Bishop Seabury Academy

3 I nternational travel has been a long-standing tradition since 1998-99 at Bishop Seabury Academy. Our trips, held each year during spring break, promote individual academic growth by providing students with personal experiences of what they study. As extensions of the classroom, they are designed to complement the history, art, language, and theater courses taught at Seabury. Students have the opportunity to see and explore monuments, art, and historical sites, and learn from professional guides and/or experienced Seabury faculty. These trips help our students develop an appreciation for other cultures and ways of life and give them a forum for conversing with native speakers. From March 18-26, Seabury's annual international trip dove into the intricacies of Japanese culture, with this year's group of 21 students and two faculty members traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. While staying in those three cities, the group took respective day trips to visit the Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikkō and the Nara Deer Park. From making sushi to pursuing crowded street vendors to find hidden gems, the group's appetite for adventure kept growing. Junior Katie Mastrosimone '26 reminisced about their experience of exploring in small groups during their free time: "As an upperclassman with a lot more freedom, I felt I was living like a local." Between visiting shrines and museums, students were able to explore the cities in small groups, whether it be wandering around the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, shopping in traditional shops along Kyoto's Kiyomizu-Zaka Street, or exploring the otaku culture of Akihabara. This experience has opened the doors for students to learn more skills outside the classroom, with senior Neela Rangarajan '25 highlighting that she, "learned how to connect with people across language barriers." Now, as the 2024-25 school year comes to a close, we look forward to planning next year's international trip: Greece. Yours respectfully, Elyse Hamman '25 Senior and Trip Participant Seabury Students Take on Japan Experiencing a New Culture Through the International Educational Trip Program

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