ISA is still finalizing the International Trips (iTrips) for next school year 2010-2011, but I wanted to give you a heads up on the ideas so you can plan.

It looks like we will have 3 trips next year:

1. China or Japan

2. Germany

3. New York

I do not have any more information at this time regarding price, dates, itinerary, etc.  However, if one of these trips interests you, you should begin your fundraising now.  Many students use the summer to get a job, or visit family out of town and get donations, in order to have the money to travel.  As always, ISA will do its best to fundraise to reduce the student price as much as possible.  Also, ISA will reimburse $100 for any student getting a new passport.

Lastly, the Germany trip is a very unique experience.  The group of Germans comes in October and lives with ISA families for 3 weeks.  Then, in June 2011, the ISA students will go to Germany and stay with their partner student.  This has been a very successful exchange for the past 3 years.

If you are interested in hosting a German student in October 2010, please let me know very soon.  We need to get our list to the German teacher.  If you host a German student, you do not have to go to Germany in June 2011, but you will have priority if you choose to.

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the iTrips.  I hope many of you will take advantage of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Mr. Livingston

Our student travelers have finally arrived in Germany greeted patiently by our German host families in Frankfurt and transported to their homes Friday at 5 pm.  This weekend we relax and enjoy Germany with host families. I will keep you all updated on developments.  Our schedule is below.

• Monday: Visit Mayor Weik of Wermelskirchen (town of 36,000) for an ISA presentation
• Tuesday: Köln (Gothic Catholic church built in 1248, one of largest in Northern Europe) also has very old university, town of 10 million people (4th largest city in Germany)
• Wednesday: Rhine River Boat Tour, Castle Tour and Knight Games
• Friday: Barbecue with all host families and Germans vs USA basketball-volleyball challenge
• June 10-13: With host families
• Monday: Train ride to Berlin, site seeing in Berlin including Parliament Tour
• Tuesday: Site Seeing in Berlin
• Wednesday: Day Trip to Sachsenhausen (Concentration Camp Tour – administrative camp, trained elite officers), shopping and museum
• Thursday: Site Seeing in Berlin, The Wall at Bernauer Straße, Hackesche Höfe, return to Köln by train
• June 18-21: With host families
• Tuesday, June 22: Leave to SFO, arrive at 12:50 pm

Verna

DAY 1: Today we got off the plane in the Managua airport and ate lunch at a restaurant. After that we went and seen some murals of Nicaraguan history and went to meet our host families. There where 2 sets of 3 girls and 1 set of 3 boys. At the host families we unpacked, seen the other peoples host families and then ate dinner. After dinner we went to our evening journal write.

DAY 2: Today when we got up we went to the center and got ready to hike a volcano. We hopped into the van and drove to the volcano. When we got there we started hiking. The wind was extremely strong so a lot of our stuff blew away and it was really high up. At the top, we climbed down to the bottom by sliding our heels in the sand so we wouldn’t tumble down. When we got down we went in the van and then swimming. After swimming we went to the plaza and then home for dinner. After dinner we did our evening journal write.

DAY 3: Today was our first day of working and it was hot and hard. We had to pull wheelbarrows of dirt and dig holes. After work we went to the pool again so it was cool. After swimming we went to the plaza and then home for dinner. After diner we did our evening journal write.

DAY 4: Today we worked again, just like yesterday but afterwords we didn’t go to the pool. We went to a bunch of museums about different things and than the plaza. We got some souvenirs and then went home for our regular schedule.

DAY 5: Today we worked again, but afterward we went to the beach, we had fish for lunch and got to swim in a pool at the beach and bask in the beach sun. After the beach we went straight home and did our normal deal.

DAY 6: Today we worked again but instead of our normal working we mixed the dirt into cement. Then we built a wall out of it. After work we went to the pool again, and then the plaza. We took our time to do our last shopping and spend our last córdobas. After that we went home and had a little farewell celebration. We played games with our host families and ate ice cream. After that we just went home to pack and sleep.

DAY 7: Today we went to the poop village just to do an art project. We painted murals on the walls and we had lunch there and after that went home to wash up and do some last minute packing. We went to Managua then to catch our flight home.

This will probably be my last email before we see you all at the airport on Friday night! That makes me a little sad, only because I can honestly say the trip keeps getting better and better. Yesterday, we saw 2 art museums and today we spent time at a beautiful beach swimming and laughing. Its been a blast!

Our work in Goyena is coming along nicely. We´ve moved a huge amount of dirt from the site where we´re building a latrine and tomorrow, we´ll begin constructing walls with that dirt. How exciting! I´ve seen the students begin to take ownership over our projects, which is truly inspriring. They´re working really hard and enjoying it a bit too. I´m really proud of them!

Just a quick note about our arrival in SF on Friday night, technically Saturday morning. We are arriving on Taca Flight number 560 at 12:15am. I probably will not have access to email before we arrive, but I will turn my cell phone on the minute we touch the ground in SF. I´ll also give the kids an opportunity to use my phone to call you if that is helpful.

