THE SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL C MPASS Issue Five, Volume I | March 25, 2011 | Southport High School | 971 E. 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etouringexploretravelsightseeingadventureexcursionabroadnavigatetouringexploretravelsightseeingadventureexcursionabroadnavigatetouringex Graphic by Lucas Sweitzer. options for international travel {page 4} All around People to People Take a look to read about some Thinking of traveling? the globe See how Southport students utilize this international travel program {page 7}
Transcript
THE SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL
C MPASSIssue Five, Volume I | March 25, 2011 | Southport High School | 971 E. Banta Road Indianapolis, IN 46227
Take a look to read about some Thinking of traveling?
the globe
See how Southport students utilize thisinternational travel program {page 7}
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL2
{springBREAK} The Journal asked Southport students about their spring break plans.
Here are some places students are traveling to this year.
Where are Southport students going this year?
CASEY OSBORNsenior
Destination: Nolin Lake, Ky.
“The entire varsity team (is going)... (We plan on) going
undefeated... (I’m looking forward to) playing some
baseball and winning.”
DAVID STIERWALTjunior
Destination: San Diego, Calif.
“My aunt, who’s... 98, we’re going to visit her, because we
haven’t seen her in a while. We’re just going to hang out
and see the city.”
IVAN SIGHTSjunior
Destination: Chicago, Ill.
“’I’m looking forward to see-ing some things I like in col-leges that makes me want
to go to college more.”KIM BEARDjunior
Destination: Nashville, Tenn.
“We’re planning on going to restaurants where fa-
mous people have sung, so I’m looking forward to that.”
HANNAH NUCKOLLSfreshman
Destination: Fort Meyers, Fla.
“Most of all I’m looking for-ward to getting out of Indiana for a week and being with my
best friend.”
ASHLEIGH LAYMONsenior
Destination: Houston, Texas
“My dad owns a ranch in Westoff, Texas so we will be hanging out there for the weekend. Then we will be
staying at our home in Hous-ton for the rest of the week.”
JAZZY KEMPsophomore
Destination: Gulf Shores, Ala.
“I go there every year... (What I am most excited for is)
probably all the Speedos on the beach.”
Graphic by Brittany Hemphill. Information compiled by Shivani Parikshak.
{spring break ON A BUDGET}Although Indianapolis might not be found on any top ten spring break destination lists, there’s still plenty to fill a break with. Here is a list of threesuggestions of fun things to do in Indianapolis, broken down into three price ranges: $10, $25, and $50. Information from in.gov/tourism/visitindiana,and graphic by Lucas Sweitzer.
WHAT IT ISA 16.7 mile trail that connects 10th and
161st streets, the Monon trail is free for every-one to enjoy with beautiful views to look at. The Monon connects lots of other popular destinations, including other trails, the Monon Greenway of Carmel, various com-mercial districts, parks and the state fairgrounds.HOW TO SPEND LESSWith the cost of trail at $0, not spending
money isn’t too difficult - the only costs could come from renting a bike or eating lunch / dinner afterward.
{mononTRAIL} {theIMA} {beef & BOARDS}
WHAT IT ISEstablished in 1973, the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre serves a combination of food and theatre for an entertaining evening. Beef & Boards regularly produces professional Broadway shows.In addition to great theatrical perfor-mances, Beef & Boards offers some of the tastiest cuisine in Indianapolis, all prepared by an in-house chef. Even the best tables at Beef & Boards comes in just under $50, which includes a show (the shows playing over spring break are “Hairspray” and “Annie Get Your Gun”) and a buffet.
HOW TO SPEND LESSThe prices at Beef & Boards change depending on which of the three areas you sit in and which day of the week you attend. In order to maximize bang for your buck, choose section 3 and go in the middle of the week - you’ll save a little under $20.
WHAT IT ISThe Indianapolis Museum of Art is a
small drive from the Greenwood area, but well worth the wait. Most areas in the IMA are free, but there are a few special exhibitions happening over spring break that do cost some admis-sion. There is also a cafe at the IMA, and with the two together, there are enough events at the IMA to fill a day. HOW TO SPEND LESSThe IMA accepts picnics, so packing
your own lunch is a way to cut down on costs. If you only go to the free areas of the museum (which is not a small amount in the slightest), your only cost will be the gas it takes to get there.
