Over the summer RHS students attended a trip to Europe with other students from across the U.S. The students got to experience another country in a different way. In a subway in France a student from North Carolina got his money stolen from his pocket. This helped give RHS students perspective of the dangers of foreign travel. This event was miniscule, though, compared to all the amazing sights the students got to experience.

Susana Graber, mother of RHS junior Jason Graber, was one of the chaperones for the trip. She described her favorite parts, one aspect she really enjoyed was the food in Spain.

“I’d have to say Spain [was my favorite] because their fish is very good, we tried pieya, there was sangria, we went to Bordeaux where they make the wine, so the adults got to sample the wine, and they actually cooked us duck, which I’d never had before,” Graber said.

RHS Spanish teacher Maria Fela explained some of the interesting things that the students experienced on their trip.

“The last trip we took was 12 days in length and we traveled to Spain, England and France. We visited museums, palaces, cathedrals, went to the beach, rode a cool ride in England and many more [exciting things],” Fela said.

Revere senior Pat Mehal was one of the thirty-one Revere students to attend the trip. Mehal described how he got to experience the different culture in Europe by talking about the rooming compared to American hotels.

“[The hotel rooms in Europe] were a lot smaller. The showers usually you think of like showers having curtains so people can’t see anything, but these were more transparent doors. You didn’t have that much privacy it seemed like, and you could fit a lot more people in one room,” Mehal said.

Fela, who has been working in the Revere district for 27 years, coordinated the trip through Educational Tours. Fela has taken students to trips similar to this seven times in the past. Fela went on to explain her favorite part of the trip.

“I liked London a lot and enjoyed the Changing of the Guard. I also liked Paris and the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Versailles Palace. In Barcelona I loved the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. I guess it is hard to say what my favorite part was as far as the countries. What I loved most was being with my students and experiencing their excitement,” Fela said.

Fela also explained what keeps students wanting to go on the trip.

“Meeting other students from other [American] states, being together experiencing new foods, culture and customs, [and] rooming together with others [are why they enjoy the trip]. They also loved going to the beach, playing soccer on the sand and riding the London Eye,” Fela said.

Fela explained how payment for the trip is handled.

“The trip cost varies depending on where [the group travels], how many countries it encompasses… The cost of a trip includes all meals for the full amount of days with the exception of lunch. It also includes airfare to and from [Europe], insurance, all guides, bus rides, your tour adviser, and all entrances to museums [and], palaces,” Fela said.

The only other cost students who take the trip face are tips and money for any souvenirs. Pretty much all is covered in the cost of the trip.

The students enjoyed their twelve day trip where they experienced many amazing sights of Europe. From England, France, then to Spain the students were able to visit the Big Ben and London Eye in England, the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa in France, and a Barcelona Flamenco evening in Spain.