In anticipation of the upcoming Malden Tornado Travelers’ trip to Paris and London in 2025, the advisors have some updates.
English teacher and trip advisor Yahaira Marquez first explained that the trip will span ten days, the entirety of April break in 2025, starting in London and ending in Paris. She emphasized that through this trip, students will explore and experience not only one but two major European cities. Advisor Shannon Alexis added that the choice to visit these two cities was because they are coveted destinations, but also because they “are just across the Atlantic, which lowers the cost a bit.”
And, with the trip being called “Experience London and Paris,” Marquez detailed some action-oriented activities students can expect to do during it in addition to sightseeing, which includes “taking a cricket lesson in London, participating in a theater workshop at a London drama studio, playing a game of ‘Petanque’ and taking art classes in Paris, exploring the palace and grounds of Versailles,” and many more to be arranged.
By hosting various lessons and activities, Alexis believed they would “set this trip apart from a simple touring vacation.” She also exclaimed that the “realization of this trip is very exciting” for advisors and students alike because the trip was initially scheduled for April break in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. After four years of no activity, it is now clear that this trip is happening.
Regarding hotel and flight accommodations, the advisors stated that they have not officialized plans, but more updates will come in the fall as they meet with student travelers.
As for advisor Paul Degenkolb, he confirmed that he may officially attend the trip if there is more student enrollment. According to Alexis, 14 students in total have committed to traveling so far, which she noted is “a lot of interest” especially since cost “is always a factor … And so, we are encouraging students to join as soon as possible and do some fundraising to defray some of that cost.”
For students interested in joining the growing number of Tornado Travelers going to London and Paris next year, Marquez highlighted two upcoming dates: a student general interest meeting on Tuesday, May 28th @ 2:20 PM in J282, and a parent enrollment meeting on Thursday, June 6th @ 5:30 in the MHS Library. Contact Marquez at ymarquez@maldenps.org or Alexis at salexis@maldenps.org for further information.