10 dollars or less
25 dollars or less
50 dollars or less
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL 3
A Traveler’s Dream, a travel agency in Carmel, has been owned and run by Chris Groshell for seven years. Gro-shell specializes in helping families plan their vacations for the purpose of leisure. Groshell has been to numerous places so she knows how to help others choose where they want to go based on their descriptions and budgets.
“People call and say they want to go somewhere warm with a beach,” said Groshell. “I’ve been to the Caribbean and Mexico and places so I know how to help them narrow their search.”
Groshell said that although she does
plan trips for teenagers, most are ac-companied by their parents or adults over the age of 25. Groshell said most cruises and resorts require teenagers be accompanied by at least one adult during their stay and nearly all cruises require someone over 25 stay in each cabin. Regardless of whether or not teens are going on their trip with a parent or adult, Groshell does advise that people try and talk to someone for more information.
“Talk to an agent,” said Groshell. “It certainly helps because I’ve been to a lot of places so I can definitely help to
by Tanna Carpenter Reporter
Travel is something that has always been of importance to people whether for business or for the purpose of pleasure. As more teenagers begin to travel on their own, researching travel locations is something that a lot of experienced travelers advise. Some destinations may be more suitable for teenagers based on price, location and the popularity of the location. Top Caribbean destinations include Puerto Rico and Jamaica while teens looking to travel to Europe may be interested in popular locations like Paris, Lon-don or Amsterdam. Teens looking to travel a little closer may want to try one of the top Canadian locations like Montreal or Vancouver while teenag-ers looking to travel more abroad
may try top Asian destinations like Thailand or China. Wherever one may want to travel, researching and getting more information on the destination has proven to be helpful to the overall experience of travel.
When starting the journey on decid-ing what destination will be traveled to, one must start with what they need to know. Federal law requires that anyone under the age of 17 applies for their passport in person. Each person must have a passport when travel-ing by air and the requirement varies with other means of transportation. If the person doesn’t have means of identification, his or her guardian must be able to present their own form of identification when applying for the passport. Their parent or guardian must also be present to sign off on the passport.
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL 5
Many different travel opportunities have given a South-port teacher and students the chance to travel outside the
country to various locations around the world.
Travel Agency ”“
- Mrs. Chris Groshell, travel agent
Talk to an agent. It cer-tainly helps because I’ve been to a lot of places so I can definitely help to advise.
advise.”When looking into important topic
like the safety of travel destinations, travelers may want to take into ac-count how safe it really is to travel to certain countries. Forbestraveler.com published a list of the safest places for Americans to travel. Top spots include the “ABC” Islands in the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao), as well as Ireland and New Zealand. Ireland is said to be a safe location because of the low crime rate including American travelers and New Zealand is consid-ered safe no only due to the low crime rates but to the relatively calm weather they experience. Switzerland is on the list of safest locations, including 3 of the 5 safest locations in the world (Bern, Geneva and Zurich).
In contrast, travelers should be aware of some of the most dangerous
places for tourists to travel to. The top ten list of the least safe places to travel include locations like Liberia, Israel, Columbia, and Congo. The government puts warnings on certain locations that they feel would be unsafe for US travelers to go. One destination travel-ers may be considering is Mexico, which currently contains one of these government notices. Drug-trafficking organizations as well as disputes along the border have created a violent atmosphere in many parts of Mexico, one that the government feels may put US travelers in danger. US travelers are advised to travel only on local streets and to be out mostly during daytime hours. Travelers are also advised to keep in popular tourist locations, to use only professional taxi services and to keep away from any sort of remote locations during their stay.
Although traveling to a far location may seem like a huge step, a lot of teenagers and adults have experienced taking international trips on their own while learning how to go about the process as they go. Taking precau-tions and getting more information about travel can be very beneficial and can make the process of international travel a smoother experience for those who choose this method of travel.
Websites like independenttraveler.com offer tips for people who may be traveling alone for the first time. The site suggests knowing how much it should cost to get from place to place based on mileage before getting into a cab, often cab drivers can take advan-tage of single travelers who may not know what an accurate price is. They also advise to always carry identifica-tion, to walk in open areas and to make an effort to not look like a tourist. Trying not to let people know you’re
traveling alone can also be beneficial when you’re not familiar with the area. This can be avoided by saying that you’re meeting friends somewhere or by seeming a little familiar with the area when asking for directions.
