It was a summer trip to remember for two Oconto Falls High School students. They milked a cow in Spain, watched an Iron Man race in France and ate amazingly yummy pizza in Italy.
Sophomores Morgan Haslitt and Corrina Romandine spent 19 days as student ambassadors for People to People, viewing landmarks, performing community service and learning about the culture of the three countries they visited.
About 40 student ambassadors and leaders from Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota took part in the experience from June 18 to July 6.
A highlight for both girls was staying with host families in Spain for three days.
“That was probably my favorite part, just to see what they do every day and what they eat,” Romandine said.
She said they ate much later than she was accustomed to, about 10 p.m.
Another new experience was attending a festival in the town square. Her host sister spoke English well, Romandine said, and they shared common interests, such as going to movies and the mall.
“I made a friend for life,” Romandine said. “She was really amazing.”
Haslitt stayed with the family of a 15-year-old boy and his two little sisters. She said she was surprised to discover they ate many of the same foods as she does at home.
The group visited Cannes, where they saw the site of the Cannes Film Festival.
In Italy, they visited the Coliseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Sistine Chapel.
“The Coliseum was probably my favorite site there, to see how old it was and the history behind it,” Romandine said. “Rome was gorgeous, with all the old buildings and streets.”
Haslitt liked the Leaning Tower of Pisa best.
“I just thought it was really cool to see it in person,” she said.
She also was thrilled to see the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and visit the Rhone American Cemetery in France where World War II soldiers are laid to rest.
“It was exciting to be able to see it and really come to learn some of the stories behind some of the soldiers buried there,” she said.
She also enjoyed a visit to a camp in Assisi, where the group repelled down a 100-foot castle wall and participated in team challenges.
They stopped at beaches in France, where they came upon an Iron Man competition.
They also spent a day playing with special needs kids while in Italy.
For Haslitt, it was her first time on an airplane since she was 4, and she doesn’t remember that family trip to Texas.
She said she was honored to be recognized for her academic accomplishments and be selected as a student ambassador. Students are invited to participate in the program and are required to fill out an application, provide references and meet with a leader for an interview.
Both girls said they learned about the lives of people in different parts of the world but also developed friendships with teens who live much closer to home.
“Since we traveled together for 19 days, we all became really close,” Romandine said.
Categories
