By Jessica Miller
Staff Writer
Students are able to learn about language and culture in ways other than sitting in a classroom, and the Mira Costa France trip allows students to do just that.
The school France trip is the oldest trip at Costa, starting over 25 years ago when Linda Fredericks and Bill Fauver took six students to France. Now, the trip is an annual tradition that has grown to over 40 students and seven adult chaperons traveling to France each year.
“I was fortunate enough to become a part of this Costa tradition 10 years ago when I starting teaching French at Costa,” French teacher Lauri Gonalons said. “I think what makes our trip special is its reputation for being all about culture and our philosophy of self-reliance and appreciating everyone’s unique talents.”
Gonalons chaperoned the trip along with teachers Timothy Hirsh, Erin Doyle, and Fauver. Because Costa has worked with the same company for over 20 years, the France trip gets many privileges that most school trips don’t get, such as they are the only trip to request the same guide each year. The trip’s guide, Julian, has been guiding for over 30 years and is a walking encyclopedia with information about each city.
“Students who sign up for our trip have heard enough stories about Julian that they feel they know him before they’ve even met him,” Gonalons said. “Julian can answer any question a student has about art, history, architecture, music, culture, and language, and he does it with panache.”
The group stayed in three and four star hotels that are centrally located and don’t normally take student groups, but each year students prove they are worthy of this privilege because they are invited back. The goals of the trip are to give students the tools to be smart travelers, the responsibility each day to be independent, and to allow them to have fun while exploring France’s culture, cuisine, and language.
“I think it is important for everyone to realize at a young age that there exists an expansive and profound world to explore outside of the United States,” Hirsh said. “People often wrongfully assume that if a territory is not integral to the progression of the United States, then it has nothing to offer.”
The group spent two nights in Nice, then traveled by bus to the City of Avignon to see the old Roman Arena and Papal Palace. They traveled into northern France to the city of Sarlat before visiting magical Renaissance castles in Loire Valley. The trip then took them to the Atlantic coastal town of St. Malo in Brittany, and finally, to Paris.
“You get to see a completely different culture and there aren’t many chances to be able to go to a foreign country,” Junior Natalie Rice said. “It was so great to be able to explore different beautiful cities with friends.”
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