Martinique

March 10-23, 2010 (Middle School Breakaway-Tuesday of Spring Break)

Trip leaders: Monique Bessette

The beauty of this trip is that it involves a reciprocal exchange between Catlin Gabel Middle School and the middle school Collège Emmanuel Saldès in Sainte-Marie, Martinique, a French Overseas Department (or DOM in French).  Eighth and seventh graders will travel to Martinique in March of 2010 while the Martiniquans will come the following year.  The skills required in adapting to living in a home abroad are very different from hosting someone from abroad at home.  Both of these extremely valuable skills will be experienced.  Language, culture, and sailing will be the focus of this year’s trip.  The first three days will consist of a short initiation to sailing aboard a 125-foot sailboat as we travel north to the islands of Guadeloupe and Dominica.  Afterwards, the students will spend a full week with their homestay family in Sainte-Marie and participate in various school, community, and cultural outings.

Eligible students: 7th and 8th grade French students
Number of students: Min 15 – Max 20
Estimated cost: $2,300