This summer, 36 U High students, faculty, and parents traveled to Japan, visiting Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Osaka. Highlights of the trip included eating lots of local cuisine; participating in a traditional matcha tea ceremony; visiting historic shrines and temples; and feeding the deer at the famous Nara Park. The group traveled to Hiroshima via the bullet train to visit the Peace Park and Memorial to learn about the impact of the atomic bomb. Students heard from descendants of survivors and saw first-hand some of the still-present devastation. The week-long tour also included a visit to the Kure Museum to walk through a retired submarine and the Mazda Museum and car factory, where students learned how the cars are designed, sculpted out of clay, fabricated, and assembled. Everyone had a great time and plenty of memories were made on this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

Each summer, UHigh partners with EF Tours to provide an international travel opportunity for high school students and parents. Prior trips have included participation in the 80 th Anniversary of DDay celebrations throughout England, France, and Germany and the opportunity for travelers to practice their Spanish language skills in Portugal and Spain. The trips allow students access to historic places where famous events occurred, from walking the same Normandy beaches the soldiers landed to seeing the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake and became a martyr. Students visit museums across the globe, from the Imperial War Museum in England to the Louvre in France to the Alhambra in Spain. Travelers are immersed in the culture of the country and have plenty of opportunities for selfies.

Next summer, the Cubs will travel to Switzerland and Italy. This adventure takes travelers to the top of a Swiss mountain, through Lake Como, to a gondola ride in Venice, to the Roman Colosseum, and of course all the delicious food in between! For information about that tour, or our 2028 location when it is announced, visit https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2937343YH or contact Dr. Belinda Cambre at bcambre@lsu.edu.