LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Every year, Los Alamitos High School offers students an opportunity to travel abroad to Europe over spring break. This year, Mrs. Franzen, Mr. Hooper, Mrs. Kibtya, Ms. Whitfield, Ms. Marriott, and 42 students left LAX on Friday, April 15th on a plane to Vienna, Austria.

The trip included several countries in Europe. They started by staying in Vienna, Austria; then in Munich, Germany; then Vaduz, Lichtenstein; then Lucerne, Switzerland; and finally in Zurich, Switzerland. They returned on Sunday, April 16. 

Some of the activities that the students did include dinner at several local restaurants around Europe; shopping in several countries; guided tours of several cool locations such as Vienna, Munich, the Lindt Home of Chocolate, Triesenberg in Lichtenstein, and many other places; a biking tour in Zurich; Prater Park in Vienna; hiking the peak of Mt. Rigi of the Alps while it snowed; and a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany (which was the inspiration for the Cinderella Castle in Disneyland). 

“I was super surprised with how the trip turned out,” Briney Stilinovich, senior, shared with Griffin Gazette. “I had a blast and became super close with the people I didn’t even know until the trip! This was the most fun I’ve had on a trip before!” Stilinovich said she had the most fun hiking in the Swiss Alps, despite how physically difficult it was. She highly recommends students take the opportunity to go on this trip in the future.

“It is such a great time, and I definitely made memories I will never forget,” she said. 

“We do this trip to open students’ worlds,” Mrs. Franzen shared. “A lot of students have a very myopic view of life, so many students don’t even know of places in LA or Orange County that are around them. Their world is small. When we open up things for them, things just start to make sense.” 

Ethan Winn, a senior, also thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

“All my expectations were met, and I made so many more memories and friends than I ever thought I would.” Winn had the most fun hanging out with his friends in Lucerne, Switzerland.  

Jacob Tripp, senior, didn’t have any high expectations either, but he also had a fantastic time. Just like Briney Stilinovich, he recommends that future students take advantage of the trip. 

Mr. Hooper was also excited about this trip because he used to live in Germany and Switzerland.

“My favorite memories are seeing my students’ eyes light up when they discover new cultures and experiences,” said Mr. Hooper when asked about his favorite parts of the trip. “It’s important for students to discover that there’s a whole world out there and to experience new languages, cultures, and views. I’m also excited to enjoy my favorite foods again and hike the Alps.”

“Planning takes 14 months in advance. We start by thinking about where it is we want to go that will augment what students are doing in school,” Mrs. Franzen said. “Each location is chosen purposefully to build off prior student knowledge. This trip in particular was designed with Mr. Hooper’s German students in mind. Normally, we plan it to build off of what you’ve learned in history.” 

Next year’s trip will go to France, Monaco, and Spain. The year after, the group will go back to Northern Italy, which they visited in 2022. And in 2026 they plan to go to Greece, which is Mrs. Franzen’s personal favorite.  

“I like traveling with students because they are funny,” Mrs. Franzen said. “We have so many stories. I have one group from 2013 who had never met each other and they became friends on this trip. They are still friends to this day. I love seeing things like that happen.” 

“Kids have gotten really emotional because they see these places that they’ve only seen in pictures, like the Eiffel Tower or the Roman Colosseum, and I’ve seen students cry,” said Mrs. Franzen. “Traveling with your friends and creating new relationships in a space like that is really the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Overall, the teachers and the students had a fantastic time on another continent. All of the students who Griffin Gazette spoke with highly recommend that students take the opportunity to go on this trip in the future.

“It is such a great time, and I definitely made memories I will never forget,” Briney Stilinovitch, a senior, said.

“Make the most of school while you’re here,” Jacob Tripp said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”