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Community Corner

Local Students See Europe with SITE

Student International Travel Experiences is led by local teachers.

Local high school students have a wonderful opportunity to see Europe and expand their horizons, literally and figuratively. Amy and Jim Morrison, both Los Angeles teachers, take students on a two-week tour each summer with their non-profit organization SITE (Student International Travel Experiences). Amy Morrison teaches French at Marshall High School, and has been leading SITE trips since 2009.

Morrison explains that, as a nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with the school district, they can raise funds with tax-deductible donations and help supplement the costs of the trip. The ultimate goal is to provide partial or full scholarships to students so more teens can experience the tours that SITE offers. At present, donated funds and goods help supplement the costs of the trip.

The goal of a SITE tour is not just to see famous landmarks–it’s to open up the students to different cultures and experiences. “Teenagers are the easiest people in the world to change,” says Morrison. A trip abroad can “break down their ideas” about foreign countries and refresh their perspective on their home. Morrison and her husband both had the opportunity to travel when they were young. “We’re very simple,” she says. “Going to Europe changed our lives.” It’s an experience they now want to share with as many kids as they can.

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Krystal Betanzos went on her first trip abroad–and her first plane ride–in the summer of 2010 with SITE. It was an “eye-opener,” she says. The trip varies each summer, so Betanzos got to experience London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Athens. The SITE group traveled by plane, train, bus and boat. Experiencing so many different cultures in a short time “makes your thinking that much bigger,” she says.

Her mother, Rosie, was nervous about letting her daughter travel at first, but she trusted the Morrisons. Now, she declares, “It’s the best experience.” She hopes more teens can get involved, especially those who might not otherwise ever be able to get the chance to travel to Europe. But the best part for Betanzos was hearing her daughter say “I miss you” when calling home. Morrison agrees that one of the benefits of the trip is that the teens “go back home and appreciate their parents.”

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The SITE trip leaders give the kids limited responsibilities while ensuring a safe trip. The Morrisons are always prepared and want to make the teens as independent as they can during the tour. They also try to honor the financial contributions of the parents, since the trip can cost nearly $3,800. Cell phones are not allowed. Students are meant to be engaged and aware the entire time they are traveling. As for Morrison, although visiting Europe again is always fun, the real benefit for her is intangible. “Watching the kids–that’s what I get out of it,” she says.

Applications are still being accepted for the summer 2012 tour. Students must have studied a foreign language for two years, be at least 16 years old and have a 3.0 GPA. The itinerary will include Paris and a Mediterranean cruise to Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Mallorca and Tangier, Morocco. You can learn more on SITE's web site, sitetravel.org.

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