Up, Up and Away from Houston

Hello fellow parents of incredible daughters! We are back in Maine from Houston, our daughters and their teachers are safe and sound at their destination. To the parents we met and didn't meet, we are so glad to be sharing this adventure with you.  Our daughters were a beehive of energy with each other. Some of the teachers met each student at the airport, delivering them back to the enlarging group at the hotel. My husband, Alan and I were in the room next door to theirs and we could hear the buzz of conversation and giggles. After emptying their substantial bags, editing the contents and repacking, we all walked to Fuddrucker's for hamburgers, etc. It was a great group walk for chatting and learning about each other. Upon our return to the hotel, we met to learn about each teacher, the flexible itinerary, ways to be a savvy traveler (knee length bottoms, tucked in money belts, etc). The teachers put on a skit to make these points in an effective, humorous way.  Emily, Thea, Cara and Rhea (in absentia, the front-person in Guatamala) and Gennefre really are remarkable women combining love of teaching and adventure with  a sure-footed but flexible mind-set that left me able to trust my daughter to them. The back-up from the Bozeman office sounds secure and well-planned for every contingency.  This morning, we all ate breakfast watching Punxsutawney Phil the ground hog coming out to find his shadow. The girls were eating at 6 AM, then on the jitney to the airport for their 9:30 flight. Unbeknownst to us, our flight out happened to be several gates down from theirs so we got to see the plane taxi out to the runway. We left feeling the right combination of peaceful and excited. So now I'm going to try to upload some photos for you to see.  Wish me luck and stay in touch if you hear from the girls. I'll take a guess that we'd all like to hear their stories if you wish to share them on this site. 

Patty (Anna's mom)