Saturday, February 21, 2015
Customs is painfully slow.
Title speaks for itself. I will be surprised if anyone comes out before 3:30.
WE ARE ON THE GROUND
We landed at Metro Airport at 1:50 PM. We will need an hour or so to collect luggage and clear customs.
Good morning Detroit
Hello.....we just finished passing through screening and check in. Everyone had their passports and has a boarding pass. We had one room of boys who slept in but other than that check in was extremely smooth. Ill blog again when we board.
Becky was absolutely magnificent ...... What a great lady. If we were to do a trip to England again I would specifically request her.
Lots of sleepy kids but lots of smiles. It's been a great trip.
Becky was absolutely magnificent ...... What a great lady. If we were to do a trip to England again I would specifically request her.
Lots of sleepy kids but lots of smiles. It's been a great trip.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Our final night.....
Today is mostly in the books. I'm down in the hotel lobby waiting for the Harry Potter tour to return. I came back to the hotel with the 11 kids who did not want to go while the other chaperones went with the kids. I had an absolute blast on the trains talking to Shannon, Sarah S, Kamiaya, Jordyn, Ian, and Laura on the way back.....lots of smiles and laughs all the way back.
Today turned out to be a fantastic day. We began the day at the Tower of London - it was a magnificient experience and we were short on time there but overall amazing. The Tower Bridge to me was one of the most fantastic photographic experiences of the week. Most of the kids then went with Mrs. Austin and Ms. Stein on the Thames River Cruise and London Eye experience and they all came back from that reporting that it was a terrific experience. We had several add at the last minute which is just fine.
I went with some of the kids around town while we waited for the touring folks. We went to Covent Garden so I could buy a replacement suitcase for a young lady who had hers damaged by Delta and also had lunch; then we headed to the National Portrait Gallery for an hour or so ..... saw some amazing portraits including some famous scientists (Robert Boyle, Henry Cavendish, and James Watt) which is right up my alley (many may not know my bachelor's degrees are in chemistry and physics). We then went to Harrods for some more shopping but the kids were penny wise.
After that, the group met up for dinner to have a traditional fish and chips dinner. It was pretty typical pub food. We split up from there and I am back at the hotel.
Overall I am getting the sense that this was a good idea and the trip has been a positive experience for all.....some more than others which is to be expected. I'll breathe easier when we are all on the ground in Detroit. Besides that neuroticism, I am pleased with how this trip has gone and learned a lot about running one.
I am thankful that the Berkley School District supported this trip. I believe that giving kids the opportunity to travel abroad is one of the greatest learning experiences we could possibly provide. Nothing replaces experiencing a new and far away place.
We check out tomorrow at 6:15 AM local time so I'll be doing a passport check tonight before kids go to bed.
Today turned out to be a fantastic day. We began the day at the Tower of London - it was a magnificient experience and we were short on time there but overall amazing. The Tower Bridge to me was one of the most fantastic photographic experiences of the week. Most of the kids then went with Mrs. Austin and Ms. Stein on the Thames River Cruise and London Eye experience and they all came back from that reporting that it was a terrific experience. We had several add at the last minute which is just fine.
I went with some of the kids around town while we waited for the touring folks. We went to Covent Garden so I could buy a replacement suitcase for a young lady who had hers damaged by Delta and also had lunch; then we headed to the National Portrait Gallery for an hour or so ..... saw some amazing portraits including some famous scientists (Robert Boyle, Henry Cavendish, and James Watt) which is right up my alley (many may not know my bachelor's degrees are in chemistry and physics). We then went to Harrods for some more shopping but the kids were penny wise.
After that, the group met up for dinner to have a traditional fish and chips dinner. It was pretty typical pub food. We split up from there and I am back at the hotel.
Overall I am getting the sense that this was a good idea and the trip has been a positive experience for all.....some more than others which is to be expected. I'll breathe easier when we are all on the ground in Detroit. Besides that neuroticism, I am pleased with how this trip has gone and learned a lot about running one.
I am thankful that the Berkley School District supported this trip. I believe that giving kids the opportunity to travel abroad is one of the greatest learning experiences we could possibly provide. Nothing replaces experiencing a new and far away place.
