A taste of authentic bratwurst, conversations with people from different countries and walks through centuries-old towns gave Carroll County High School students a spring break unlike any other. Their journey across Europe offered far more than sightseeing, creating opportunities to learn about history, culture and the world beyond Kentucky.
Eighteen travelers, led by Carroll County High School ESL teacher Cheri Mann, spent their spring break exploring Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Along the way, students sampled new foods, experienced life in different countries and gained a deeper understanding of cultures different from their own.
For Elbridge "LB" Poindexter, the food was one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
"Trying different types of food was the best part," he said. "The bratwurst over there is definitely delicious. We share a lot of similar foods, but their food is more natural tasting and not as filled with chemicals."
Food and cultural experiences stood out for many students. Helany Gutierrez enjoyed meeting local people and observing everyday life.
"Meeting a lot of different people and the food definitely," she said. "The people who lived there were really nice."
Students often found themselves fascinated by the small differences they encountered in daily life. Savannah and her father even made a habit of photographing unusual vending machines they discovered along the way.
"They had weird things like canned eggs, raw meat and salsa," she said. "Another one had drinks, battery packs and all kinds of stuff."
Those unexpected discoveries helped students appreciate how everyday life can look different from one country to another.
Several students said Switzerland was the highlight of the trip. Keira Mann was captivated by the scenery, especially the blue lakes and mountain views.
"Every single body of water we saw was so blue and pretty," she said. "Switzerland was definitely the prettiest."
Gracie Conrad agreed, citing a boat ride on Lake Lucerne and a cable car trip into the Alps among her favorite memories.
Not every mountain adventure came without a little fear. Savannah Romans challenged herself by crossing a suspension bridge high above the Austrian landscape.
"I didn't think I was going to make it," she said. "I got halfway across, but my dad was going to keep going and I didn't want to lose to him."
A
fter reaching the other side, she realized she would have to make the trip back across the swaying bridge.
"It was horrifying," she said with a laugh. "But doing something like that makes a lot of other things seem less scary."
Students also enjoyed exploring smaller towns and historic cities. Jesus Garcia was particularly impressed by Colmar, France.
"I liked the architecture," he said. "The half-timbered buildings our tour director taught us about were really interesting."
Kelsey Willhoite enjoyed simply walking through the towns and taking in the scenery.
"I liked the smaller towns," she said. "I liked the buildings, skies and trees."
The trip also provided an opportunity to connect classroom lessons to real-world history. Most of the students had studied World War II and the Holocaust in their U.S. History classes, but visiting Dachau concentration camp near Munich gave them a perspective that textbooks cannot provide.
"We saw things that were used and where they were," Stephanie Garcia said.
"I understand Mr. Sandefur's class better now," Helany Gutierrez added, referring to the lessons she had learned in her CCHS history class.
Students were struck by the size of the camp and the reality of what occurred there.
"I was shocked," Grace Oliva said. "You hear about it, but you don't know about the amount of people and how big it is. It's crazy to think that happened."
Keira Mann said the scale of the site was difficult to comprehend. "There were only two of the original buildings left, but it was such a long walk and there was so much there," she said.
Helany said simply walking through the grounds gave students a new appreciation for what prisoners endured. "You would get tired just walking," she said. "Imagine the people who had to do that."
The visit also sparked conversations about how Germany teaches its history. Students learned that German high school students are required to visit a concentration camp before graduating.
"Our tour guide actually went to Dachau during high school," LB Poindexter said.
Mann said that requirement reflects Germany's commitment to ensuring future generations understand what happened. "Germany is saying we have to talk about these things," she said.
Students said seeing the camp firsthand transformed historical events they had read about into something much more personal and memorable, leaving one of the strongest impressions of the entire trip.
While students learned about history and culture, they also formed stronger friendships with one another.
"We all became friends because of this trip," LB said.
Mann said she could not have asked for a better group of travelers. "Everybody followed every rule and came back on time," she said. "I would travel anywhere with any of these kids."
She was especially proud of how students represented their school, community and country while abroad.
Carroll County High School students will have the opportunity to explore Scotland and Ireland in 2028 with Mann. Anyone interested in participating in that trip should contact her at cheri.mann@carroll.kyschools.us.