Beth-Center students take journey across the pond
Ever since Spanish teacher Ray VanSickle visited Europe as a student in the early 1980s, he’s made it his mission to pass along his travel bug to his own students.
This summer, he and French teacher Paula Lancas, led a nine-day trip to Europe, exposing Bethlehem-Center High School students, parents and community members to a variety of sights and sounds in London, Paris and Madrid.
“The trip was great,” VanSickle said. “We had gorgeous weather.”
In London, the first stop on their journey, most of the group headed directly to the famous London Eye along the Thames River for the spectacular views of the city as they ascended 443 feet in the air on the giant Ferris wheel.
Other popular sites included St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Kensington Palace and Trafalgar Square.
“Westminster Abbey is more than 950 years old, while the United States is 200 years old,” VanSickle said. “To expose the kids to something that is 1,000 years old, for them it’s mesmerizing, amazing.”
Departing London, the group traveled on the Chunnel Train to Paris.
According to VanSickle, using mass transportation was an important part of the trip.
“Just by using mass transportation, they learn a lot, especially because the kids are from a small town,” VanSickle said. “It’s challenging getting a group of 40 people on and off the subway.”
The group headed to Montmartre, Paris’ highest hill to view the Sacré-Coeur, the white-domed basilica that anchors the Parisian skyline. The group then traveled out of the city and visited the Palace of Versailles and then back into Paris to visit the great Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Other sites visited were Napoléon’s Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre Museum and the Opéra Garnier. According to VanSickle, one evening, the group was able to see all of Paris “transformed into a wonderland like no other” during a Bateaux-Mouches cruise along the River Seine.
Madrid was the final stop on the group’s journey, where students had the opportunity to visit the Plaza Mayor, Calle de Cuchilleros, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with the Cervantes Monument, Gran Vía, Calle Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Cibeles and Neptune Fountains. VanSickle said the stop in Madrid, however, would not have been complete without a visit to the famous Prado Museum.
VanSickle said because each student spent nearly $4,000 on the trip, he and Lancas expose them to as many sites as they can.
“They learn that the world is very little, but it’s expensive to go,” he said.
Some of his students have had to choose between taking this once-in-a-lifetime journey, or a car — an offer made by their parents.
“I’ve heard them say, ‘We’re so glad we didn’t take the car,’ VanSickle said. “The students’ eyes are completely open after one of these trips. Oftentimes, we have kids who have never been on an airplane, and now they’re being exposed to cultures and languages they don’t know.”
VanSickle has taken students on a variety of trips over the years, with stops in Mexico, and other European cities and regions, such as Barcelona, Spain and northern or southern France.
The past five trips have been to Europe.
“My countries may stay the same, but cities will change,” he said.
In addition to the choice in capital cities, this year’s trip was unique as VanSickle invited Belle Vernon High School students along on the trip.
One of VanSickle’s former students, is now the French teacher at Belle Vernon.
His goal was to show the staff at Belle Vernon, how to plan a group trip, so that they can have success with them in the future.
VanSickle also hopes to schedule a few more trips before he retires, and is already considering his options.
He’s considering Puerto Rico, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. He’s also had requests from parents to do another trip to Ireland, Scotland and England.
In 2005, VanSickle took a group of students to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
“If I see the desire is there, I’ll try to make it happen,” VanSickle said. “This trip isn’t about me, it’s about them.”
VanSickle himself has been on multiple trips abroad, and has traveled to 53 countries and 49 of the 50 states.
“I’ve been around the block a few times and it’s nice to take the kids along,” VanSickle said.