The Eiffel Tower, the Duomo, and Venice’s Grand Canal are all places BSM students have an opportunity to visit next June. Those who go on the Benilde-St Margaret’s Europe trip next summer will see breathtaking destinations throughout Europe, and will travel to places that they have learned about in history classes. These places include Normandy Beach, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Venice, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Travelers will get the chance to connect topics in the classroom with real places and gain a new perspective on the world around them.
Jeff Cohen teaches AP US History and AP European History; this school year he is creating a new opportunity to explore Europe. At other schools, Cohen has successfully taken students on a Europe trip, now he is hoping to continue his tradition of giving students a chance to gain a wider perspective on the world and European history.
Many students struggle to connect the things they’re learning about in history class with real places and people. However, Cohen’s Europe trip offers students the opportunity to explore the places they may learn about in class and make meaningful connections to history. The Europe trip is not exclusive to students in Cohen’s AP European History class either, and fortunately, many of the destinations connect to US History as well. “I’ve always, in the past, made [the trip] open to anybody interested in coming…I try to also pick spots and visit sites that connect with a class that I’m teaching in that year,” Cohen said.
[I’m] definitely [looking forward to] the food, croissants in Paris, and we’re doing a lot of private tours with tour guides
— Marina Vanhoff
While visiting Paris, students will make many connections to not only European History, but United States History, too, “Several treaties of Paris were signed in that city…in the late 18th century, [and] all the way through World War One in which the United States played a leading role…some of the founding fathers of the country, Jefferson [and] Franklin, lived and spent significant time in Paris,” Cohen said.
Ideally, 12 to 20 students will go on the trip next summer, and experience beauty throughout Italy and France. The group will have the opportunity to form new connections and friendships with their peers. “It’s been really nice. It’s big enough that we have a lot of fun. But also small enough that, you know, we all get to know each other a lot better than we did before we left and that’s part of the fun of the trip,” Cohen said.
For students who are on the fence about taking the trip, the flavorful Italian and Parisian food is a powerful incentive. Sophomore Marina Vonhof is signed up to take the trip next summer, and she is very excited about trying new foods while she is there. “[I’m] definitely [looking forward to] the food, croissants in Paris, and we’re doing a lot of private tours with tour guides,” Marina said.