Working For It!

These two years working with the Travel Class, have been amazing. Our first year was somewhat hard and slow, especially when we were looking for a sponsor. We were afraid no one wanted to take such a huge responsibility and work with six crazy teenagers. Then, luckily, Mrs. Ranzau came to the rescue. She barely knew us, because she had recently moved to Valentine that year, but she accepted to work with us  and has showed that she truly believes in us and cares about us.

When we first started, a couple of us set our minds on going to Fiji, but when later finding out how much money it would take to get there, we scratched that option and moved forward looking for others places to travel, obviously cheaper places.

Of course it was our first year and we had lots of time to decide where we wanted to go. Along the year we thought of Spain, Brazil, Hawaii, and many different places each one of us got interested in, then suddenly someone mentioned the option of going to Italy. As the option of going to Italy got stuck in our heads, and after we did some research, the idea seemed perfect for all of us. Later we all made the great decision of going to Italy, and that is when most of the hard work started, because we all knew we were gonna have to make lots of money to make our dream come true, and this is mostly how our adventure began.

During these two years, the 10 of us have been through a lot of pain and happiness together, we all have worked hard to raise money. There were times where it seemed that we were very far from making our dream come true, times where we wanted to give up, but with the community support and all those people who have generously helped us, we have become stronger and are very close to travelling to Italy!

I have experienced too many things with the Travel Class, I have learned to respect, love, and care about others, and mostly to love and respect myself. To help those who need me, and to make myself work harder for what I want. Apart from learning to be more responsible and caring, during these two years I have also turned into a more educated person in my personal and social life. I learned to interact more with nature, society, and my family, where I am not the shy girl I used to be a couple of years ago, who the only thing she looked forward at the end of her day was to lock herself in her room and read or watch TV. 

I have gained too many great things during these two years, one of the most important things is the family the 10 of us have developed. To me these kids aren't only a group I get to travel with, they are my brothers and sister, they are who matter most to me, who make me laugh every day, who also make me mad and sometimes frustrated, but because of our special relationship we are able to fix our problems even with just a smile.

This mostly because of our two great sponsors, who both have also been through too many hurtful and exhausting experiences with us, but they are who have shown us that with love and respect we can get through anything. They have given us the strength to fight for this dream, they are who have made sure that this family always stays together.
 
I am happy to say that I have been very lucky and blessed, that it is with them that I have experienced these two fantastic years, and that it is with them that I will be travelling to such a beautiful country this summer.

Thank You!

Since our article came out on Christmas Day in the El Paso Daily times, we have had an amazing response!

We'd like to thank all of our donors - those we have received gifts from as well as those we have not yet received. Below is a list, thus far, of people who have donated to us for our trip. We are deeply grateful to all of you!

Richard and Susan Hughes from El Paso, Texas

Theresa Walker from Barstow, Texas

Mr. Terry Moore from Clute, Texas

Tamara Sbelgio from Alpine, Texas

James Klaes from El Paso, Texas

Mr. and Mrs. Benny Davis from El Paso, Texas

Mrs. Patricia Handly from El Paso, Texas

Jim Wright from Decatur, Texas

Mr. Arturo Ramirez from El Paso, Texas

Vernon Walden from El Paso, Texas

Rico Family from Alabama

Vanessa L Richardson from Nevada City, California

Peter Paul Chase and Linda Hendrick Chase from Alpine, Texas

Linda Hedges from Fort Davis, Texas

James Cardwell from El Paso, Texas

Virginia Terrian from El Paso, Texas

Carleton Talbot from Canutillo, Texas

Ms Shirley Roberts from El Paso, Texas

Margaret Goerke from Fort Davis, Texas

Patricia M. Perry, Valentine Alum, from Marble Falls, Texas

Tom Wayne Harrison from Fort Davis, Texas

Miguel Contreras from El Paso, Texas

Mike Mendiola from El Paso, Texas

Carmen Silvia from El Paso, Texas

Gregory Harrison from El Paso, Texas

Wilton and Elda Nichols from El Paso, Texas

Margaret Elliott from El Paso Texas

Alice and John Jennings from Marfa, Texas

Love and Food

This has been an amazing first week back at school for us. Our article in the El Paso Times has helped us to receive over $3000.00 in donations, our article in The Cenizo Journal came out, and I made antipasti and panna cotta for the kids.

My door is slowly being covered with letters from donors and well-wishers. It is so amazing to realize just how supportive people are. We have received donations from as far as Alabama and California, from Valentine alumni and people who had a good experience during sports events here when they visited, and from strangers who read the article and simply wanted to help out. We are truly blessed to have such support.

 Not all of the kids were sure about the food I'd made for them to try: roasted tomatoes, marinated olives and bell peppers, several different types of cheese, prosciutto, grilled zucchini, and caprese salad. These are west Texas ranch kids after all. The food seemed to be a hit however, there was very little left at the end of lunch.

As the date draws nearer and we continue to work on booking plans and places to stay, we are all getting excited! 

Preparing for Italy!

Please follow our blog as we prepare for our trip in June and during it. Here we plan to blog and post pictures from our trip. The idea is that all travellers can post here so you are aware of what is going on!

This first week back at school, we are beginning our final preparations for the trip in June. An article in The Cenizo Journal came out today, we received over $2500 in donations from readers of The El Paso Daily Times and we are starting presentations of the cities we'll visit.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_24793851/tiny-west-texas-school-students-earn-their-way?IADID=Search-www.elpasotimes.com-www.elpasotimes.com

www.cenizojournal.com

We are getting excited!