We check out tomorrow at 6:15 AM local time so I'll be doing a passport check tonight before kids go to bed.
Tower of London
Good morning! We are at the Tower of London. It is absolutely fabulous. I'm picking up some free Wifi while waiting in a long line to see the Crown Jewels.
Today everyone got to sleep in a little and everyone is in a much better disposition.
In about an hour 26 members of the group are heading to the London Eye excursion. Ms. Stein and Mrs. Austin will accompany them as well as Becky. We are taking the rest in groups around London. Tonight the Harry Potter tour will run (30 participants) with the remainder going back to the hotel with either Mr. Gawel or me.
I will blog again later tonight.
Today everyone got to sleep in a little and everyone is in a much better disposition.
In about an hour 26 members of the group are heading to the London Eye excursion. Ms. Stein and Mrs. Austin will accompany them as well as Becky. We are taking the rest in groups around London. Tonight the Harry Potter tour will run (30 participants) with the remainder going back to the hotel with either Mr. Gawel or me.
I will blog again later tonight.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Back in London
Good evening from London. We are back at our original hotel for the duration.
This morning we went to the University of Oxford - absolutely beautiful. Becky gave us a walking tour and then groups went on free time. My group went to have lunch at a small pub called The Eagle and the Child......the significance of this particular pub is that J.R.R. Tolkien used to meet with some of his fellow writers here to discuss lit.
We then took the long bus ride back to Watford to check into our hotel. We took the transport in to London and spent an hour at the British Museum. This was amazing but very chaotic......there were a lot of people. We found that the rain made the tube busier as well and it was extremely difficult to move the group together.
We had dinner together at an Induan restaurant which was by far the best meal of the week and headed back to the hotel.
Tomorrow we will be at the Tower of London in the AM. I'm about to go check on lights out. Good night.
This morning we went to the University of Oxford - absolutely beautiful. Becky gave us a walking tour and then groups went on free time. My group went to have lunch at a small pub called The Eagle and the Child......the significance of this particular pub is that J.R.R. Tolkien used to meet with some of his fellow writers here to discuss lit.
We then took the long bus ride back to Watford to check into our hotel. We took the transport in to London and spent an hour at the British Museum. This was amazing but very chaotic......there were a lot of people. We found that the rain made the tube busier as well and it was extremely difficult to move the group together.
We had dinner together at an Induan restaurant which was by far the best meal of the week and headed back to the hotel.
Tomorrow we will be at the Tower of London in the AM. I'm about to go check on lights out. Good night.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Good morning - 48 hours to go
Hello readers:
Your very sleep deprived writer is up at at 'em along with the rest of the travelers.
We are heading out to Oxford this morning. I will blog again from there.
I did want to take this quick opportunity to acknowledge the teachers who went this week. If the wrong chaperones go, a trip like this can really go south. You should know that the Berkley staffers are taking their roles very seriously and that your children are being treated as though they are family to our staff members. The teachers are finding times to enjoy the trip and are really enjoying getting to know the different students. Many thanks to Mrs. Austin, Ms. Stein, Mr. Gawel, Mrs. Sochacki, and Mrs. Sutherland for their work. I did not know Mrs. Sutherland at all until this week and she has been absolutely terrific particularly for the six girls from Anderson.
We are expecting a bit of rain the next couple of days but I think we are going to be pleased compared to what we are hearing about the weather in Michigan.
Your very sleep deprived writer is up at at 'em along with the rest of the travelers.
We are heading out to Oxford this morning. I will blog again from there.
I did want to take this quick opportunity to acknowledge the teachers who went this week. If the wrong chaperones go, a trip like this can really go south. You should know that the Berkley staffers are taking their roles very seriously and that your children are being treated as though they are family to our staff members. The teachers are finding times to enjoy the trip and are really enjoying getting to know the different students. Many thanks to Mrs. Austin, Ms. Stein, Mr. Gawel, Mrs. Sochacki, and Mrs. Sutherland for their work. I did not know Mrs. Sutherland at all until this week and she has been absolutely terrific particularly for the six girls from Anderson.
We are expecting a bit of rain the next couple of days but I think we are going to be pleased compared to what we are hearing about the weather in Michigan.
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