After the Upper School administration announced the various international trips offered for the 2024 Interim Term, students waited excitedly to sign up for the educational experiences of a lifetime.
This year, many trips were offered that captured the attention of Upper School students, including a STEM learning experience in western Europe, a Spain homestay, and a trip to Southeast Asia.
Physics teachers Ms. Lara Cross and Mr. Vladimir Lopez sponsored the 12-day trip from Jan. 8 to Jan. 20 to European expeditions in Italy, Switzerland, France and the UK to discover and deepen their knowledge of the scientific wonders of the world.
Starting in Florence, Italy, the students enjoyed sites such as The Galileo Museum, Opera del Duomo, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Uffizi Gallery before heading to Switzerland.
From Switzerland to Paris and London, the European Interim travelers visited sites such as the home of Albert Einstein, the Cailler chocolate factory, the Eiffel Tower and other attractions.
Along with the Europe trip, Kinkaid also offered a 14-day experience in Sevilla, Spain, sponsored by Mr. Jose Narbona and Dr. Regina Ruiz, from Jan. 9 to 26.
Students began the trip in Madrid, where they visited museums such as The Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and El Escorial.
One special feature of the Spain trip has been the homestays, which began on day six. Students on this trip were paired with host families with whom they spent a week, not including the weekends, which they spent with the group.
On day seven, the students started classes and learned a lot about Spanish culture.
“For example, after school, we often have to start doing homework right away,” said junior Ellie Mehta. “However, in Spain, ‘siesta’ is a time when students and parents can rest for 20 to 30 minutes.”
They spent up to the last day going to school and staying in their host families’ houses.
“My favorite part about the trip was the walks to school, they were refreshing, and I was able to walk with my friends,” said sophomore Riley Purdy.
The last trip offered — the Southeast Asia expedition — was sponsored by Mrs. Angela Wainright and Dr. Jenny Howell.
Due to the extreme popularity of this trip, Kinkaid offered two trips with around 30 people in each group. The two groups did the trip in opposite directions and met up in Cambodia, spending two days together.
This trip featured excursions in three different countries and six cities: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Saigon in Vietnam; Siem Reap in Cambodia; and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand.
While in Vietnam, the groups went to a water puppet show, food tours, an overnight cruise, the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Ho Chi Minh complex, the Hoa Lo Prison, the War Remnants Museum and various temples.
In Cambodia, the groups went to a youth circus workshop where members of the circus taught juggling and other acrobatic skills, temples, circus performances and bike rides through the ancient Hindu temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
Finally, students visited Thailand. Starting off in Bangkok, the group visited temples and markets, and even enjoyed a Thai massage.
After Bangkok, the group traveled to the eco-resort Lisu Lodge, where they spent two days in the Northern Thailand mountains.
With white water rafting, a mountain bike ride, and a mountain hike, this part was active and students described it as extremely fun.
“It was definitely adventurous,” said junior Chloe Childress. “The rafting and hiking had to be two of the most memorable parts of the trip.”
In Chiang Mai, the students participated in a cooking class as well as ventured to an elephant nature park on the last day overseas before heading back to the United States.
“The best part of the trip was seeing the elephants,” Childress said. “They were so cute!”
