“The school trip that I went on was culturally eye opening and truly life changing because I got to experience it with my best friends.” Kasey Murdoch says, who went on a trip to Europe over the summer of 2019. 

Traveling can be complicated, especially when planning a trip to somewhere you have never been and don’t know much about. Going on a trip with EF Tours – a popular student travel organization – through Oakmont will relieve you of all stress. 

All activities are already planned, hotels are booked, and flights are arranged. 

There are a few upcoming trips in 2020 and 2021 approaching that you can still plan to go on. Over April vacation in 2020, Mrs. Archangelo is running a trip to Belize. You will get to explore the Mayan civilization, snorkel, and zipline through tropical jungles. She is also running a trip to Japan in April of 2021. 

“There is a lot of technology and mindfulness on this trip. This is all new for me because I’m all about ecosystems. We will be visiting shrines, doing karaoke, going to Harajuku-which is described as the Rodeo Drive of Japan, and participating in tea ceremonies.” She goes on to say, “We will also be visiting the Manga Museum, which has to do with anime. Mr. Kostich [a teacher in the science department] runs Anime Club and will also be going on this trip which is very fitting. It’s a very high-tech trip, but is still married to ancient rituals” Mrs. Archangelo says about the trip to Japan.

“My favorite trip ever was Costa Rica by far. I’ve been back six times, it was life changing. All of the trips have incredible value. Another one of my favorite memories was going to the rainforests in Australia.” 

Ms. Gates attended the Australia trip, which was 12 days long. Her favorite part was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, or zorbing in New Zealand. 

“The food was delicious. We even tried kangaroo.” 

Her description of the Australia trip in one sentence was “I want to go back right now!” 

Mrs. Therrien also runs trips through EF Tours, focusing mainly on trips to Europe. Next summer, there is a trip to Croatia, northern Italy, and the south of France. It will be in the last week of June into the first week of July. 

When asked about her favorite trip that she’s ever been, she said, “Whichever trip I’m on at the moment, whenever I get home I already start thinking about the next.” 

Mrs. Therrien has been traveling since 1979. She says that students should go on these trips because traveling changes lives. 

“The world is becoming a smaller place, and we need to learn more about other cultures. We really only know about American history, and traveling makes us learn more about other types of history.” 

Upcoming trips:

• Belize 2020 over April vacation 
• Japan 2021 over April vacation 

(see Mrs. Archangelo about more information and pricing) 

• Croatia, northern Italy, and the south of France-last week of June into first week of July (see Mrs.Therrien about more information and pricing)