Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 08:52     Subject: International Trips?
It's better to take your kid to a foreign country on your own.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 08:00     Subject: International Trips?
I'm the OP. We are fortunate to have the means to take our son on international trips here and there. One school trip isn't taking the place of that. But I went on a trip to Greece back with my MCPS high school, and it was a very positive experience to go with friends, to stretch a feeling of autonomy. So was hoping those opportunities still present themselves for students. But sounds like it's not predictable so I'll just have to ask around at the specific schools. Thanks to all who chimed in!
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 05:55     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP's negging the trips on the basis that it's overpriced for what mom wants are missing the point. These trips are for the kids to travel with their friends and not be dragged around by mom.


Correct. But I suspect the thrifty, helicopter mom-types will never be able to grasp the value of that anyway.

Same goes for the “cool” in debt to their eyeballs mom-types who are unable to grasp that some kids actually have a great relationship with their family and wouldn’t see a vacation as being “dragged around by mom.” Not everyone comes from a culture where hating your parents and idolizing friendships is normalized.


Friendship and building community is valued in most cultures. The point is expanding horizons, travel with friends and independence, which to PP’s point clearly you missed.

Also no one advocated for in debt people to send their kids on one of these trips nor to try to plan their own.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2025 00:15     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP's negging the trips on the basis that it's overpriced for what mom wants are missing the point. These trips are for the kids to travel with their friends and not be dragged around by mom.


Correct. But I suspect the thrifty, helicopter mom-types will never be able to grasp the value of that anyway.

Same goes for the “cool” in debt to their eyeballs mom-types who are unable to grasp that some kids actually have a great relationship with their family and wouldn’t see a vacation as being “dragged around by mom.” Not everyone comes from a culture where hating your parents and idolizing friendships is normalized.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 09:58     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:PP's negging the trips on the basis that it's overpriced for what mom wants are missing the point. These trips are for the kids to travel with their friends and not be dragged around by mom.


Correct. But I suspect the thrifty, helicopter mom-types will never be able to grasp the value of that anyway.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 08:35     Subject: International Trips?
PP's negging the trips on the basis that it's overpriced for what mom wants are missing the point. These trips are for the kids to travel with their friends and not be dragged around by mom.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 07:49     Subject: International Trips?
The extra perks are dedicated tour guides and security. Not something you would likely pay for as a family of 4 on vacation.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 22:44     Subject: International Trips?
My child is on an EF tour right now and it’s absolutely worth it to me. I will definitely pay extra to a company with decades of experience and staff in every country to fix any problems along the way. They are literally experts in traveling with teens all over the world.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 21:10     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don't school sponsor's travel costs get paid if they get enough students to go, or something like that?
Yes. It’s a free vacation for the teachers who go.


They also get free perks and paid by some of the companies. It’s a scam and schools should not allow them to advertise. It’s not backed by MCPS so be careful who you choose to send your kid with.


What free perks? I've had 2 kids go through JW's Quebec trip and I don't think the organizers got anything for it. Both had a wonderful time and the teachers put a lot of effort into planning it.
https://www.eftours.com/how-it-works/teacher-benefits. There are perks, it’s not a bad thing, it just explains the inflated cost. Someone is paying for that and it’s you. Glad it was worth it.


You're not just paying the teacher's portion. If it was only that, it would be understandable. No, the majority of what you pay goes to ETF, or whoever else. And that's the part that's entirely over the top.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 21:06     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don't school sponsor's travel costs get paid if they get enough students to go, or something like that?
Yes. It’s a free vacation for the teachers who go.


They also get free perks and paid by some of the companies. It’s a scam and schools should not allow them to advertise. It’s not backed by MCPS so be careful who you choose to send your kid with.


What free perks? I've had 2 kids go through JW's Quebec trip and I don't think the organizers got anything for it. Both had a wonderful time and the teachers put a lot of effort into planning it.
https://www.eftours.com/how-it-works/teacher-benefits. There are perks, it’s not a bad thing, it just explains the inflated cost. Someone is paying for that and it’s you. Glad it was worth it.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 16:37     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don't school sponsor's travel costs get paid if they get enough students to go, or something like that?
Yes. It’s a free vacation for the teachers who go.


They also get free perks and paid by some of the companies. It’s a scam and schools should not allow them to advertise. It’s not backed by MCPS so be careful who you choose to send your kid with.


What free perks? I've had 2 kids go through JW's Quebec trip and I don't think the organizers got anything for it. Both had a wonderful time and the teachers put a lot of effort into planning it.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 13:45     Subject: International Trips?
Massively overpriced for what the kids get. I know because I'm French and closely inquired what our middle school participants did on their ETF trip to France. I could have planned a similar trip for a quarter of the price.

So at that markup... no. I can give my child cultural enrichment in ways that don't line the pockets of tour companies.

Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 13:31     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don't school sponsor's travel costs get paid if they get enough students to go, or something like that?
Yes. It’s a free vacation for the teachers who go.


They also get free perks and paid by some of the companies. It’s a scam and schools should not allow them to advertise. It’s not backed by MCPS so be careful who you choose to send your kid with.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 13:06     Subject: International Trips?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it depends on the school and the teachers.

The trips are not organized by MCPS. They are all offered by private companies who partner with teachers, and then the teacher becomes the "spokesperson" at that school. Some teachers are more enthusiastic about it than others, and a lot refuse to participate, which is why there may not be trips every year for every language.

Personally, I'm not spending thousands of dollars so my kid can get cultural and language exposure in another country. If we travel, we all go together. I can organize trips with my preferred sightseeing, food and lodgings, and avoid the hefty commission to a for-profit organization.


I wouldn't do it for MS, but I have sent my HSer on such trips. We've also been on international trips with the kids. It's different going on trips with your friends through the school trips compared to going with your family. I'd only do it once, though, because yea, it's pricey.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2025 12:45     Subject: International Trips?
Spanish trip to JW is to costs rica, but has been canceled this year due to lack of interest