By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
Touring six European countries in 19 days in July, trying new things, seeing the sights and just having fun was a highlight of the summer vacation that Somerset County Vo-Tech sophomore Samantha Komoroski enjoyed, after she was selected to be a student ambassador with the People-to-People International program.
People-to-People International was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures.
There was a lot of preparation for the trip, with monthly meetings for six months prior to departing. Sam met the other ambassadors in the area along with their families and their leaders. The group did projects, learned about the countries of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, Wales and Ireland and got to know each other.
When Sam received a letter inviting her to join the student ambassadors, she said she “thought it was a scam.” But then she and her parents, Bonnie and Ed, attended the information meeting to see what it was all about. During the months of meetings before the trip, Sam said she was scared and did not want to go on the trip.
”We had to bend her arm because she was really scared,” Ms. Komoroski laughed and said. “Then, the first phone call, she said ‘I am so glad I came.’ From day one, she really loved it and had a good time.”
”I was afraid I was going to be homesick but they kept me so busy, I hadn’t even thought about home,” she said. Sam only called home three times — once for her dad’s birthday and twice to speak to the family.
This was basically the first time she away from home by herself.
”I’ve been to Stokes with ABIS (school trips), so I was thinking about it like that,” Sam said. “There were a lot of kids in the same exact position. I didn’t know any of them.”
While some of the ambassadors traveled with schoolmates, Sam was the only one from Manville. “I became the most popular kid there — I don’t know why everyone just liked me,” she said.
Some of the places Sam visited included Cahersiveen and Dublin Ireland; Warwick, England, where she went to the Warwick Castle; and London to ride on the largest Ferris wheel in the world, the London Eye, which offered a panoramic view of the city on the 443-foot high ride. In England, Sam also met with a current Member of Parliament and took an overnight ferry to France. The students also visited Paris and Amsterdam.
At Buckingham Palace, Sam and the rest of the student ambassadors were excited as they witnessed the changing of the guards which only takes place every 12 hours and they happen to be there at the right time.
”I liked Ireland — it was pretty but it rained and it was cold,” she said. “My favorite was France and the Eiffel Tower. I have a picture of Big Ben and the Eye and Big Ben was in front of the Eye. That was a picture that I was able to have it was not on any postcard.”
She stayed in a bed and breakfast in Ireland and went sailing and windsurfing for the first time.
Sam learned a few things while traveling to the different countries.
”All the countries did everything opposite — like driving on the other side of the road,” she said. “Basically, we are the only people, we are the different people but we look at them like they are different, we are the different people.”
On the other hand, dining was not a problem while abroad.
”It (food) was basically the same, not very different,” Sam said. “It was all pretty good. I had everything before except for the combinations they put together. I was excited because in one of the countries we were supposed to eat green ants. Apparently they tasted like mint but we didn’t (eat any).”
The group that Sam was with volunteered for a few projects to help out, including a project to cut peat in Ireland to distribute to elderly residents to use for heating.
”We also cleaned up a graveyard in Ireland for people who did not have any family who visits the graves,” she said. They were able to work with some of the local youth interacting in the projects.
Now Sam can’t stop talking about her summer experience and would like to someday go again.
”I loved it — I will do it again but I don’t know if I can,” Sam said (her mom and dad joked she will have to pay for any return trips).
But Sam offered this advice to students receiving the invitation letter: go.
”I did something that no one could do, I went to six different countries not just one,” she said. “I just liked it.”
