This past summer, Ms. Schmiesing, a group of students, and a few parents and teachers attended a trip to Costa Rica. The reasoning behind this trip was to experience a new culture and learn the use of their language. Several students that are and were involved with the Spanish class attended this trip. There was a total of 23 people who attended this trip. There were 17 students, two parents, and four chaperones.

Some of the things that they did while attending this trip include zip lining over the rain forest, riding horses through the mountains, going to an elementary school and donating supplies, and visiting various biological reserves, volcanoes, hot springs, and the beach. They also saw the Costa Rica soccer game when they advanced in the World Cup games but didn’t win overall.

Ms. Schmiesing said her experience was amazing, fun, and exciting. Zip lining would have to have been her favorite thing because it was a new experience. Her other favorite thing about the trip was the school. There was only one teacher that taught all the grades and classes, and she was also the principal.

The reason that they went to Costa Rica was because it was a student travel opportunity. The trip was nine days and was offered to the school by Explorica, which is a student travel organization. Their travel plans included going from Detroit with a layover in Atlanta, and it took two hours to fly to Atlanta. Then there was a four hour ride to Costa Rica. While there they stayed in five or six different hotels.

Schmiesing also said that the weather was nice. In the mountains the weather was cool. On the beach it was sunny and very hot. There was evening rain, but the rain never interrupted the activities that the group would be doing that day. Schmiesing also mentioned that there is another trip coming up soon. Almost all of the slots are full to attend this trip, but there are a few open. They are going to attend a Europe trip to Spain and France.