8 vacations you wish you went on by Cassie Shaurette

8 VACATIONS YOU WISH YOU WENT ON

BY: CASSIE SHAURETTE

Charlotte Doering Junior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Urubamba, Peru, and I went there to do service." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "I learned that not everyone is as lucky as we are here in Mequon, and it helped me to see life from a different perspective." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "My favorite part about the trip was making the kids smile and taking a day off to go to Machu Picchu!" 4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "I tried guinea pig..." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "Yes! It was life changing!"

Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru.

Charlotte and friends at Manchu Picchu.

Local village kids in Peru.

Charlotte with friends, and kids from the village.

Lily Higgins Junior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I traveled to Paraguay for a month, and additionally visited Argentina and Brazil while I was there. I went to Paraguay not only to visit my AFS exchange student from the 2014 and 2015 school year, Daniela Garlisi, but also to experience the South American culture." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "This trip was extremely unique because it was a completely different experience than living in the U.S.A. A huge difference was obviously the different language. It was fun challenging myself to speak a foreign language to many new people." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "My favorite part about the trip was visiting the Iguazu Fallsin in Argentina. It's one of the wonders of the world; it was so beautiful!"

4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "Almost everything I had to eat in Paraguay was new and exotic to me! Of all the things I tried, 'pan de miel,' or 'honey bread,' was a particular favorite." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "I would definitely recommend going either to Paraguay or to Argentina. It was a really great experience to live life in a new perspective and to experience how people go through daily life in different parts of the world. When I came back it was amazing to see how one month really put the way I saw things that we do in the U.S. in such a different light."

The family I stayed with in front of Ruinas Jesuiticas de Trinidad.

The view from the Guarani ruins, Ruinas Jesuiticas de Trinidad.

These heads once lined the entrance of the ruins, but were taken off for closer inspection

Marianela is a quiet place for Paraguayans to reflect on their religion.

Markets line the streets where fruit can be bought.

The Iguazu Falls in Argentina

Violet Kryshak Senior

1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to India for a medical internship, where I was able to work in the hospital and study real cases and assist the doctors." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "Any other trips I had taken were for my own pleasure, and while I enjoyed this trip a lot, I chose to do it for the experience more than the desire to go to India. Also, normally on trips I'm touring, but this one I spent time learning." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "My favorite part was watching the C-section surgeries because I found it baffling that, at the age of 17, I was able to witness this. It was incredible!"

4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "I tried coconut water straight out of a freshly cut coconut, and many unique Indian dishes that I don't know the names of." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "I would recommend anyone who wants to be a doctor or health professional to go on a trip like this. India in general is an awesome country as well! Since I didn't get to see very much of the country, I am going back this winter break!"

Two Indian men riding their elephant through the streets of Ahmadabad, India.

Violet posing with trip mate Kelcey Black, after a C-section surgery.

Violet holds a two hour old baby that her, and the others featured helped to deliver.

Violet with Sanaa at a closing banquet dinner.

The students have traditional Hindu wedding style henna on their hands.

Lada Avrunina Senior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Florida over the summer and it was remarkable. We went there just to get away from things." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "I think that we actually spent more time in the car than seeing places because we stayed in Fort Lauderdale, then we drove four hours south to get to Key West to do a glass-bottom boat tour, then we drove two hours north to get to South Beach Miami, and finally, we drove three hours to get to the other side of Florida to swim in the Gulf of Mexico." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "The glass-bottom boat tour when we went out to Key West and got to around for a few hours. The best part was that I found out then that I get seasick very easily, so I stayed on the deck above to avoiding getting sick. The view was brilliant!"

4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "We randomly found this restaurant in Miami that served classic Russian dishes, and it was kind of like coming to a home away from home." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "I would definitely recommend going to all of those places!"

The beach in Naples before an oncoming storm

Wynwood Walls, an Drinks from a coffee shop open-air graffiti museum called the Alchemist. in Miami.

Andy Buchanan Junior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Alaska for my grandparents' 50th anniversary." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "I had never been on a cruise before." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "Trying all of the local food and seeing the nature." 4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "A lot of king crab and salmon." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "Yes, because it was really cool to see bald eagles, bears and other animals in their natural habitat."

Glaciers in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Glaciers taken well cruising on the boat.

A bear in Anchorage, Alaska.

Tessa Gebhardt Senior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Greece and Turkey with Mr. Wolf's class. I went because I have always wanted to see Greece, and this was a perfect opportunity to see its beauty." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "It was a cruise with students from Homestead. There were only about six people from my grade and the rest had graduated last year, so it was so much fun with them." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "I loved all the islands we visited in Greece. They were all so breathtaking. It's hard to pick just one thing that was my favorite because the whole trip was amazing and exceeded all of my expectations."

4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "Greece is known for their gyros, so as a group we had a running tally of how many we could eat. They were so good!" 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "I would 100 percent recommend going to Greece and Turkey, it is beautiful! It was one of the best trips I have ever been on!"

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Oia village in Santorini, Greece.

A restaurant in Mykonos, Greece.

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

Ancient ruins in Ephesus, Greece.

Joe Wasserman Senior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Canada for a fishing trip." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "I actually do it every year, so it's not unique, but it is very secluded without any cell connection!" 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "I really liked relaxing in the beautiful and peaceful outdoors." 4. Did you try any new or exotic foods? "No, but they served gravy with fries!" 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "Yes, it was fun."

This is my dads friend and I, in front of the cabin where we stayed.

Irina Lishanskaya Senior 1. Where did you go? And why did you go there? "I went to Mogilev, Belarus. I went there to visit family." 2. What about this trip made it unique from any other trip you've taken? "This trip was different from the others I take because this is where my entire family grew up. It's not a vacation for relaxation or tourism; it's a trip to remember and indulge in my native culture, to remember everyone who we left behind when we moved to America and to fully experience what seems like an entirely different world." 3. What was your favorite thing about the trip? "Seeing my family, especially my grandma. I miss her a lot. Also, seeing my old home, the city where I would've grown up in, was so wonderful. I got to appreciate the culture more this time around."

4. Did you try any new,or exotic foods? "The food in Belarus is incredible. I ate so much of my grandma's cooking; it was awesome. Everything is so fresh and natural there." 5. Would you recommend this trip to others? "It is an interesting place to see; if you're willing to go through all of the trouble to get the right documentation, I would recommend going to Belarus. It's a beautiful country."

A cathedral built recently in Mogilev.

A theater near the center of the city.

A sundial in the center square of the city.