Honors College European Excursion 2017
They say life isn’t about the amount of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away. This summer, 45 Grand Canyon University Honors College students traveled abroad on a European excursion that they would never forget. From Phoenix to New York and New York to Madrid, there was no turning back as they said bye to America and hola to Spain. With France and Italy also on the itinerary, these honors students were in full tourist mode as they were about to embark on the trip of a lifetime.
Junior Alyssa Walker decided she wanted to “live in the moment” as she signed up to go on this trip. Walker had been “dying to go to France since I started taking French classes in second grade so how could I pass us the chance to check that off my bucket list?”
Senior Brendan Dyer is an experienced traveler with the Honors College. With this being his second international honors trip, he chose to go again because he “wanted to see more of the world.” He explained, “I absolutely love and cherish these trips. They are organized perfectly and they are designed to be both educational and enjoyable.”
Like a herd, these 45 honors students stomped through the streets of Madrid and Barcelona, learning about the Spanish culture, touring places like the Sagrada Familia and enjoying the experience of an authentic flamenco show. The next stop was Nice, France where they went to a local perfumery and walked the halls of the Monte Carlo. With the bulk of the trip spent in Italy, there was plenty of time to explore the various cities that the country has to offer. From the major tourist destinations like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum, to the breathtaking island of Capri, Italy sure did not disappoint.
For Dyer, the greatest takeaway from the Honors College Europe trips are the relationships that are solidified along the way. “It’s amazing how at the beginning of each trip everyone looks around and says to themselves, ‘Yep, I don’t know any of these people.’ But by the end of the trip, everyone on the bus is talking about how close they all are now and how excited they are to see each other the following semester.”
As an honors student, take advantage of this incredible opportunity to experience new cultures, meet new people and make memories that will last for years to come. Dyer shares, “Culture is a beautiful thing, and these trips have shown me so much about the variety of cultures that the world has to offer.” As for Walker, she encourages other honors students to go on the trip because “it’s a truly exceptional thing to be able to travel the world with a group of fellow Lopes with no plans other than to have the time of your lives.”
At the end of the day, ask yourself, what’s more fun than traveling the world with your friends?
The GCU Honors College is proud to offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for motivated and ambitious students like you. Learn more by visiting our website or contacting us using the Request More Information button.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.