In the summer of 2006, Ms. Julie Breeden experienced traveling in a small group when she went on a trip to Europe for the first time. Breeden was accompanied by a few friends on the trip while she traveled to places like Rome, Florence and Paris, among other locations. Three years later, Breeden traveled to Europe again with just her sister.
On her first trip, Breeden went and traveled through Europe for about four weeks. Because it was her first time traveling there, she went to a lot of tourist spots and places that she herself had heard about while teach-ing the humanities course at South-port. Because she went with a group,
Independent Travel ”“(You should)
know how to greet people and basic numbers. You should be able to greet people in their own language... It’s respectful. - Ms. Julie Breeden
teacher
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL6Breeden had the advantage of having others to help her get around when necessary while still having the option to travel alone some of the time.
While traveling, Breeden learned the subway and train systems through out the cities she was traveling in. Although she was able to travel by car while with her friends, when alone she had the ability to use what she’d learned to get around on her own.
“(When going with a group) I came and went,” said Breeden. “I learned a lot from going with people who had gone before.”
One her second trip through Europe, Breeden and her sister spent nearly the entire summer traveling. The two traveled to some of the locations she’d been to on her previous vacation. Ac-cording to Breeden, this trip was a little easier than her first because of the experience she already had.
Both trips were learning experiences for Breeden. From driving with her sis-ter in Ireland to trying to communicate
with locals who spoke different lan-guages in all different types of places, she said the trips were both exciting and intimidating. Breeden said she was able to get by with a lot of “smiling and pointing,” but some situations did require she use some of the Spanish she knew.
“(You should) know how to greet people and basic numbers,” said Breeden. “You should be able to greet people in their own language... It’s respectful.”
For anyone planning or hoping to take a long trip like the ones she went on, Breeden advises to save money and to plan ahead. She and her sister have already begun their own sav-ings account that they each contribute to, hoping to use the money to go on another trip to Europe in 2014.
“It’s not cheap and it’s an invest-ment,” said Breeden. “You need to do a little bit of research and know where all you might want to go.”
Traveling on your own or with a smaller group has been proven to be a stressful endeavor. Another option for teenagers wanting to get out of the country with kids their own age is to go on a mission trip. Trips like these not only satisfy the want to travel, but the want to serve others while doing so. Teenagers can go with large mis-sion trip organizations or just with a local church. Either way the options of what you can do to serve out of coun-try are broad.
Two students who took advantage of this type of opportunity are seniors Stephen Gearhart and Eric Dean. Two years ago, they went with a group of teenagers on a mission trip to the Do-minican Republic. It was a 10 day trip to Santiago and while there they got to
help out with a local church. Gearhart said they spent most of their days do-ing a kind of vacation Bible school with the younger kids in the area.
“It was a really good chance to serve,” said Gearhart. “It was the most humid climates and it was hard work getting out of your comfort zone and just loving the kids.”
Preparations for mission trips can be extensive depending on your desti-nation. All of the kids who went on the trip, including Gearhart and Dean, were required to get Hepatitis B shots before leaving. For anyone wanting to go on a mission trip, Gearhart suggests going into the experience with an open mind.
“Don’t just be expecting something special,” said Gearhart. “… Be prepared to be flexible.”
There are many opportunities avail-able for any teenager who wants to travel internationally but doesn’t want to go alone. Groups like “Travel for Teens” have been formed in the hopes of teaching the younger generation how to travel abroad with a group. The motto of the “Travel for Teens” group is “We teach teens to be travelers, not tourists.” The kids going on the trips have the option of traveling to places such as Spain, Portugal, Egypt, and Italy among many other options.
Tabatha Gordon works with the group and explained why they think travel is so important. “Travel for Teens” offers different options for teens looking to travel internation-ally while giving them the experience to learn more about a topic they may be interested in. Cultural Exploration is the most common section of the program. This program’s purpose is to help kids experience culture and learn while still having fun with travel. Gor-don says they really focus on getting teenagers to see the cultural similari-ties while experiencing the differences.
“Someone in Fiji is the same as someone in the US,” Gordon said. “We just have a different way of getting our needs.”
Another option is the community service trips. The program recognizes the importance of community service for kids in high school. The language emergence programs available are for kids hoping to travel and be immersed in the language of that country. This program is available for Spanish and French students. The other option is the ‘Special Interest Photo’ trips. This group travels to Paris, Italy or goes on an African safari trip. Kids are able to learn how to take good photographs in different environments.
