“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Today is a hard day for me and a truly exciting one for my youngest son, Daniel. Today a group of teachers and students from Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton, Ontario are leaving on a 9 day tour of England and Scotland. They will be visiting all of the sites in London, touring Windsor Castle, and visiting Stonehenge and Bath. They will also be touring Oxford University, visiting Stratford to see where Shakespeare was born and the cottage where his wife, Anne Hathaway, grew up. They will continue on to Yorkshire where they will visit the city of York and York Minster cathedral. Then the adventure will move on to Scotland where they will see Housesteads, site of one of the best-preserved forts along Hadrian’s Wall. The last couple of days will be spent exploring Edinburgh, the birthplace of my great great grandfather McLaren. Wow, what an experience this will be!!
Coming from Canada, a country that is so huge most Canadians don’t see half of it in their lifetime, it constantly amazes us that in the UK and Europe you can visit many countries in a matter of days and see so many different cultures. I highly doubt Daniel slept much last night because this is going to be a very new experience for him. He has never even been on a plane before, and he has never been off of this continent. Visiting different areas in our own Province of Ontario and a couple of drives down to the Southern USA are his only travel experiences.
We sent our older son, Bryan, on two of these school trips during his high school years, and they were certainly life changing experiences. The cost is quite high and many might think that the money would have been better put to use in an education fund, but I disagree. This, to me, is the best form of education you can buy. I’m sure that Daniel will come home a different person with his eyes open far wider than they were before, and it will become one of his most cherished memories. I was able to join my son, Bryan, on his trip in 2010, and I will never forget a moment of that experience. So, safe travels to my baby. I can’t wait to hear your stories and see your pictures when you get home.
photos from the loonybin 
Oh Wow… This sounds super exciting!! I loved the charm of Stratford & obviously all the touristy London stuff!!! It sounds like this indeed will be an awesome experience!!! Good luck Cindy – I can’t think it is an easy thing you’re doing!! 🙂 **
I must say that I am doing much better than the first time my older son, Bryan, went to Europe. I must be getting used to it, but you always worry when it is your child. I will be a lot better when I know the plane has landed safely tomorrow morning. It’s almost time for me to take him up to the school, and I think he is ready to burst with excitement. 🙂
Cindy, you are so right. There’s nothing better than to expand one’s horizons to gain new perspectives from vastly expanded horizons. Growing up near Detroit, I thought I’d really traveled when I’d crossed the river into Windsor, but when I was selected to travel with our university choir to participate in an 8-week singing tour including Japan, Hong Kong, Manila, Taiwan (then Formosa), and Hawaii, my eyes opened and I began to yearn for ever more. Good for you both!
It’s amazing how much horizons have expanded for young people nowadays. When my husband and I were in school our big trips were all confined to Ontario, so the fact that our children have had the opportunity to go to Europe with their school is just incredible. I’m so glad we were able to do this for them!!
How very wise you are! These trips definitely make a huge difference in a person’s perspective on things. I think it’s really the people in all the countries who have the most impact, especially on young minds and I hope we’ll be reading your blogs about Bryan’s impressions when he returns!
Thanks Dor :). Daniel is really into history, so I think he will find this trip very rewarding, and I have made him promise to take lots of pictures (even though he is not much into photography). I will definitely post some when he gets home!!
Travelling is an experience that can never be taken away from one. Tells us how his trip went when he gets back.
That is so true! The one trip that I went on with my older son definitely gave me the travel bug. I’m hoping that once my kids are out on their own and we aren’t always paying for them to go on trips (LOL) maybe my hubby and I can do some travelling! 🙂 I told him he had to take lots of pictures, so hopefully I can do a few posts about his trip when he gets back. Thanks for being interested 🙂
I love travelling and, like you, hope to do so again once I am no longer paying to raise children. 🙂
Hear, hear, let the planning of our post raising children dream trips begin!! LOL
Hooray for Windsor Castle! He will be right here in my town, isn’t that strange to think! 🙂
I never set foot on a plane until I was 17, almost 3 years ago, and since then I have been on over 20 flights! It certainly is one of the best experiences a person can have!
