On 5/14/09, Cari wrote:
> I wish I could take a survey concerning how much preparation
> these complaining teachers did for their tours. How many
> meetings do they have with their students and their parents?
> How much do these teachers actually know about international
> travel? Do these teachers & students actually know a foreign
> language?...or has the extent of their international
> experience just been to Disneyworld?
> I have been on some tours where football coaches were the
> chaperones. On other tours, some of the teachers recruited
> random students throughout the school for a "senior class
> trip". Those teachers and students had no business going on
> educational tours like these. These students were not
> prepared one bit for what they were about to see in Europe.
> They were better off going on a cruise ship vacation
> somewhere in the ocean. Europe is NOT Disneyworld. Europe is
> old and crowded, and American students need some proper
> orientation in order to appreciate international cultures.
>
> My trips are called educational tours NOT SUMMER
> VACATIONS. The key to a successful trip is preparation. I
> spend literally years getting my students ready for these
> trips. Language acquisition, videos, meetings, and research
> play an important part in preparation. My students must prove
> to me that they can speak the language and appreciate the
> European culture for what it is, not for what they want it to
> be. After all, isn't that why we travel in the first
> place....to see another culture for what it truly is?!
>
> I alert my students, in advance, that there will be
> frustrations, delays, rain, uncooperative "foreign people",
> and hotels that are different from ours. And, Europeans don't
> necessarily speak English. That is why it is
> called "international travel"...so get over it.
>
>
> Yes I agree but what do you do when there is no meal booked
for you for dinner as has happened with Mariden or the hotels
are not 3 or 4 star as advertised and you get a roll and coffee
for breakfast.
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> On 5/12/09, Ann wrote:
>> Be aware of the difference between Mariden USA and Mariden
>> Canada. Expect problems if booking through Canada. They
>> are totally disorganised and will leave you regretting you
>> ever booked with them.

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