Traveling abroad can be an amazing way to have enriching experiences that can benefit you. You can discover new cultures and food, connect with different people and expand your view of the world around you. Here at H-F, you get that chance if you take a foreign class. 

According to Pew Research Center, 19% of Americans have been to only one foreign country, 12% to two countries, 15% to three or four countries, and 14% to five to nine countries and 11% of Americans have been to 10 or more countries. 29% of Americans have never left the country.

This can be a jumpstart to traveling and experiencing new things, especially as a teen. 

For the Spanish and French classes, they have had many unique experiences and fun activities. 

Wendy Stiglic, a French teacher at H-F who went on the French trip to Paris, had many things to share about what they did there. 

She stated, “we visited the Eiffel Tower where we were able to go all the way to the top. We also had dinner there! We got to see Notre Dame,but only from the outside since there was a concert going on inside. We visited Versailles, where we spent the day touring the palace and the gardens. Then we visited the town of Versailles where we explored a fresh market. Students took advantage of the fresh fruit and other treats. I believe what they said was, “This is the best fruit I have ever tasted! 

Visiting new places can allow you to see new things and change your perspective. 

Furthermore, she mentioned that a trip of this sort can be life-changing for students. 

Stiglic stated, “A trip of this sort can really be life-changing for students. It is always our goal, as teachers, to provide these sorts of opportunities to students in order to validate what they are learning at school as well as to light a spark for future adventures!” 

She continues to say, “I am happy that the school allows it, parents support it, students are interested, and that we were able to make it happen! Travel abroad is a magnificent learning experience on so many different levels.”

Studying abroad is a magnificent learning experience on so many different levels. 

A lot of good things have been said about this trip to Paris by a teacher, now it’s time to get a student’s point of view. 

Freshman Carrington Hughes went on the French trip but had a couple things to say before leaving. 

“We are excited to go to Paris and I am excited to go on this trip and how I am going to experience something different and learn about their different cousins. Yes I do like that the school is giving us an opportunity to go,” Hughes said.

The Spanish classes went on a different trip this year to Puerto Rico. They also experienced many fun activities, including a tour of the old city, exploring multiple museums, a dance class, and a zipline tour.

According to Spanish teacher Sara Brown, “the trip was inspired because of our students’ interests, as well as the desire to expose them to Spanish speakers that look like the demographic of our student body.”

The third and fourth days were especially fun because students got to explore nature. Between free time on the beach and exploring a cave, students got to practice Spanish while doing fun vacation activities.

Freshman Jessica DeLuca had fun during the five-day trip.

According to DeLuca, “I am greatly appreciative for this opportunity and it goes towards high school credits and college credits as well. I think five days with dinner, breakfast, hotel, tours, etc. It was a reasonable price, and without bringing extra money, it was around $2,500.”

Sometimes, having the thought of traveling somewhere new isn’t the problem; maybe it’s the cost, and if it’s worth the money. 

The trip to Paris was approximately $3,200, which included what they were able to do, see, and experience, and for Puerto Rico, the trip was $2,300 for flight, breakfast, dinner, activities, and lodging. Included in this were the transit for the bus, the tour guide, and all tips for their experiences as well.  

Traveling is going to have an expense, but including the plane ticket and where they went on both trips and what they experienced, it looks like money was spent well. 

These two trips not only sound good, but they offer the chance to experience something truly amazing and allow you to prepare for an unforgettable journey which will create memories to enjoy.