I can´t wait for each of you to hear the incredible stories the kids will bring back. Hope all is well in SF and we´ll see you in a couple days!

Brittany Erickson

Flight Information:

SAN FRANCISCO – MANAGUA – SAN FRANCISCO

11 passengers

FLIGHT: TA 561
DATES: 08-MAY-10
ROUTE: SFO SAL
SCHEDULE: 01.30 – 07.52

Flight: TA 360
Date: 08-MAY-10
Route: SAL MGA
Schedule: 08.42 – 09.37

Flight: TA 361
Date: 14-MAY-10
Route: MGA SAL
Schedule: 17.43 – 18.33

Flight: TA 560
Date: 14-MAY-10
Route: SAL SFO
Schedule: 19.07 – 00.15

We are into day 3 and everything is fantastic! The volcano was incredible, although a great deal of work to get to the top. Luckily, the kids forgot how tired they were and literally RAN down to the bottom, accumulating about 1000 rocks in each shoe along the way. It was a scream! We´ve also spent 2 nights with our homestay families. I´m so impressed with the kids´ability to jump right in and try new food, speak Spanish, etc. They´re doing such a great job. The boys´ family actually runs the icecream shop in town, so you can imagine that has been a big deal!

We began our work in Goyena today. The community has been extremely welcoming and we´re working hard. I think the kids are taking in so much that they hardly know where to begin. We have them writing in journals each night in order to help them process, and it helps us talk about everything that is going on as well. I see them quickly bonding over a truly unique experience, which is so cool as their teacher. We´ve also had a chance to relax in the afternoons at a huge swimming pool, and I think after a day in 95 degree heat, there´s no better way to end the day.

As Í´m writing to you know, the kids are out on the plaza taking in the city of Leon. They have experienced changing money and are getting a feel for how to use it in the markets. Its fun to watch! I learned over the course of the last 30 minutes that the internet here is dreadfully slow… that´s how long it took me to get to my email. I´ll try to write again in the next few days, but please don´t be worried if you don´t hear from us. Its only because we´re too busy working and having an amazing time! Of course, if anything goes wrong, we will contact you immediately!

I hope all is well back in SF. I´ve also been told to pass on a collective HAPPY MOTHERS DAY from all the kids. They were sad they couldn´t speak to you all yesterday, but you were certainly in their thoughts.

Hasta luego!!

I wanted to write you all as soon as possible to let you know we made it to Nicaragua smoothly. Everything at the airport went perfectly and the kids are already having a blast. We arrived in Managua this morning at 10am and were picked up by the Viviendas Leon staff, including Evan, who many of you have met.

We drove about 1.5 hours to Leon where we just finished a delicious lunch of chicken, beef, vegitables, and rice. Now we´re going to see some of the murals that Leon is famous for, before we head to Goyena where we will meet our host families and settle in for the evening.

Tomorrow morning we´ll hike up a volcano and do some swimming in the afternoon. On Monday, we´ll begin our work on a water sanitation project and continue getting to know the city and culture. I will try to update you every couple days, and hopefully I´ll even be able to include a few pictures.

All the best,

Brittany Erickson

Andrew Schaper collecting passports at the airport.

Matthew Imperato, Renée, Anita and Mariela are ready for check-in.

The next I.S.A. Germany iTrip Parent Meeting will be Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 from 6 – 7 pm.

I’m excited that your child will be a part of ISA’s first ever middle school iTrip. While plans for the trip to Nicaragua are coming along nicely, the time as come to begin our fundraising efforts. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 3:30. We will discuss strategies for fundraising as well as trip details. Please respond to this email to let me know if you are available to attend the meeting. Also, feel free to send ideas or thoughts about fundraising prior to the meeting, and I can add them to an agenda.

Once again, the details are as follows:

Nicaragua iTrip Meeting
Tuesday, November 10 at 3:30
Room 210

I’m looking forward to seeing you there!

Brittany Erickson

Next February the students of ISA will have the opportunity to spend 10 days in Costa Rica. During their visit, students will visit volcanoes, tropical cloud forests, plant trees, and visit with local schools. They will participate in adventures such as kayaking, river-rafting, and zip-lining through the forest. It will be a memorable experience for everybody.

I am writing to let parents know that there are still 4 more spots available for the international trip to Costa Rica. The trip is from Sunday, February 13 to Monday February 22. Students will miss 5 days of school. The cost for the trip is $1386 and there must be a $700 deposit made by November 6. I realize that this is short notice to come up with such a large cost. I did not want to let this last chance slip away for families that might want this opportunity.

There are currently 3 school chaperones, 9 high school students, 1 parent and 1 elementary aged student. We are willing to take up to 4 more students. This trip was originally offered to high school students but we are opening the trip to middle school students as well.

If you have any questions, please contact me through email via School Loop or call the school at (415) 695-5866 and leave a message. I can provide you with much more detailed information.

Thank you,
Alena Killpack
High School Biology Teacher, Lead Chaperone to Costa Rica