An out of the ordinary opportunity

A turning point is about to happen. Yes, it's Alternatives. What is this you ask?

"First created in 1978 as an “alternative” experience for those High
School students not involved in the annual Music Tour, this program has
evolved into one of the most talked about and anticipated events in the school
year. It provides students with an opportunity to see new places, meet new
friends, and discover a new skill or passion that will enhance their experience at
ASL and in London. Too popular a program to remain an “alternative” to any
other ASL offering, Alternatives is now seen as an enrichment that is an
alternative to the traditional classroom experience.

This year a total of 26 Alternatives are on offer. Each trip has been conceived and
designed by a faculty member, and all High School students and faculty will
participate in one of the offerings. Some have a service component, some are
activity or skill‐based, and some offer an insight into another culture or area of
Europe, so there are Alternatives to fit everyone." (Alternatives Brochure '07)

So I'm going on a trip. My trip is Scuba in Spain. Yes, we take kids off to the Costa Brava to scuba dive and get certified. In the past two years, I've gotten my Open Water certification through this program...and we have kids who choose to do two years so they too can get to this level.

It's a great program. The kids get to go places and see things they might not do as a normal tourist. From learning to cook in Italy, working with footballers in Milan to a course in running in Scotland, there is something for everyone. You learn. You meet people from every high school class. And kids come back refreshed and a bit more positive about the school. It's an amazing experience that very few teenagers get through their normal high school lives.

And as a teacher, it's quite the bonus. Yes, we do have to look after a bunch of teens and be wary of their desire to go out and do 'bad' things on occasion. Yes, we get a ton less sleep than we would if we were just away with friends (well....maybe not). But we too get to have really cool experiences and get paid for it too!

I may try to get my Advanced Open Water certification this time. I've already done a few dives in that direction. I think I just have to do the navigation part and the deep dive. I'm fine with that. The hardest part was the basic scuba diver cert - there are a few 'scary' things to do, as they are the first time you may have done them...like taking off your mask or taking out your breathing apperatus and tossing it behind you. Scary. But now that you know you can do all that and not freak...the rest is quite easy.

So...I'll not post for a while. We leave on Tuesday at 6am and return on Saturday night. I'll sleep all day Sunday but at least we have off Monday and Tuesday. And when we return, school seems much better for some reason. You've done a bit of it, know that there is another vacation in about one month and then another one month after that. Yeah, the pace goes. And the kids seem to feel much better. And so do the teachers!