European Vacation

Culpeper County High School senior Briana Moss could have spent her summer vacation lounging around the house and texting her friends.

Instead, the 17-year-old student traveled throughout western and southwestern Europe visiting historic landmarks with the Culpeper County Public Schools’ foreign language group.

The group used Explorica, an international group that helps organize long distance trips for teachers and students, to help plan the international trip.

During the weeklong excursion, the students: Moss, Josh Perkins, Drew Peters, Chris Jones, Chris Frazier and Spencer Klepatzki visited the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, cathedrals and numerous beaches.

“The water was crystal clear and very blue,” Moss recalled.

The group started off in Paris and visited Monaco, Nice and Barcelona — just to name a few destinations.

Former CCHS French teacher Barbara Bounds and CCHS parent Angela Frazier chaperoned the trip. The group left June 22 and returned June 30.

The purpose of the journey was to introduce foreign language students to Europe’s vast culture and history.

“I believe I enjoyed Barcelona the best,” she said.

“It was really beautiful from the beaches to the gothic district and then going shopping on the famous avenues. It’s all beautiful.”

Moss says this trip inspired her to pursue a career in culinary arts especially after seeing and tasting the different types of foods.

“It broadens my view of how certain things are,” she said.

The CCHS students were paired up with another group of students from Seattle.

Bounds, who used to live in France, said she enjoyed exploring the historic cities and was glad her students got a chance to experience the European customs.

“The trip made the culture come alive for the kids,” she said. “They had a chance to practice their language and the kids really appreciated the language. I couldn’t have asked for a better group.”