Why did you choose this program?
I decided to choose this program in particular because of the number of destinations it covers. In addition, the places that the program covers were very different; they were places I might not have visited had I not attended this trip with Blyth Academy.
I personally enjoy traveling because I love learning about different cultures, and unlike other more touristy destinations, the places that we visited had a lot of history which provided a very rich and immersive learning experience that I will never forget.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Blyth Academy did almost all of the organizing. They set up walking tours in every destination, they provided our breakfast and dinners, and they also set up some additional excursions for anyone who was willing to pay for them. The only thing we had to organize ourselves were activities after dinner if we wanted to go out, and lunch.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Although this program takes you to a lot of wonderful places, students must keep in mind that they are also on this trip for school.
The itinerary is very fast-paced and leaves no time for procrastination. In order to experience every place to its fullest and to achieve good grades, I would strongly suggest completing all homework on the bus. That way, you don't stay up too late after curfew as every day is packed with adventure, and you don't miss out on bonding with peers and exploring each destination.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
As this program is so full of excursions and transitions to different destinations, every day is different.
Usually, whenever you arrive in a new destination, you will have a walking tour in the morning, and, depending on how long that takes you might have class in the afternoon. If there are no excursions or transitions during the day, class will begin in the morning at around 9 and continue for anywhere between 2-6 hours.
Then, on most days depending on how long the drives between different countries take, you'll have supper around 5 pm or 6 pm and the rest of the time until curfew can either be spent at the hotel doing homework or out on the town in groups of four or more.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear before embarking was the fact that I was going across the world with a bunch of people I didn't know. I had nobody with me that I knew would have my back and that was a bit scary being a vulnerable teen. I ended up overcoming this fear by quickly introducing myself to others and taking the initiative to build connections very early on.
What was the most memorable moment on the trip?
My most memorable moment would have to be between visiting Auschwitz and experiencing the pride parade in downtown Munich.
Both moments were so powerful.
Auschwitz was a tragic reminder of Europe's dark past, while the pride parade in Munich showed how much Germany has progressed since Hitler's rule. The two contrasting events made the whole experience even more worthwhile.
Without visiting Auschwitz, I would not have acquired the understanding and knowledge of how atrocious things were during the Second World War, and without attending the pride parade, I would not have recognized the progression that we have made in such a short time.
These two events were truly inspiring and I am grateful to have experienced them with Blyth International Summers.
