As both a teacher and student of history, I have always thought it very important, when opportunities present themselves, to take students abroad to experience first hand those things discussed in class, and having done such an excursion during my own tenure as a student, I see its value from both the perspective of a teacher as well as a student. Having previously traveled to England in 2004 helped me immensely, and gave me confidence to help students, particularly concerning traveling along the underground in London. Had I not had my previous experience in Europe, I know I would not have been as comfortable when the Lord gave me yet another opportunity to travel abroad. As I always tell my students, you never know what the Lord has in store; in 2004, I had no idea I would go back to Europe, but my first trip there, going as a student, better prepared me for what the Lord had in store for me later in life: a second trip in 2009 and now, 2011.
When in 2009 I was given the opportunity to travel to no less than 4 different European countries, seeing first hand the buildings, paintings, and important battle sites I teach about, I was more than thrilled. During the 2009 tour I saw, for the first time myself, many of things I teach about. Even more rewarding however were the connections students made as they realized that the stories talked about throughout the year are in fact not so irrelevant and that learning about those subjects can be a rewarding endeavor. As I always say, history does not truly come alive, nor is one’s appreciation of it truly realized, until one can see in person those things talked about in a classroom. Personally, this was an amazing experience, but as aforementioned, nothing could compare with watching students, many for the first time, truly come to understand the significance, and for some, the love, of history.
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