We have done SO much since I last wrote! We have been super busy and have had long days! Most mornings our wakeup call has been 6:15 and breakfast by 7. By the time bed checks are done each night most of us have been ready to pass out! I am proud to say that since I last wrote, EVERYONE in the delegation (including the leaders) made it to the top of Mount Vesuvius! Some of the group even opted for a crater tour where they got to actually go in to the crater of the volcano! It was quite a climb but worth it to be able to look inside an active volcano!
We spent some time seeing the highlights of Rome including the Vatican, Coliseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and more! Our tour guide in the Vatican was American so we didn’t have to worry about understanding the accent. This was a highlight for many, especially once we saw the Sistine Chapel.
After Rome we spent some time in Assisi. Our time at the school for disabled students was difficult but rewarding. I think it humbled all of us and put the things we complain about in perspective.
Yesterday was our Full On day which you have to experience to understand the full impact. The highlights of the day were learning how to break a wood block with our hands and rappelling down a 100 foot castle wall. Despite my fear of heights, I even did it with the encouragement of my team (Thanks Spartans!!!.
Today we visited Florence and Pisa which was of course highlighted by seeing the David and Leaning Tower.
In between all of this we’ve found time to eat some delicious meals, shop, and of course, bond. We are more than half way through our 20 days together and it’s going fast!

Hello from Italy! We arrived by overnight ferry this morning and after a 4 hour drive and of course some pasta for lunch, explored Pompeii! It was a highlight for many of us. Several students got to try their first gelato before heading off to our meeting with a nun to discuss her life. Next was dinner in Naples and then a swim in our hotel before bed.
Our last couple of days in Greece were great. We did our community service project at the Botanical Gardens in Athens. The students were a great help, as these gardens are kept up by a very small group. We also visited the theater at Epidaurus, which was spectacular. You can drop a coin and everyone in the huge outdoor theater can hear it without any sound system. Performances are still held here and Kevin Spacey will be performing in a Shakespeare play here at the end of July! We ended our time in Greece with a visit to Olympia where we got to see where the Olympics were originally held and where the Olympic torch is lit for all of the games.
I must get some rest as tomorrow morning we climb Mount Vesuvius!!

Today was a nice, relaxing day! We started early to catch an 8am ferry to the island of Aegina. After our ferry ride we were taken by bus to a private beach that we shared with a blended People to People delegation from California, Texas and Hawaii. Today was the last day for them so they filled us in on some of what we have to look forward to.
After lunch, we had plenty of time to explore Aegina. The most popular stop was a pastry shop while others tried traditional Greek foods such as gyros and souvlaki. Of course, plenty of shopping was done as well. We took a 6pm ferry back to Athens where many decided to stay in the air conditioned lounge after a day in the sun. We also added a new member to our group….his name is Jean-Claudio Zeus…a stuffed puppy who is our new mascot.
After a late dinner we all began packing our rooms (since some of the ambassadors bags look like they exploded!). Tomorrow morning we check out and leave Athens for our next adventure!

Hello from Athens! By now we are finally over our jet lag and had an amazing day and a half in Greece. We did have a scare in London that we were going to miss our connecting flight to Athens due to having to take a bus, a tram, and get 44 people through a LONG security check to get to our gate… but the plane waited for us! (To the disappointment of a few who were hoping to get stuck in London to add a 4th counyty to our itinerary!!).
When we arrived in Athens we were met by Michaela, our Delegation Manager who comes to us from Austria. We got checked into our hotel and had time to freshen up. We had a relaxing afternoon at the beach and then had dinner at our hotel. Bed checks were early tonight since everyone was exhausted from our long hours of travel.
We began our first full day in Greece with a buffet breakfast which gave us the energy we needed to climb up the Acropolis! We had an excellent tour guide who showed us around Athens. Our timing was perfect so we got to watch a changing of the guards ceremony for the tomb of the unknown soldier. The Acropolis was next and it was truly awe-inspiring! The students took great pictures for everyone to see when we get home. Notice I said the STUDENTS took great pictures. I had a traveler's worst nightmare come true…while switching it from one bag to another, I left my camera on my kitchen table in NY! I am extremely upset but Evelina has been nice enough to take pictures for me too. (See above!)
Lunch was had at a quaint open air restaurant that overlooked the city of Athens. The owner reminded many of us of a concerned grandparent…making sure we liked what she had prepared for us and then scolding us to wear hats and drink lots of water to avoid getting sick from the sun!
After a bit of shopping, we took a tram ride back to our hotel to freshen up for our Greek dance lesson at a school! This was A LOT of fun. Perhaps when the students are picked up on the 28th they’ll show off some of their new moves! After dinner we were treated to traditional Greece dancing by professionals, including our own dance teachers. We even got to join in and everyone danced. The night finished with a presentation of certificates of participation in the Greek Dance lesson.
It’s now nearly 11pm and everyone is getting some rest before an early wake up tomorrow of 5:45am to catch a ferry! I think I should join them!

Flight Info is OnBoard!

Login to your OnBoard site for all of our flight info!

Elected Official Speaking at April Orientation Meeting

Josh Horton, former Town Supervisor will be joining us on April 9th. Please come prepared with a couple questions to ask him. Also, please arrive early so everyone can be signed in and settled and we don't keep him waiting. A very special thank you to Yvonne Lieblein for setting this up for our delegates.

Relay For Life: New Link!

If you haven't already joined our Relay for Life team, there is a new link you have to click since our 1st group filled up! Click below to join our delegation service project!

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11EA?team_id=918108&pg=team&fr_id=29394

Group Service Project

It was decided at our 2nd Orientation Meeting that we will participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of the South Fork. This event will take place from Friday, April 1st starting at 6pm to April 2nd at 6am at SYS Southampton Town Recreation Center. This will be a great bonding experience for our delegation! Click the link below to join the team and start raising funds!

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11National?px=19176713&pg=personal&fr_id=29394

1st Orientation Meeting

Thanks to all the ambassadors and parents for a great 1st meeting! Looking forward to getting to know everyone over the next several months before our adventure of a lifetime. What is everyone most looking forward to on the program?

Official Visit and Service Project

Use this blog as a forum to discuss ideas you have for the service project and/or the official visit. If you like an idea already posted before you write, feel free to respond to the posts of others! YOU SHOULD POST HERE YOUR IDEA FOR THE PROJECT FAIR TO BE HELD AT OUR FINAL ORIENTATION MEETING!

Upcoming Dates to Look Forward To!

90 Days Prior to Departure- Air Schedule Posted OnBoard (* Make sure the OnBoard site has your name printed exactly as it appears on your passport including your middle name so your tickets are correct!)

60 Days Prior to Departure- Daily Schedule of Activities Posted OnBoard

30 Days Prior to Depature- Accommodations List Posted OnBoard

Travel Dates Confirmed!

Our official departure date is July 9th. We return on July 28th.