“You get to see big things,” said Gordon about the different trips. “But
you also get to live as a local.”To get in touch with the program,
students can find the organization on Facebook, Twitter, Skype or via email. The site offers more information for anyone looking to see whether or not the program may be right for them.
“I recommend all teens consider traveling with a group before traveling alone,” said Gordon. “It is a completely different experience to travel with your peers rather than traveling with your family.”
Last year around 20 German stu-dents also experienced what Gordon was talking about when they traveled with peers on a 13 day trip around Europe. The students were accompa-nied by a few parents as well as their teacher, Mrs. Heather Knight. Students were able to travel through parts of France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy among a few other locations.
Junior Becky Camp attended the trip last year and got to experience the fun of traveling along with her classmates. She said the experience was rewarding.
“It was kind of cool to see how people lived in other countries,” said Camp.
Camp said that although most coun-tries spoke some English, they did get to use some of the German they knew. The whole trip ended being around $3,000 and the class fundraised throughout the year to help out with the cost, although most students said the experience was worth the price.
Whether traveling alone, with a small group or with a large class, doing some research on where you’re going can be beneficial for new and inexpe-rienced travelers. Travel has proven to teach people how to experience other locations and cultures while still being a leisure activity for some.
“It’s fun (to travel),” said Breeden. “And it expands your world view.”▪
Group Travel
“It was kinda cool to see how people lived in other countries.
” - Becky Camp,
junior
“Service Groups ”
- Stephen Gearhart, senior
It was a really good chance to serve ... and it was hard work getting out of your comfort zone and just loving the kids.
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL 7
by Cara Hinh Reporter
“It’s a small world after all.” It’s the name of a ride at Disney World, made up of mechanical puppets that sing, dance and represent cultures from across the globe-- twirling girls from Paris, lions roaring and zebras prancing around an artificial savannah are among those who decorate the ride, The phrase is also something that the organization People to People strives to prove. The organization believes that they have succeeded so far, putting together the trip that took Walt Disney across the world that gave him the inspiration to create the famous ride.
People to People is an organization that was created in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower to give students the opportunity to travel and explore the world as children and young adults. The students who are a part of the program are called ambassadors and are student representatives for the United States whenever they travel.
“The most interesting part is getting to experience another part of the world,” said freshman Casey Smith, a future People to People ambassador who will be traveling to Italy and Greece this summer. “There are a lot of the things on this trip you couldn’t do if you went with another group or by yourself because you get to meet government officials and tour guides that take you to places that normally you wouldn’t know about.”
Not just anyone is allowed into the program, though. To even be considered, a student would have
to be recommended by teachers. The students must have knowledge of the geography, history and culture of the country or countries that they are visiting. The reason for this is because the students act as ambassadors for the United States.
Gaining the title of ambassador takes a lot of work. Smith has to do more than just show up for a meeting.
“You had to get recommendations from teachers,” said Smith. “After I had been accepted, I had to go to all of the meetings and there are certain assignments you have to do before you can go to the meetings.
You have to fill out journal entries and, as a group, we do community service.”
Mrs. Meghan O’Shea is an English as a second language teacher at Northview Middle School and she believes that the trip is worth all of the hard work the students are required to do. She is a delegation leader for People to People and acts as a chaperone on the trips. O’Shea has been a part of People to People for four years and has been to England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia with the organization.
“You’re representing your country in a foreign country,” said O’Shea, “and showing what the United States is and
to increase understanding. Opening students’ eyes to what is bigger than their world ... and what our world is about.”
A typical day for a People to People traveler begins with waking up at six in the morning to start their day with an early breakfast and then they embark on normal tourist activities like visiting museums, taking tours of cities and visiting beaches. As normal as the
trip may seem, as the days and hours wear on, the students begin to have experiences that differ from the typical vacation.
“Last time I was in Italy, we went to a monastery, and the students got the chance to talk to a monk, which they don’t normally talk to tourists, so students get insight that way,” said O’Shea.
When going on trips with People to People, students are given the opportunity to learn about the country’s government from someone who is actually a part of it. On previous trips with People to People, O’Shea has met members of Parliament. She has met the Queen of England twice and has met the Pope.
O’Shea believes that going on a trip with People to People can change a person’s life and give them new experiences.
