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A welcome
home picnic was held on August 17 at
Lums Pond State Park for the 130
Delaware students and their 16 delegate
leaders who traveled abroad this summer
on the annual Student Ambassador
Program. About 27 students attended; 6
leaders also attended. The total turnout
was over 100 persons when families of
the students and Delaware Chapter
members are included. Pictures of the
picnic can be viewed
here.
Many
students were ecstatic when they met
their fellow traveling companions at the
picnic. Two fathers told me that their
sons are different now - their travels
changed their maturity and attitudes.
Travels
this year were to China, Australia, and
four countries in Western Europe.
Additional students from the surrounding
states of New Jersey, Maryland, and
Pennsylvania also accompanied our
Delaware students and leaders for a
total of more than 150 students.
This
year's scholarship winner
Michael Golt,
Jr. from the Student
Ambassador travel program from Delaware
describes his experience of
traveling through
China as follows:
“I am so appreciative of the Delaware
Chapter of People to People
International for selecting me as their
scholarship winner. Without their help,
I would not have been able to
participate as a student ambassador for
financial reasons. Although my family
and I did a lot of fundraising (we
raised all of the balance), it would not
have been enough without the
scholarship. Because of school, all my
athletic activities, Boy Scout
obligations, and work schedule I was
limited on my availability to any more
fundraising.
My trip to China was surely an
experience to remember for as long as I
live. There were so many things we did
in China that I enjoyed so much. It
would be hard to tell every thing that I
saw and did, so I will just tell you
about some of my most memorable events.
One thing that any person wants to see
is the Great Wall of China and I was no
exception. I was ecstatic to walk the
Great Wall but boy was it a hike! It is
a good thing I am a fit person. With
being such a fit person, I really
enjoyed doing some of the tricks that
Martial Arts students were showing us.
While on the topic of tricks, one night
we went to see an acrobatic performance.
It was by far the best performance I
have ever seen.
The best meal I had while in China,
which was quite surprising to me, turned
out to be goat meat. It was a little
spicy, very tasty, and melted in my
mouth. Overall, going to China was the
best experience of my life so far. I
will definitely always remember it
fondly.
Additionally, I enjoyed meeting new
people both from my state as well as the
delegates from other states. I have
stayed in contact with several of them
since returning home. My home-stay visit
was nice too. The young boy there taught
us how to throw cards.”
Interviews
for the travel season of 2009 will start
in September when an introduction to
this program is presented at several
local venues for high school, middle
school, and grade school students. We
look for another year of exceptional
participation in this program - more
than for any other chapter area in the
USA.
For information on
becoming a Student Ambassador click
here,
or visit:
www.StudentAmbassadors.org
For interviews with
Student Ambassadors about their experiences of traveling
abroad click on the link below:
»
Interviews
with Student Ambassadors |
