Teacher urges students to see the world

By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
Jodie Fuqua wanted to do more than tell her Hartselle Junior High School social studies students about the world, so she showed it to them.
Fuqua and a group of 27 Hartselle students and guardians traveled July 18-25 on an independent vacation to Europe for tours of London and Paris. Fuqua said at least five of the travelers had never flown on an airplane and the majority of the group had never traveled outside of the United States.
Attitudes remained positive even after the group was left at London Heathrow Airport and waited four hours for another motorcoach to take them to their hotel. Once they arrived, the American travelers were surprised to find that none of the hotel rooms were air-conditioned.
The trip was Fuqua’s fourth to Europe but her first as a non-school sponsored trip leader. The group’s London excursion included walking tours of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London, afternoon tea at Harrods, a medieval dinner show, riding the London Eye, and strolling through Piccadilly Circus.
Paris highlights included bus tours of the city, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, a nighttime boat cruise along the Seine, viewing The Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum, sampling escargot and crepes, and visiting SacreCoeur Church--where the group received a special treat.
Mark and Amy Coleman of Hartselle accompanied their son Will on the European vacation and experienced a moment of one of the largest and oldest annual sporting events in Europe--The Tour de France. The 2006 bicycling event was in its 93rd year and featured its third American winner.
Coleman said the group vacation was a “sampler” of European destinations that encouraged him to study the area and plan a future trip.
Fuqua is planning another non-school sponsored trip for next summer. For destination and more information, contact Fuqua at 773-6094.