LIHU‘E — Trekking across the United Kingdom for three weeks is a group of seven Kaua‘i teens taking part in a People to People Student Ambassador program, states a press release.
The students, led by team leader Steve Nicholson, are Jedidiah Blake, John Gawaran, Tanner Fernandez, Dana Kojima, Kayley Ancheta, Tirah Yamamoto and Shay Orial.
Over a 19-day period, the delegates are visiting historic and cultural sites in England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
They left June 23, return July 10, and have or will explore the Tower of London, view the precisely choreographed Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, meet members of Parliament, explore the British Constitution and learn the Celtic culture and languages.
They will also explore the Warwick, Bunratty, Blair and Edinburgh castles and conquered fear by rappelling down the tower wall of the Penrhyn Castle.
A highlight of their program was a two-day home stay with an Irish farming family.
While enjoying the Meath countryside, they learned about traditional Irish sports, farming and music. The delegates will also participate in a service project in Cahersiveen, Ireland, where they will help prepare and deliver meals to the elderly, visit a local hospital and work in community gardens.
In addition to the educational aspects of their tour, the students will learn white water rafting and ride down the River Tay, meet a world-famous golfer in Scotland, hunt for ‘Nessie’ — the Loch Ness monster, learn the sport of hurling, and become familiar with the concept of foreign-currency conversion, using the British pound and the euro as their primary means of currency.
People to People is an international student-travel program founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, acting on his firm belief that direct interaction between ordinary citizens around the world promotes cultural understanding and world peace, the release states.
