It's no mistake there hasn't been a blog entry in recent days. Over the years my blog has become a fun thing to share the moment, look back on, and a bit of a reference guide for future travels. I try to write stuff that's not a just check list but instead a spot where I can take myself back to the places, tastes and all the feels. But as Remi has started to go to school and I've added various people on Facebook, I've had to become more thoughtful of what goes out there. Yes, I still swear (we are all adults and word "shit" won't kill anyone) and a glass of wine is delicious (we are all adults and I can drink if I want to) but instead of writing my travel blog and an email to parents about the days' happenings during school trips, I started copying and pasting the text. When all goes well, it's easy. I can write fun stuff here and there and keep it as a memory. As seemingly everything on this trip was going wrong, I found myself sugar coating to the point of no recognition and decided to abandon blog and focus on pictures (parents still got a quick summary via email). So what happened?
1. I didn't fly with the students. Since Remi and I are not coming back for another month, my itinerary wasn't just different coming back to CA but also going to Europe. The Group Director didn't haven't me there to corral the troops, the students didn't have anyone encouraging them to explore or making suggestions for lunch places and by the time I got to Madrid 6 hours later than the group, I walked into a ring of fire and utter dysfunction.
2. Some of my students never had me as a teacher. While usually that hasn't been a problem, this particular bunch wasn't particularly interested in getting to know me. Upon reflection towards the end of the trip, I realized no one actually wanted to hang out with me. We were a group of 8yo to 67yo and I spent my entire time with the 20-21 contingent. They've traveled with me before, presumably like me (since they came back for more) and weren't scared of engaging with me.
3. Some students had me as a teacher two years ago. In my attempt to make this accessible to as many people as possible, I advertised this trip 27 months ago for smallest monthly payments since they would be spread out over 2 plus years. As a result, I haven't seen some students in 2 years and they didn't know me (read reason #2 above).
4. Neverending gossip and cliques within my group. I'll just leave it at that.
5. Phones, phones, phones. I guarantee you, some students aren't capable of telling you the names of cities we've visited, let alone any info about what we saw. As we got on the bus, earbuds would go in. In museums, noses in phones. Tour guides would talk to us, the students' backs towards them.
So this begs the question "Why did they go?" Did they want to visit Spain? Did they just happen to have money and it was a reason to get out of Union City for 10 days? Were their friends going? Did they go to get that Instagram shot? I'm honestly not sure.
And while no one likes a martyr, I do these trips for the students. As someone who travels a lot, I seek out something I can show my kids and encourage speaking Spanish and overall travel. If my students haven't learned a thing on this trip then it was a complete waste of my time.
Of course, I'm generalizing and there are
those who loved every minute of it and soaked up the experience. Most of those were in college or older with a few minor exceptions. I did get to take a 20yo on their first flight!
Three parting things that I enjoyed:
-Teaching kids who were willing to try how to eat mussels
-One student noticing how interactive the guides are
-One student saying leaving is bittersweet. They are excited to go home and see their loved ones yet enjoyed being in Spain.
As a teacher, I know our rewards come with time and patience but I won't sit on my thumbs awaiting them from this trip. With such minor victories, I am left to decide if I ever want to do this again. For now I just focus on the adult trip to Thailand in 2019 and my personal travel. Adelante!
Hello Zoya. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest in making friends. It was good to go through your blog post and come to know that your experiences in moving with the students on trips and again planning your trip with adults to Thailand in 2019. We infact would be so glad to have you come either on your way to Thailand or while coming back on your way back to Mumbai to work with us during your vacation time. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the PASTORAL MINISTRY for last 40 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reachout to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. Since you are bringing a team of adults to Thailand in the next year 2019 we would love to have you bring this team first or while going back to Mumbai to work with us as well as then going on different places of tourist interest. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends also wishing you a blessed and a Christ centred rest of the year 2018. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.
ReplyDelete