“(Students gain things like) awareness that the world is so much bigger place than just here in Indiana and confidence,” said O’Shea. “We get a lot of students who are kind of shy in the beginning ...They come back (from the trip) very different than when they came. They are not afraid to do things that previously they would have never done.”
Smith hopes the trip she is taking this summer can help her to feel the same way as past students. Although Smith is excited about being on her own and visiting places across the world from her, she believes being without her family will be a challenge.
“The hardest thing so far, is having to meet all of the new people that are coming with me and getting used to the people that I am going to be around,” said Smith. “I am going to have to adapt to something that I am really not used to.”
Both Smith and O’Shea are ready for a trip that will change their lives, no matter how difficult it might be.
{People to People}Organization
gives students the opportunity
to travel to places around the world
and become submersed in
different cultures.The 2010 ambassadors of People to People, who traveled to Australia, learn to surf at the beach. Photo contributed.
”“You’re
representing your country in a foreign country and showing what the United States is.
- Mrs. Meghan O’Shea
MARCH 25, 2011 | THE COMPASS: ISSUE FIVE, VOLUME ONE | SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL8
The Compass is Southport’s newsmagazine, published in tabloid format every other issue of The Journal, Southport’s newspaper. The Compass will provide a more in-depth look at one topic that will change by issue.
Co-Editors of The CompassBRITTANY HEMPHILL
EMILY ODLE
2009 Southport Graduate Kaitlyn Shirar
A{
}Q &
with
Managing EditorsSHIVANI PARIKSHAKADRIENNE WAGNER
ReportersTANNA CARPENTER
CARA HINH
Kaitlyn Shirar is a sophomore at Texas Christian University. She is currently studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Read more about Kaitlyn’s travels at www.knshirar.blogspot.com.
Q: What made you want to study abroad?A: I’ve always wanted to study abroad. When choosing a college, I made sure the schools I con-sidered had a strong abroad program because I knew that was something I was really interested in. As a Spanish major, I want to become fluent. The best way to accomplish that is by immersing oneself in the language. Besides purely academic motives, studying abroad allows you to experi-ence a new culture and live in another part of the world for an extended period of time. When else in my life will I be able to get credit toward my degree while traveling to new cities and countries on the weekends? It truly is an experience of a lifetime.
Q: What was it like to go to another country half way around the world and study? What is it that you enjoy most about it? What’s the hardest part about studying abroad?A: Moving half way around the world was a challenge. However, because I moved a thousand miles from home to attend TCU, I was pretty prepared to deal with the distance and/or homesick-ness. Also, I came into the situation knowing it would be an adjustment. A realistic point of view kept me from being disappointed or stressed about cultural differences and other obstacles. I guess the part I enjoy the most is living in Sevilla. It’s about the same size as Indianapolis but with more character and charm because Europe is so much older than the states. I love knowing my way around, making friends and feeling like this is home for now. The hardest part might be ad-justing to the culture. It’s a constant struggle to avoid perceiving things as you would in your own cultural context. It’s so easy to assume your way of doing things is the right way of doing things, but that’s narrow-minded.
Q: What different countries & cities have you been to?A: So far I’ve traveled to Itálica, Granada, Córdoba and Paris, France. For the rest of the semester I have trips booked to Rhonda, Málaga, Barcelona, Lagos (Portugal), Cádiz, Morocco and Italy to Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome.
Q: Have you had any crazy experiences so far? What is your favorite one?A: I’ve had lots of crazy experiences so far, but it’s mostly in small ways. One time my friends and I forgot our passports and almost weren’t allowed to stay in our hostel. ...Every meal in Spain is an adventure because (my roommate Sarah and I) never know what our host mom, or señora, is going to make. One time we were given an entire plate of instant mashed potatoes and two slices of lunch meat - gross! Another time we didn’t want to eat our rice and bean concoction, so we scraped our leftovers into a bag and brought it to our room to throw away later. Except we forgot about it and were so scared our host mom would find it. Maybe that doesn’t sound scary to you, but you haven’t met our señora.
Q: Any advice you would give to students who are interested in studying abroad programs?A: My advice would be to do it. Studying abroad is so worth all the hoops you have to jump through to get there. Yes, it’s hard, but you learn so much about the world and yourself.
Interview conducted by Emily Odle Compass Co-Editor
Photos contributed.
Sevilla, Spain
Guadalquivir River in Sevilla, Spain
Kaitlyn Shirar (second from the right) with friends in La Alhambra, Spain.
