ROHS teachers Brittney Laurent and Gabrielle Buttazoni began planning an international trip for students well over a year ago, and that trip came to fruition in June, when the two teachers accompanied sixty students and chaperones on a European tour that included visits to four countries: France, Belgium, England and The Netherlands.The group made stops in Paris, Brussels, London and Amsterdam. Laurent, a social studies teacher, and Buttazzoni, an English teacher, also co sponsor the school’s Model UN program, and considered several factors in planning the trip.

“Ms. Buttazoni and I wanted to choose various places around Europe to get as many people to want to go as we could,” Laurent said.
“We also chose places that went along with our curriculum.”
The group traveled to four cities in eleven days, including two days of travel. In these nine days of touring, Laurent said that they had some complications with transportation.
“While on our way to the Lourve, we got caught up in traffic and were close four hours late to our scheduled time,” she said.
In order to avoid communication barriers, Laurent and Buttazzoni planned visits to places with many tourists and people who spoke English.

“We had a lot of French speakers in our group, and I spoke French the whole time we were in Paris, but other than that, most people saw us and knew they should speak English to us,” Laurent said.
The group visited the Atomium, a chocolate-making workshop, and a grand cathedral during their time in Brussels.
“Everyone went on a sort of walking tour of the rest of Brussels. It’s kind of interesting because Brussels and Amsterdam have certain regulations, where tour guides can’t actually lead tours in
the city, so we kind of had the information on where to go and a bunch of Google Maps to follow,” said Buttazzoni, who explained that it was a fun experience and made the trip more interesting and interactive. Students also enjoyed the trip and noted some highlights.
“My favorite place I visited was probably Brussels because of the scenery and the food. I also liked the new things I experienced like chocolate making,” said junior Lauren Wickey. “I tried a Belgian waffle in Brussels, and this isn’t really new food, but [I also tried] a Brussels traditional cone of fries.”
Students created bonds with other students they wouldn’t have connected with otherwise.
“A lot of people were on the trip that I didn’t know, and I ended up talking to almost all of them at least once,” said Wickey. “It felt very cool to share one experience with so many people,
and if I were to have a choice to do it again, I would.”