People To People
The People to People meeting was amazing. These kids are going to have some great adventures. They went through the application process. Only 40 students will be chosen from High School to attend the Europe and Irish Heritage trip. 40 Students from all the islands -- not just Maui. Yikes!!
However, they said most students who proceed with the application process are accepted, even if they don't make this trip they can go on other ones. DD really wants to go on this on.
Some of the things they will be doing: visiting Parliament and meeting a member of Parliament, witness the changing of the guard and seeing the London Tower and the crown jewels, ride the London Eye, attend a first run show in the famous West End District, Visit Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and take part in an act from a Shakespeare play, white water raft, learn a jig, rappel down Penhyrn castle, Visit Edinburgh castle, play traditional Irish sports, and possibly get the opportunity to blow glass.
Now... after going through that exhausting but partial list, I need to clarify a few things before I move on. DD is 14. She is very intelligent and outgoing. She is a major adrenaline junky -- she loves roller coasters, fast rides, trampolines, rock climbing, etc., etc. When she was 12 we had the opportunity to attend Wolf Mountain camp in No. CA. One of the things she had been waiting for, was to go at the age of 12 so she could participate in a Ropes Course obstacle called "Leap of Faith" (mom did it too!) So you climb up the side of a tree using these giant stakes and staples -- 65 ft up. Then you climb onto two 2x4's sticking out from the platform. You walk out till your toes stick off each of the boards and............ JUMP!! You are aiming for a trapeze bar about 5 feet away. Of course you are on a belay line, but never the less, your heart is pounding and the adrenaline is running high. We both did this and loved it!! Along with all the other ropes course challenges. Now... recall the activities she will have an opportunity to participate in, and add that she wants to be a glass artist when she grows up.
Here's her comment on the way home from the meeting.
"I was so excited when they started talking about Parliament and watching the changing of the guard. We'll get to go into Parliament and see how their government works.. that's soo cool".
What a great kid huh? She continues to surprise and amaze me. I hope she gets into this trip. The money is substantial, and with me not working, not easy to come by, but we are determined that she should have this opportunity. We will do all the footwork, and leave the rest to God. If it's meant to be, she'll go. I have faith in that.
So I'll end this extremely long update and wish everyone a great week end.

The Picture is dd about 60 feet up, almost to the platform on the "Leap of Faith".