Field Trips

Do you remember the excitement of field trips when you were in school? Field trips meant getting out of the classroom, seeing something new, and socializing with friends on the bus. Recently I found out that field trips haven’t changed much. Whether you are in kindergarten visiting the local fire station or in college visiting a new country, field trips are pretty cool.

Last month our family (Jim, Joline, Joshua, and Jennifer) went on a four day field trip with the 34 law students who have been studying in London for the semester. The trip is called the European Union (EU) Tour because we visited three EU countries to learn about the legal institutions there. The EU started in 1951 when a few countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) wanted to cooperate economically. Now there are 28 countries including the United Kingdom which work together in areas of economics, law and order, and human rights. We visited three of the original EU countries: Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. Just like when we were kids, we got out of the classroom, saw something new, and socialized with friends on the bus.

Belgian Waffles in Belgium

European Union Court of Justice in Luxembourg

American Cemetery and WWII Memorial in Luxembourg

Strasbourg, France

Cathedral in Strasbourg at night

Counting before getting back on bus –
no student left behind!

Last week Jessica took a five day field trip to Sicily with about 50 Pepperdine students who are studying with her in Florence for the year. She said that some of the highlights were eating cassata siciliana cakes and climbing Mt. Etna. Yes, they were aware that it is an active volcano, but it was only steaming while they were walking, not erupting. Jessica said it was really cold on the mountain so the steam was nice because it kept their feet warm.