Grand Tour Blog

Next Stop: Dover, England

Writing and photos by Kaley '20

5:55am all of my best friends and I got on a bus to head to the boarding dock to board a ferry to London. As I start to write this on the 4 hour bus ride to the boarding dock it really makes me realize how thankful I am for all of these people around me. 

It never really hit me till a couple days ago—I'M TRAVELING AROUND EUROPE WITH MY BEST FRIENDS! Some of these people I have known since preschool! This trip is definitely a once in a lifetime experience, and to be able to do it with the people you love and have been with for so long is something else. I have been with all of these people through many laughs and through many tears and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, of course, sometimes we may get on each other’s nerves but what brothers and sisters don’t?! It’s all part of being a family. And I sure got blessed with one of the best families around. 

I am also traveling around Europe with my mom, you know how awesome that is! She was and still is my very first ultimate best friend! Experiencing this once in a lifetime experience with her is truly amazing! She has loved me since day one and has cared for me and has been the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I love you mom! 

Going to all these different places has truly made me realize how thankful I am for God. He made all of these things that we are seeing! He also created all these people that I am traveling with, all the people that I laugh and cry with, all the people that I have known for years and get this experience to travel with! Be right back, I got to go board the ferry. 

Wow just wow. Even though it was a gloomy rainy day it’s pretty cool to say that you sailed on the English Channel. Very faintly we were able to see the cliffs of Dover, but unfortunately the fog was covering most of it. It was a not a smooth ride at all, the sea was very choppy and a few people were getting sea sick including myself. All we need to do is get some lemons and potato chips and it should cure that! Just a second I gotta get off the boat. 

Alright, another bus ride to our hotel two and a half hours to go... Oh yeah! We’re driving on the left side of the road! And the drivers on the right side! We got to explore downtown London a bit and see only part of what we came for. 

This trip has definitely brought my entire class even closer together than we were before. I can’t even express how thankful I am to have them as my classmates and more importantly my best friends. 

So to my class: Thanks guys for being the greatest best friends I could ask for, I wouldn’t want to experience this trip with anyone else. I love you guys!