Over spring break, 20 Diamond Bar High School students of all grade levels were able to experience life in a completely foreign environment.
Led by Class of 2015 advisors Emily Clark and Latitia Thomas, the students signed up for the 10-day trip to Europe, which took place from March 30 through April 9. The group stayed in Paris for the first three days, visiting many historical monuments such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. They also went to various museums and saw famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum. During their last day in France, students stopped by the Palace of Versailles, where they were able to explore the historical treasures in the palace at their own comfortable pace.
“It was an amazing experience. Together, we got to see what it was like to live in Europe and enjoy all the delicious foods and activities. AP Euro became more interesting because we got to stand in the very spots where the famous events occurred. It wasn’t just something we had to read in our boring textbooks anymore. It was [also] great to go with our teachers. They helped to explain the historical significance of everywhere we went to,” sophomore Geoffrey Wang explained.
After a bus ride to Germany, they visited many major cities including Heidelberg, Munich, and Berlin. In Berlin, students were able to see the remains of the Berlin Wall. Additionally, the rebuilt Dresden Frauenkirche, a Lutheran church in Germany, was another one of the sites that students spent a lot of time roaming around. Ending in Munich, the 20 tourists were able to visit one of the most horrific concentration camps during the Holocaust, Dachau.
“The trip was educational yet fun and fast-paced. It was a wonderful bonding experience for all the students that went. They were able to try new things together and adapt to a completely foreign environment,” Thomas commented.
Any student who wanted to go to Europe could sign up with Clark and Thomas. The trip was meant to help students who are taking Advanced Placement European History understand the class material more; but it was also an experience that enabled students to come closer together and bond.
“Travel is life-altering. You see your own home, your own country, and yourself differently after you’ve traveled someplace else. Trying different foods, observing different customs, and hearing a different language changes the way you see things and also helps you appreciate what you have in life. That is why I encourage students to explore,” Clark said.
