Senior Shane Lischin is headed to Germany and Italy during March Break for an International Education Program (IEP) trip that focuses on international relations and Holocaust education and includes participation in the Yale Model United Nations Europe Conference. Meanwhile, junior Victoria “Kiki” Ribeiro will be on a boat in the Caribbean on a journey that focuses on marine studies and leadership development. 

Different parts of the world. Different focuses. But similar experiences in that, like everyone who goes on one of the five IEP trips offered this year through the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies, they will encounter something new around every turn. 

“I chose the Caribbean IEP because of the immersive cultural experiences, and the ability to visit more than one country,” Kiki said. “We will also get to go snorkeling and kayaking through bioluminescent coral reefs, things that are so unique to this trip, interesting to me, and super cool adventures.”

She said she is looking forward to making new friends and is excited for the “character-building” experience of living on a boat, which will include sharing limited space with students, chaperones, and the crew on a historical tall ship. The ship is both a classroom and a home for the week as students learn about sailing and teamwork as they travel between several Caribbean islands. 

Shane’s trip includes the Italy portion, where he and other members of the Loomis Chaffee Model United Nations delegation will participate in the Yale Model UN Europe Conference in Rome. 

“One thing I’m excited about is that these international conferences bring together delegates from all over the world, which makes the debate and collaboration feel more authentic and challenging,” Shane said. “I think that kind of global mix — combined with what we’ll be learning in Germany — will make the experience more nuanced and more grounded in real-world perspectives and consequences.” 

In Germany, students will visit sites such as the Dachau Concentration Camp and the city of Nuremberg to learn about the rise of Hitler and the Nuremberg Trials. After Germany, part of the group travels to Poland while those on the Model U.N. team head to Italy. 

“I hope to gain a deeper, more grounded understanding of how countries confront difficult histories and translate those lessons into modern political and moral responsibility,” Shane said. “Learning about the Holocaust in Germany, where memory, education, and accountability are built directly into public life, feels especially meaningful.”  

During his four years at Loomis, Shane has been involved in efforts to add more Holocaust education events to the calendar through the Norton Family Center for the Common Good and the Rubenstein Fund for Holocaust Education and to include more Holocaust-related topics in the English and History departments’ curricula. “This trip feels like a natural extension to this work,” Shane said. “I’m interested in how societies preserve historical memory not just as history, but as a framework for shaping civic values and preventing future atrocities.”   

In addition to the Italy, Germany, and Caribbean trips in March, IEP trips in June will travel to France (focus: multicultural studies and language studies) and New Zealand (focus: indigenous cultural studies and sustainability). 

Each year these trips bring postcard-like settings to life. Senior Wyeth Andrews participated in an IEP trip to Morocco last year.  

“The architecture, the food, even the landscape was extremely different than in the U.S., and it was a great experience to be exposed to both the country and the culture,” Wyeth said. “All of the people we met, especially our tour guides, were really nice and interesting.” 

Miles and miles from campus, in a different land, in a different culture, some things don’t change. Kids are kids. 

“Before the trip, I hadn’t really thought about what the people there were like, but you’d expect that they’d be so much different than you because they live somewhere much different,” Wyeth said. “Until we had dinner with local students, I never realized just how similar they were to us.” 

The trip also became a bonding experience, Wyeth said. “The trips are something you get to do with other members of the Loomis community, which is lots of fun,” he said. “You will learn a lot while you are on the trip, and you will have fun doing it.” 

Senior Shamyra Glenn said she would encourage students to go on one of the IEP trips. 

“Traveling abroad with your peers is a unique, exciting, and sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “It’s incredibly worthwhile because you learn together in an immersive environment. You also have the comfort of being with teachers who were selected for their international experience and language fluency, so there is so much to learn from them as well.” 

Shamyra went to Spain as a junior. 

“One thing that will always stand out to me, even years from now, is learning about a new way of life. I really enjoyed living like a citizen of Spain. ... My trip to Spain also helped shape my perspective and challenge my own preconceived notions about traveling abroad,” Shamyra said. “I learned that it isn’t as intimidating as I once thought. Immersing myself in a new culture and speaking Spanish, which I am not yet fluent in, was a valuable learning experience. From the airport to the daily activities, I felt safe, comfortable, and welcomed by everyone we encountered.”