is higher than we'd like and we wanted everyone to be able to take advantage of the $500 discount. The up side is that it allows us to make sure every traveler is well educated and prepared before we leave.

On this cold, rainy morning I'm dreaming of the warm, sunny beaches on our favorite island of Poros. 1 year + 2 weeks until we're there! (Thanks Whit for letting me steal this beautiful photo!)

 

2014 - the beginning

It's been a difficult fall and winter so we have been very behind in the planning process. Things are starting to settle and as they do we are moving fast on the trip. We signed with EF yesterday (gasp!), something I said I'd never do but they have been so on the ball and very serious about our concerns. Now that we have the itinerary and the travel agency it's time to start collecting travelers. I'm so excited - first meeting in an hour!