An overview to date from Susan...

Hello from the Isle of Wight in the UK. We are at the UK Sailing School today through Sunday morning. I'll write more about that in a minute.

Our visit in Belgium was enlightening. Our WWII guide in Brussels, Henri, gave us a detailed account of the events there fighting the Germans. We toured the barracks and saw various styles of tanks up close. His personal stories of that time, when he was under the age of 15, helped us to understand just how difficult it as for the residents when the Nazis occupied their land.

We toured downtown Brussels, learned how to make chocolate candy and did some taste testing. Belgian waffels and ice cream were also treats we shared.

On to France and Paris! We visited Notre Dame and our visit to the Louvre museum allowed us to see some world famous art treasures and answer questions for a team competition quiz. We've got some pretty bright students!

We climbed the 200+ steps to the Sacre Coeur basilica, a breathtaking white wonder, and then shopped a bit in the Mont Marte area before eating lunch with an appetizer of escargo and frog legs.

Then on to the Eiffel Tower...we took the elevator up and some went all the way to the top! You're going to see some awesome photos of our Paris tour.

On the coach ride one day, we had a talent show. Some of the students sang and Sam told a joke. Then our surprise...TJ can speak both like deep bass James Earle Jones and Alvin the Chipmunk. He has been entertaining us ever since.

Our guide for the Normandy visit, Anne Marie, a local native, told us of the events on D-Day and of the nearly 10,000 Americans who sacrificed their lives there. We laid a wreath during a ceremony at the cemetary which was quite moving and they played the US national anthem. Then we toured bunkers on the beach at one site and some collected sand at the Omaha Beach site where another memorial is erected.

Finally last night we arrived at the port of Caen to board our overnight ferry. We could not board until after 10 PM and set sail about 11 PM. The students were tired and we sent them straight to their rooms for bed. There was no cell phone signal while on the ferry if some of you missed a call.

Up early this morning for our 45 min. boat ride on the Jenny M to the Isle of Wight from Portsmouth. Few escaped getting a good soaking from the rough waves. It's a bit chilly here but the students are having a fine time at the sailing school. Wet suits keep them warm enough for the activities and competitions. Tomorrow they build rafts. What fun!

On that note, we have had spotty WiFi service at the hotels and some have had difficulties with phone service.

We've had a few homesick moments, and after a phone call and a few tears, everyone seems to perk up. Let me remind you that when you speak with your child in the evening, he/she is tired and that is when they are missing home. Asking about favorite memories of the day and what they are looking forward to helps. Everyone seems to be bonding and making friends. With a few minor behavior issues, mostly with using electronics when not appropriate and missing personal items (because they are no keeping those items in backpacks and are just laying them down), we have had many compliments from our hosts.

One thing I do fear is that they are not getting sleep at night and are staying up talking and watching TV. They fall asleep everytime we get on the coach bus, sometimes during tour guide talks, which can be embarrassing for us. Please encourage your students to get enough sleep at night so they are ready for our daily activities.

Please know that no one is sick, even though we've had a few headaches and upset tummies and sore throats, but nothing that lasted more than a day with rest. They aren't drinking enough water, which can contribute to ill feelings, so we keep encouraging them to drink water at all meals and to fill up their bottles whenever possible. The meals have been healthy and plentiful. Sometimes full hot breakfasts and other times cold cereal and breads. Lunches and dinners have varied with beef, pork, and fish and often the students were able to make meat and vegetable choices.

They were off to the Rec Room after pool games and crawfishing last night and tonight they are learning a few tips on playing rugby.

Until later, chums...
Susan