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During my first year of teaching, I was approached to participate in a 10 day long trip abroad to London and Paris with students from Cass Tech. All was going according to plan when COVID-19 happened. With the pandemic, our travel plans came to a halt and the decision of when we would go was delayed indefinitely. Once we finally returned to the classroom in 2022, we began to planning for the trip once again and it spread around the school like wildfire. Interest in going to London and Paris was great but after careful deliberation, we were willing to cap the trip at 50 students but we were able to take 41 students and 6 chaperones. Having been to France twice, I was eager to return to Paris and explore as a proper adult. It would be my first time in London and I was so excited to explore this country for the first time with my students. Though 41 students was a lot, I had such a wonderful and memorable experience.
London Highlights
London Highlights
There were some bumps along the way but overall, it was an excellent time in London. My first time! I would absolutely go back as I felt like it had a New York feel with better architecture. Food was alright but it was exactly how I imagined it.
Day 1
Student left her passport & wallet on the airplane. Spent three hours fighting Air Canada to get it back.
While the rest of the tour group left to go to Covent Gardens, my kiddo and I went to the hotel and explored Hounslow, UK
Day 2
Shopping at Covent Gardens
Bus tour to St. James Park and Buckingham Palace
Jack the Ripper Tour
Day 3
Tower of London & the Crown Jewels
Cricket Lesson
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
Day 4
Drama Workshop
Tea & Crumpets luncheon
Last minute shopping at Covent Gardens
Day 5
Hop on the Eurostar to Paris
Covent Gardens
Frequent spot for shopping on our downtime
Buckingham Palace
A stop on our bus tour gave a chance to stroll through Hyde Park
London Bridge
Afternoon at the Tower of London led for some silly photoshoots by the bridge
Wicked in the West End
We were certainly "Defying Gravity" as my students experienced proper musical theater!
Paris Highlights
Paris Highlights
This was my third time in Paris and I have to admit that I was very surprised by my experience there. I perhaps had used too many scare-tactics that me and my kiddos were overprepared, but that was the safest I ever felt in the city. I think because it was my third time, I had already seen the tourist sites so it wasn't as excited but it was so much fun seeing my kiddos experience Paris for the first time. Unexpected experience: being an Uber Eats monitor. Apparently 5 days away from American food, the kids crave McDonalds!
Day 5
Hop off the Eurostar and head straight to the Louvre (didn't have enough time to genuinely enjoy it--if I'm honest).
Two kiddos were trapped in the elevator for over an hour. Not fun in the moment but we all could laugh about it afterward.
Day 6
Bus tour with Marian
Tour of Versailles (honestly the gardens were more impressive than the actual castle)
Day 7
Shopping spree at Galerie de Lafayette
Afternoon playing Petanque and taking an impressionist art class at La Grande Jette
Day 8
Eiffel Tower
Seine River Cruise
Afternoon shopping in the Latin Quarter
Packing time!
Day 9
Heading home! Charles De Galle is a rough airport. Too long at the passport check
No one left the passport on the plane!
The Louvre
2 hours is not enough time to spend at that museum. Beautiful but too easy to get lost.
Versailles
My kiddos and I spent most of the time in the gardens. Absolutely beautiful!
Impressionist Painting Class
Art is not my strength but some of these kiddos really showed out!
Seine River Cruise
The weather was absolutely perfect for us to enjoy an afternoon on the Seine.
Greece 2026?!
Greece 2026?!
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