Our Trip Home by Wyatt Hartford (Friday, 7 June)

It was unfortunately our last day in France, and time for the trip home. As a group, we all arrived at La Place Bellecour at 7:00 a.m. in order to take our bus to the airport. With heavy hearts to leave our exchange families, but excitement to see our own again, we said our final goodbyes to our friends in Lyon.

Surprisingly, the bus ride to the airport was not as loud as one would expect. Usually, whenever a group of high school students get the opportunity to board a bus, they take it as their chance to goof off and laugh with each other, usually louder than the chaperones would like. This bus ride however, was uncharacteristically quiet. It seemed as though all the students were spent from their two weeks in Lyon, and perhaps sad as they began to realize that their time in France was coming to an end.

As the bus drove on, we all began to point out the places we recognized, and the places we’d been, saying goodbye to them as we drove to the airport. We passed shops we’d all been to, restaurants, metros, museums and shopping centers. Some were sad to see them go, while others used it to remember the fun they’d had in those spots.

We soon arrived at the airport with a quick speech from Madame McGrath, explaining how things were going to work, and how to stay together. Now, everyone had already done their best to ensure that they had all their belongings with them before starting the ride to the airport. Unfortunately however, some students forgot to make sure that they had all their belongings after departing the bus. Luckily enough for our dear friend however, our bus driver was quick to check on behalf of us, and rushed into the airport to return a forgotten backpack.

Next came the long, and as always boring, process of going through security. Luckily, most of us got through quickly and without problem. Our dear friend Tyler however, was once again stopped by security, and had to be combed with the metal detector. Of course, as his friends, we all made sure to laugh about it while he stood there holding his iron cross. After security, we had a half hour and then we were out and walking to the plane. Our travels home had finally begun.

Our flight to Dublin was blessedly short, and then we began our extremely long layover in the Dublin airport. Most of us students took the time to gather some food from a Burger King (yes, American fast-food has in fact invaded Europe) and then took the time to fill out their journals. Many of us had also just discovered that our journals were actually going to be due, so the stress was amplified. I took the time to do anything but journaling however, instead wishing to walk around before our terribly long flight to Boston, where we would be confined to our seats for hours on end. My friends unfortunately did not share my enthusiasm, so I was forced to sit and watch as they scribbled away notes in their journals. This took 109 minutes.

And then, we were off to Boston. To me and my friends’ delight, and everyone else’s horror, we were all seated together for the flight. This of course ended with Madame McGrath and Tyler Boie stuck adamantly in their debates about literally anything they could think of, while Jonathan contently watched Mama Mia in the aisle seat, completely oblivious to anything around him. He simply grooved along to the songs, and poked fun at the ridiculousness. Meanwhile, I was left to suffer the wrath of a mock trial enthusiast who had just found someone to talk to. On the upside however, Tyler Boie and myself took this opportunity to teach Madame McGrath how to play poker with the games supplied by our tv screens. As responsible teenagers do of course. (As seen below, Madame McGrath was visibly upset by the fact that she had unfortunately been seated in between three sophomores for the duration of the flight. She tries to hide it with a thumbs up, but the rage is clearly visible despite these efforts.)

Finally, after an honestly unknown amount of time due to the time difference and my own lack of willpower to calculate the difference, we arrived in Boston. Madame McGrath handed back our passports, and we began our walk to the baggage claim, where our families awaited us. I’m sure Madame McGrath and Mrs. Kupsc were thrilled to finally be free of the burden of looking after 15 teenagers in a foreign country, and the fear of losing one of them in an airport.

And that concluded our final day together on this trip. It’s a little bit sad knowing that it’s all over, especially since we no longer get to spend as much time with all our friends, but it is important to note that we all made some great memories throughout our trip. Yes, we were tired a lot, and yes, there were some aggravations at times. But in the end, we all met new people, formed new friendships, experienced a new culture, skipped the last two weeks of school, and gained experiences that will stick with us for the rest of our lives. And in my own experience, it also gave me a greater appreciation for my own home, and the calm that comes from it. Happy summer vacation to all of you, and I’ll see you all again in the Fall.