I hope he has a wonderful time here, and I can’t wait to hear his opinions! 🙂
I went to England in 2010 with my older son, but we never had the opportunity to see Windsor Castle :(. I wish we had, but there was just so much to see and not enough time. That is so cool that he will be in your town and totally awesome that you have been able to do so much travelling at such a young age. I really hope that I will be able to do more travelling in the years to come. I loved every minute of my experience, and I can’t wait for Daniel to come home so I can share his experiences with all of my blogging friends. 🙂
What a great way to learn, good on you I think it’s a great choice
Thank you so much! I always thought it would be a great experience, but after my older son came back from his first trip like this, he was so excited about his travels that I knew for sure I would send Daniel too if he had the opportunity. It has been expensive but totally worth it. 🙂
my parents sent me overseas when I refused to go to university, I’m still in the UK 14 years later married with 2 kids and overjoyed that they did something for their nasty dissafected teenager instead of forcing him(me) to do something that I had no interest in, sure I might like to have a degree now but at 17 when I left for that first time with wide eyes and an even wider backpack forcing me into a college or university would have just resulted in still not having a degree and none of the life experiences I gained along the way, now in my 30’s I’m just about ready to know what I want to do with my life and begin studying again. Once again I aplaud your choice
Thanks again! That must have been a very hard thing for your parents to do, but it sounds like they had you figured out!! Parenting is not an easy job, but we hope that the decisions we make will give our kids the best chance at a happy and successful life. 🙂
That sounds like one heck of a school trip. Surely something he’ll remember for a life time.
Oh most definitely! I think he will come back a changed person, and I mean in a good way. I can’t wait to see his pictures! 🙂
I wish him well. England is a wonderful country and I’m excited to hear what he thinks of Scotland since I have not made my way up there yet. I’ll keep my eye out for his group 😉
Thanks TBM! They landed safely and even a half hour or so early! And I too am excited to hear about Scotland because that is where my mom’s side of the family comes from. Do or die, I will get there one day!! How are you doing with the weather arrangements? LOL
Uh not good…it rained this morning and is a little chilly. I just don’t have the power that I used to.
Well, keep working on it please :). I know you can do it!! It’s going to be sunny and 23C here today, but I think there is rain heading our way too.
Hey now I can’t be blamed for your rain 🙂 23C sounds delightful. I don’t remember, what is the warmth from the sun like.
It is glorious!!! After I dropped Daniel off at the school yesterday, I sat out on my deck reading, and it was wonderful with all the birds chirping and the frogs croaking. Sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in, but you asked! LOL 🙂 And don’t worry, I won’t blame you if we get rain. I’m off to work now – have a wonderful day!
Hey, I thought you might get a chuckle out of Daniel’s first Facebook status from England. They finally found WIFI at a cafe. This is what he said, “Chillin’ at a little cafe in front of a castle in England. No big deal or anything. Having blast! :D” They are at Windsor Castle today, and it sounds like he is having a great time!!
How absolutely wonderful for him! It will indeed be a life changing experience for him – I remember my first trip overseas as being just that. And I know it’s not easy for you, but kudo’s to you for letting him go. I agree that this is worth a LOT more than putting the money towards his college education. 🙂
Thank you so much? I appreciate the support so much, but oh how I miss him. My heart aches, and I can’t wait for him to come home and tell us about all of his exciting adventures!!
Hi! I’m new to your blog. Love it already! And I’m quite envious of that trip to the UK. 🙂
Scotland is the #1 place that I would like to visit one day. England is #2. Ah… one day it will happen! Looking forward to reading more on your blog!
Hi and welcome to the Loonybin!! I’m so glad you are enjoying my blog. Scotland is #1 on my travel list too because I am into genealogy, and my great great grandfather was born in Edinburgh. I really hoped I could go on this trip with my son because I went on one with my older son 2 years ago, but they wanted to give another parent a chance. Oh well :(. One day I will definitely get there!!