The Rock Island High School Theater Department is traveling to London this summer! Dorian Foster, the head of the department, plans to take her drama students, in and outside the department, to London for an international experience offering world sites, new foods, cultures, arts, and new friendships! Students were able to sign up for the London trip last year. Not only Rocky students, but Moline High School and United Township High School students will be joining the Rocks on this adventure. Offering students opportunities like London will help expand their world views. Student Nyx King, a senior, who has been in the Drama Department for 4 years, is excited about the trip.
Even though this trip may be scary, and not in most of these students’ comfort zones, a lot of them want to do it. Foster believes international travel is important for students, as she said, “Absolutely! It’s one of those unique doors that shows us the possibilities in life. It expands our world view. For some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ” Even though Foster is nervous about “keeping students happy and healthy,” she is excited. Foster has flown on a plane many times, “New York, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.” Nyx has never been on an international flight, but has flown to Florida. Nyx said, “No, I have not left the U.S, but yes, I have been on a plane in 2014 when I was 7, but I was too young to remember. We were going to Disney World.” This will be Nyx’s first trip outside the U.S and by themselves (without family, just friends). This will be Nyx’s first big plane ride on a Boeing 787, which is a really big plane! Nyx stated, “I’m incredibly nervous for the plane ride, as I’m terrified of heights, and there’s a lot that can go wrong on planes.”
Most Rocks traveling on this trip are Seniors, and Nyx shared, “I just want the new experience, and this seemed like a great opportunity.” These Seniors will be graduating from high school this year. Much like Nyx, they want to gain a better understanding of what is beyond the United States before they move to a new chapter of their lives. Foster said, “It’ll add another layer to the whole RIHS theatre experience. It’s an opportunity not many get and it’s the only theatre-specific overseas trip this company offers.” Most of the students traveling on this trip want to gain a new point of view, a world view. The purpose of this trip is to show the students there is life everywhere, no matter the place.
Nyx is looking forward to “learning about the new cultures in London and learning about new cultures, in general, is fun!” London offers many different experiences that the United States does not have. For example, there are different types of cuisine. London is famous for fish and chips, full English breakfast, toad in the hole, and afternoon tea. London also has amazing sites! Here are some the Rocks will be seeing, Big Ben, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Oxford. “I’m excited to see the sites, but there are no sites in particular that I’m looking forward to.” said Nyx. The “important theater sites” that Foster and the Rocks will be seeing a theater performance and doing a theater workshop. This trip to London gives Rocky theater students more experience with theater outside the U.S. It gives them opportunities “To just get the experience, and make fun new memories before I go off to college,” Nyx stated.
As the London 2025 trip gets closer with every passing day, the Rock’s are starting to get nervous, but also excited with the possibilities and experiences they will gain by taking this trip. Nyx King is just one of the students that is embarking on this journey to London. Nyx has shown that it is okay to be nervous about this upcoming trip. It is okay to be scared. But when given an opportunity like this individuals should do it!
