This post features student writing.

As the trip comes to an end and we begin to say our goodbyes, I am faced with the task of writing the last blog post. Looking back on these past four weeks, I can safely say that this was an unforgettable experience. Starting in Fiji, the group began to get to know each other as we sought to find our places in the group. As our time in Fiji came to an end, the group slowly became a family. Fiji marked the beginning of the Putney experience, and I learned that finding your place in a group of 20 takes time.

After our adventures in Fiji, the group took a short plane ride to New Zealand. New Zealand was broken down into two parts: The Homestay and the Ski Trip. The homestay was the highlight of the trip for me. These four nights were the epitome of cultural exploration as the group was sent to live with individual New Zealand families. After the homestay, we went skiing. Skiing was a blast! Both of these experiences changed the way I look at culture and pleasure.

Australia was broken down into three parts: sailing the Whitsunday Islands, traveling around Sydney, and the Outback. The boat trip was very fun. We explored many islands in the Whitsundays. Even though we had to sleep on a rocking boat, I found that exploring the Whitsundays was very relaxing. Next, we went to Sydney. Walking around Sydney reminded me of New York. Lastly, we went to the Outback, which was a blast.

In conclusion, we experienced and saw incredible things this trip. But more importantly, we came away with lots of new friends.

— Myles

Note from the leaders:

Thank you all for sharing your children with us this summer. We hope that they come away from this experience having learned just a fraction of what we’ve learned from them. It has been amazing to watch them get out of their comfort zones, challenge themselves, and grow this summer. It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to have each and every one of them on our trip. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

— Zack & Katelyn