THE LAST POST

I am so glad that i was given the chance to go on this trip. I feel like I learned much more than I ever thought a trip could teach me. It really has been fun getting to know people who I dont really hang out with much at school. The best part of the trip for me was going to the channel islands. It was so beautiful and clean out there! I loved it!! I never knew that one state could have so many different landscapes. We saw cities, mountains, deserts, valleys, rivers, the ocean, and so much more. This trip has taught me so much about me and the people all around me! Im very glad that I went.

Last Post

This was an unforgettable minimester, i really had fun and experienced a lot. I was really amazed at the great views i saw. Especially those in the national parks. Besides those natural view, we also toured the cities. The two nights in Las Vegas were pretty fun. Also, the chinatown and fishermen's wharf in SF, together with the shopping in LA, was amazing. We got to see different views, people, and lifestyles. To me the most unforgettable part of this trip was the life in the RV. In the narrow space, every of us learned to live, talk and respect each other. Even though it was not convenient to make the meals, find the wireless, take shower, make the bed, it was really an unique life experience. I would also like to thank all the teacher who prepared and participated in the trip. Thank you for all the preparation and hours and hours of driving. It was a great time in California and learn something outside the school.
By Joan Ge

Like the others, first i want to say thank you so much to all of the teachers and my amazing friends for making this trip possible. It was great and i wouldn't have picked anywehre else! Second, i would like to say that i reccoment california. To anyone. Haha.
I got so much out of this trip. Not only did i learn how to keep an RV clean (most of the time) but i learned so much insight from Travels With Charlie and the amazing expieriences from everything we did. It was so great to be able to go see beautiful trees and mountains, and then a day later (after MUCH driving) get to go to incredible cities. Again, thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. All of my friends and family were suprised when i told them of all the things i'd seen. They loved the stories of the coyote, walking through a huge tree, a jumping into the pacific ocean! All in all this trip was such an incredible expirience and i loved sharing it with everyone who was on it, and i hoped you all got as much out of it as i did!

Last Post

WOW! The first thing I can say is I am such a smart person to pick the minimester trip to California. I wouldn't want to spend it anywhere else but there. The experiences were once and a life time opportunities. For one I would like to thank all of the Teachers for making this trip possible.
When we got in the airplane and left Virginia I was kind of scared about the places I was going to see ahead of me. The plane ride was fun and exciting and I was just so anxious. I would have to say the hotels were nice and after all the time spent in an RV I will probably never ride in one again. I think the bumpy roads and long trips just gave me a headache. I loved the RV I was in but after awhile I think everyone starting going crazy from being so close.
The places I saw when I was on this trip were all so amazing they would take your breathe away with one glimse. The thought of following a book to places halfway across the world seems silly,but I think that after all of this it doesn't sound that silly anymore. I went into this trip thinking it was just a vacation from school and came out with life experiences that I will make sure never leave me while I step out into this world. I did things on this trip that I never thought I would do but it shows me that this place we call home is full of surprises.

Post California

This trip was a new experience. I was not vey excitted to go at fist because I feared that if I had to high of hopes they would not be met and I would not have a great time. However I had an amazing time. I did not only learn more about myself and the way I enteract with others but also more about the west. I live in Montana so I am use to the mountains and everything but i was not use to the lifestlye there. For the most part everyone was very nice. We did have one run in with a lady who tried to blame us for her missing her doctors appointment. But then we had people help us find parking. I pushed myself to new limits which many people where surprised when i told them I jumped into the pacfic ocean. I think the girls in my RV was more surprised. But I could not let them have all of the fun! It was beautiful in California and I will never forget this trip out west. I will never forget all the views. The ocean, the animals, the HUGE trees, the lights of Vegas. This was an experience I hope everyone will be able to have one time in their life!

Last Post

Ending Post!

Although mini-mester is over and we will soon all be returning to finish out the year, the California girls hold their heads high! Throughout our trip we have had so many life altering experiences, some of which i never thought i would experience. I consistently found myself saying throughout the trip, "well that is one thing i can check off my list of things to do before i die." It is truly amazing to know that throughout this trip we all lived life to the fullest extent. I mean honestly how many people can say that they jumped into the pacific ocean off Anacapa Island in Mid-March??? This trip was an eye opening experience, and had to be approached with the right attitude. Since i have been home i have frequently been asked.... "So was it hard living in an RV?" My answer has been the same everytime.... "well of course not because the girls and teachers were amazing!!!!" Not only did this trip offer amazing experiences, but it also offered opportunities to spend time with girls i barely see at school. Looking back on the first day we arrived in Las Vegas i realize how little i actually knew about the West side of America. As i snow shoed in sequoia, hiked up the trail to see the GREAT General Grant, or took pictures on the Ansel Adams tour in Yosemite i finally realized how amazing America is! The trip was perfectly balanced with the National Parks framing our schedule for the first days, and the large cities framing the schedule for the last few days. On the second to last day as i walked through LA, i decided once and for all that New York was overrated and LA is the place to be. Walking down Rodeo Drive looking at the fabulous shoes that i could definitely not pull off we actually saw Carmen Electra shooting a add!! This was definitely the highlight of that day. However, the next day we had to say good-bye to our home for the last 10 days and head back to Virginia. We were all in the dumps as we arrived back at the Westin (and lets just say i am not so sure they were excited to see us 20 girls with large suitcases.......) But the amazing chaperones of this trip surprised us!!!! How does one say good-bye to the wild west better than a night out in Las Vegas with an amazing group of friends and teachers........IN LIMOS!!!! This trip was sooo amazing and i have gotten to know my fellow students and teachers better. As i told one of my teachers... "I use to just ignore you because i was scared of you, but now i realize how cool you are!!" This was an amazing mini-mester and i will never forget the sights i saw, the memories created, or the friendships i made during it.  

Natalie Clark 

GO Island Packers [or Jumpers??? :)]

Post Cali

Leaving California and Vegas was quit hard. So many new memories were created there with a lovely group of girls and faculty. I remember every bit of the trip and hope to remember for the years to come- from funny memories such as our wonderful RV conversations to more serious memories such as the knowledge we learned about the history of sites and people. Day one was tiring from traveling but once we reached Vegas, we all got a second wind and partied up the streets. When we first got the RVs we were all excited for our road rules adventure to begin. We all found things to do on the road and had random conversations and many nap times to pass the time by. Who knew what the next conversation would lead to...Anyways we had many great photo opportunities and great opportunities to appreciate the beauty of nature. While I enjoyed nature's beauty, my personal favorites of the trip were Vegas, San Fransisco, and LA. I like being in the city and wandering around town with the girls. I do have to admit Yosemite was gorgeous and is among my favorite sites as well. After our long road adventure we ended back at the hotel in Vegas. The girls went their separate ways to see what the streets of Vegas have to offer once again. We met at the hotel at night for a surprise- a limo ride. woo hoo! We partied it up in the limos before going to bed to leave the next morning. Thanks to this road trip, most car rides seem relatively short. On a more serious note thought, this trip seriously has taught me so much and allowed to me mature in a way to live with a group of girls and to accommodate to small living situations. It was nice to break away from the materialist world we live in today and only travel with so much and slow down to take in reality and what the world has to offer. I enjoyed this trip so much and could not have asked for a better time! Thank you to all the drivers who put up with us girls and driving us every which way, literally. Thanks to the girls for being so nice and fun. it was a good group and i enjoyed being with everyone!

Elise Bailey

The Island Packers