Ms Brodak helps a student.

Ms. Victoria Brodak, Southmoreland French teacher, and former language teacher, Mrs. Merideth Thornton, made their journey across the world in 2009 with nineteen language students on the SHS Europe Trip to see some of the top tourist attractions in the world.

                The ten day trip consisted of travels to Paris where they explored the Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, Muse du Louvre, and, of course, one of the top attractions in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, which had a wait that was two and half to three hours to get from the base to the top.

                “It was remarkable to be at the top of the Tower to look out and have that perspective on the city of Paris,” said Brodak.  “It was a highlight not only for me but the other participates.”

                The students navigated the city using the French Subway system, Le Metro.

                “That was definitely a unique and eye opening experience for most students with the sights and the sounds of the subway,” said Brodak.

                Dining at different restaurants and cafes throughout the city, the students were able to compare dishes to what they’re used to in America.  They were surprised to find that their pop tarts and cereal weren’t on the French menu.  Instead, their breakfast menu consisted of bread, fruit, and hot chocolate.

Although the weather wasn’t the best, it didn’t dampen their spirit of adventure.  The group stopped by Carcassonne, France to receive a tour of the fortified medieval city.  At the Mercado De La Boqueria there were many vendors selling items such as produce, artisans selling crafts and street performers.  One of the more memorable performers on the streets in La Boqueria was a young lady dressed as a flamingo dancer.

The students also spent four days in Spain and visited the city of La Rambla, Barcelona where they went swimming in the clear waters of the Mediterranean shore.

“To see that water and the sand, we didn’t anticipate that,” said Brodak.

When they weren’t being guided on a tour, the students had free time to branch out and explore the cities in groups.  Since the group wasn’t always together, they were urged to be aware of their surroundings and belongings.

                Since this was the first time flying for most of the students, that was an experience in itself for them.  With the twenty four hour turn around and being responsible of all nineteen students, Brodak felt that she was spending more time organizing than anything. 

                “It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years already,” said Brodak.  “It happened so fast.”

                Since the trip, Brodak has had a student tell her that this experience has made her feel  more confident about herself with her going to be leaving to go to college in the near future.

                “The goal of this trip is to expose students to the world around them and to experience the other cultures in the world around them,” said Brodak.

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Bailey Geehring

I am a senior and a second year editor for the Tam O'Shanter. I will attend California University of Pennsylvania in the fall to pursue a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud"- Maya Angelou

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