Breakfast with the homestay family. Then the delegation met up to head to Wales for the day.
First up was a Welsh Village museum visit. Of course it rained on and off. Seems like it is always raining when we have something to do outside. We don't let it get us down though!!!
Next up - The Big Pit coal mine. This isn't a working mine, so students were geared up and taken down into the "big pit". They all seemed to enjoy it.
Dinner was with the homestay family.
Tomorrow we leave Hereford for Warwick.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 5 - Hereford, England
We started the morning with breakfast with our homestay families. Then we met up with the rest of the delegation in town.
Students had a city quest to complete in the city of Hereford. I must admit that the city was much larger than your first impression allows. Students had different points to visit with questions to answer over each point.
About halfway through our city quest we took time out to meet with the Madam Mayor. The mayor of the city only serves for one year, and it's VERY difficult to hold the job twice. While in office, the individual who is serving as mayor is also referred to as the First Citizen. People in the town consider it a great honor to serve as mayor of the city.
Dinner with the homestay families.
Tomorrow - Hereford and part of Wales
Students had a city quest to complete in the city of Hereford. I must admit that the city was much larger than your first impression allows. Students had different points to visit with questions to answer over each point.
About halfway through our city quest we took time out to meet with the Madam Mayor. The mayor of the city only serves for one year, and it's VERY difficult to hold the job twice. While in office, the individual who is serving as mayor is also referred to as the First Citizen. People in the town consider it a great honor to serve as mayor of the city.
Dinner with the homestay families.
Tomorrow - Hereford and part of Wales
Monday, June 6, 2011
Day 4 - London and Hereford
Students woke up a little nervous knowing they were going to be meeting their homestay families today.
We began with a guided tour of London with Jeanie. This was my 3rd tour guide for the city. It never fails to amaze me how much there is to see of the city ad how every guide has different information to share.
We went to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. Of course it rained, so we saw the "wet" version of the change as opposed to the full version. No band, no black fuzzy hats. Just a quick march in with the new guard and march out with the old. I hate that the first time visitors didn't get to see the whole shebang.
Lunch was fish and chips. Always a favorite, at least for me.
Next it was off to Hereford to meet our homestay families. We were happy to find out that none of our students were in single homestays. That eased the trepidation somewhat.
Tomorrow - Hereford
We began with a guided tour of London with Jeanie. This was my 3rd tour guide for the city. It never fails to amaze me how much there is to see of the city ad how every guide has different information to share.
We went to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. Of course it rained, so we saw the "wet" version of the change as opposed to the full version. No band, no black fuzzy hats. Just a quick march in with the new guard and march out with the old. I hate that the first time visitors didn't get to see the whole shebang.
Lunch was fish and chips. Always a favorite, at least for me.
Next it was off to Hereford to meet our homestay families. We were happy to find out that none of our students were in single homestays. That eased the trepidation somewhat.
Tomorrow - Hereford
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Day 3 - London, England
Today we got to experience the London Underground. The students had fun and no one got left behind. That's quite an accomplishment when you're talking 44 middle school students!
We started our day taking the above ground train from our hotel into the city before catching the underground. First on our agenda - a meeting with an MP - Patrick Nichols at the London School of Economics. He began by speaking for a little while on English government and politics. He ended by speaking about how much he loves the USA. I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Nichols a few years ago. I came away feeling very proud to be an American (nothing better than a Brit making you feel proud to be American)!
We had a Medieval Banquet for lunch and were greeted by King Henry VIII himself!
Off to cruise the River Thames. Of course, typical of the UK, it began to rain as we waited to board our boat. Luckily the boat was covered.
Dinner was a the New World Chinese Restaurant. It was very good!
We wrapped up our evening by going to the theatre in London. On the playbill - Thriller Live! The music was absolutely fabulous! All the singers and dancers really knew their Michael Jackson.
We were cutting it close getting back to our hotel. We had about 15 minutes to make the connection between the underground and above ground to catch the last train out to the hotel. Luckily, we made it with about 8 minutes to spare.
Tomorrow we leave London for Hereford!
We started our day taking the above ground train from our hotel into the city before catching the underground. First on our agenda - a meeting with an MP - Patrick Nichols at the London School of Economics. He began by speaking for a little while on English government and politics. He ended by speaking about how much he loves the USA. I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Nichols a few years ago. I came away feeling very proud to be an American (nothing better than a Brit making you feel proud to be American)!
We had a Medieval Banquet for lunch and were greeted by King Henry VIII himself!
Off to cruise the River Thames. Of course, typical of the UK, it began to rain as we waited to board our boat. Luckily the boat was covered.
Dinner was a the New World Chinese Restaurant. It was very good!
We wrapped up our evening by going to the theatre in London. On the playbill - Thriller Live! The music was absolutely fabulous! All the singers and dancers really knew their Michael Jackson.
We were cutting it close getting back to our hotel. We had about 15 minutes to make the connection between the underground and above ground to catch the last train out to the hotel. Luckily, we made it with about 8 minutes to spare.
Tomorrow we leave London for Hereford!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Day 2 - London, England
Today we met our delegation leader - Phillip Brett of Northern Ireland. A very tall Irish man!
Once we were all loaded up onto our coach, we headed off to Runnymede. It's a memorial on American soil that the English have dedicated in JFK's memory.
Next it was off to lunch at Auberge. Afterwards, the London Eye. The largest observation wheel int he world! The view from the top (400+ feet in the air) is amazing.
Dinner was at the Square Restaurant at The Royal Trafalgar London Hotel. Then off to our hotel for the night - Premier Inn London at the Excel. It was located very close to the hotel I stayed at the last time I was in London.
We were all very tired from the full day of flying followed by a full day of activities. We did bed check as soon as we hit the hotel.
Tomorrow - London
Once we were all loaded up onto our coach, we headed off to Runnymede. It's a memorial on American soil that the English have dedicated in JFK's memory.
Next it was off to lunch at Auberge. Afterwards, the London Eye. The largest observation wheel int he world! The view from the top (400+ feet in the air) is amazing.
Dinner was at the Square Restaurant at The Royal Trafalgar London Hotel. Then off to our hotel for the night - Premier Inn London at the Excel. It was located very close to the hotel I stayed at the last time I was in London.
We were all very tired from the full day of flying followed by a full day of activities. We did bed check as soon as we hit the hotel.
Tomorrow - London
Friday, June 3, 2011
Day 1 - Flying
Spending all day on an airplane is not my idea of fun. Some of the students have realized this as well. Although for those who had their first plane ride today, I'm sure it was pretty exciting. Nothing really exciting happened today, which is good at 30,000+ feet in the air. I do think that my students enjoyed meeting the students from Arizona.
Tomorrow - London! My favorite city to visit.
Tomorrow - London! My favorite city to visit.
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