Monday, March 4, 2013

Great Meeting Last Week!

Our meeting last week was all about questions.  We went over some important information, handed out the student agreement to kids who didn't already have it, went over chaperone groups, and then let the kids ask any burning question that they just couldn't wait to get answered.  I answered many of these questions during the meeting, but for those who may have missed some, here they are, all the questions, with answers, that were asked last week.

One quick reminder that our next meeting is our MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting at 6:00 pm in room D-6 on Wednesday, March 13th.  At least one parent/guardian must be in attendance.

Q:  What are we supposed to pack?
Check out the Packing List tab at the top of this page for basic information.

Q:  Do we have to stay in our chaperone groups?
No.  The chaperone groups are for organizational purposes only.  Most of the time we will be in a full group tour.  Chaperone groups allow us to account for all kids before we leave a location.

Q:  How often will we get food?
We get three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). These meals begin with breakfast the morning of our first tour. You are responsible for eating dinner before we leave for our trip.
 
Q:  How big are the food portions?
Some portions are fixed. At other places it's all-you-can-eat. I've never had anyone starve on the trip, so I think the portion sizes are good.  Be careful not to over-do it!
 
Q:  Is there time for shopping?
Plenty. You won't get to shop in every shop in every city we visit, but you will be provided with ample opportunity to spend your money.
 
Q:  What will the weather be like? 
It really depends.  It is early Spring on the east coast which means it will likely be cooler than it is here in California.  It could potentially be cold enough to snow, or you could have an 80 degree day (like we did last year in NY).  Pack for all eventualities.  
 
Q:  What play are we seeing on Broadway? 
Right now we are scheduled to see "Matilda", winner of 7 Oliver awards including Best New Musical in London.
 
Q:  Will we be gone on Easter? 
Yes.  Leave a note for the Easter Bunny to save your Cadbury eggs for when we return. 
 
Q:  How long are the plane rides? 
We are scheduled to take a direct flight from LAX...it's about 5 hours each way.
 
Q:  What time do we leave the hotels in the morning and what time do we get back? 
It depends, but usually we have breakfast at the hotel around 7:00am and leave around 8:00am.  We will return around 10:00pm each night.  Lights out is usually around 11:00pm.
 
Q:  Is the school dress code in effect? 
Yes.  You are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses (if you are a Red Sox fan, I wouldn't recommend wearing that hat in NY).
 
Q:  Are there opportunities to by snacks in between meals and can we bring water with us on tour? 
 Yes, but be careful not to eat too much junk or you will get sick.  Water is fine to bring with you while we are on tour.
 
Q:  Can we bring food in the hotel rooms and on the bus? 
In the Hotel the answer is yes, on the bus, NO.
 
Q:  How long is the trip? 
We will leave Rio around 5:00pm on Friday, March 29 and return around midnight on Thursday, April 4th.
 
Q:  What if our phone goes off while we are walking around? 
Your phone should be on silent mode for the trip...we don't want to be disrespectful.
 
Q:  Should we bring cash or a pre-paid card for the trip? 
This is up to you and your parents.  I would suggest looking into whether your bank will allow a debit card with set maximum daily charges.
 
Q:  Is it just us on the plane, and are the planes nice? 
We will have our own bus for the trip, but the plane will have many others.  At this point it looks like we will be flying on Virgin America - a very nice airline (my personal favorite).
 
Q:  What are we doing everyday? 
We will be touring, and seeing many of our most important national treasures!
 
Q:  What kind of hotels are we staying in?
They're four-star hotels like Sheraton, Hilton, Doubletree, and Marriott. I don't know exactly where we're staying yet, but it will be in hotels of this quality.
 
Hope that helps!  See you all at our Pre-Departure Meeting: 6:00pm on Wednesday, March 13th!
 
 

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