Education and Growth Through March Break Adventures

I had the privilege of taking a group of students on an unforgettable trip to England and Paris for 10 days over March break. We joined with 3 other North American schools for an action-packed tour of England and Paris where we visited London, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Stonehenge, Salisbury, and some incredible places around the beautiful city of Paris. We visited museums, art galleries, castles, and buildings dating back to Roman times; learnt about some rich historical events that shaped the world today, and got to experience some gastronomical delights in all of the different cities, including a homemade cream tea that my sister made and delivered to us during our time in Oxford.

I interviewed the students about the richness of this experience and will share with you their highlights, challenges, and insights gained from this remarkable journey. 

Satoru: "I really loved making new friends and exploring different sights together. It’s not every day you get to meet and bond with people you’ve only just met, but interacting with these students from other schools helped me learn to initiate conversations and build confidence."

Souma: "When we had free time we had to make our own plans which initially was difficult but over time, with the help of my new friends I grew in this ability to make plans for myself and navigate my way around unfamiliar places."

Malcolm: "The days were very long and I struggled with jetlag. However, this gave me a chance to trust God for strength and He helped me get through it. I saw God answer our prayers which was great!"

Adrian: "As someone who tends to get lost easily, keeping up with the group was a challenge for me. However, Mrs. Soppitt ensured I kept up and didn’t get lost. This helped me feel more confident navigating unfamiliar surroundings."

Adrian: "I found that I really enjoyed visiting historical sights, particularly cathedrals. I loved seeing different types of architecture and seeing some astonishingly impressive constructs from the past."

Satoru: "Exploring castles, museums and art galleries taught me more about Europe’s history and this broadened my understanding of the world."

Malcolm: "I would strongly recommend a trip like this to others. It is amazing to travel around the world and you will never forget such an experience."

Adrian: "Absolutely! This trip was a fantastic opportunity to learn about different cultures and taste delicious food. Provoking your inner adventurous spirit and leaving you with unforgettable memories is well worth it."
 

Satoru: "This trip was a great opportunity to make connections and learn about the history of new places."

Souma: "It is always good to expose yourself to new environments and opportunities through travelling. You never know what might happen but you grow through the experience. Since going on this trip, living in London has become one of my dreams."

It was such a privilege for me to be able to lead these students into life-shaping adventures. They were a real credit to the school and rose to challenges and tiredness with great courage and resilience. For me, one of the highlights of our time away was seeing God’s hand at work in this incredible world, as well as His faithfulness in our lives. Through exposure to so much in such a short space of time, it was amazing to reflect on the God who holds all of history in His hands. As well as this, we experienced His tender, attentive fatherhood as we brought our challenges to Him in prayer and watched Him meet us and provide for all we needed. I hope that as you read this you are inspired by the students to embrace the unknown joys of exploring this world with curiosity and expectancy.