FAQs for the Younger Generations
General
- What is family history? Why is it important?
- Why should I go on this trip?
- Why is this trip important to my grandparents/parents?
- What kinds of fun things will we be able to do?
Before you leave
- How much money should I bring?
- What clothes and supplies do I need to bring?
- What about Ipods and Gameboys?
- What’s this reading list about – sounds like homework!?
While on tour
- Is it going to be like school?
- Will I meet other kids who live in the place I am going to visit?
- What kind of foods will we eat?
- What kind of snacks are there? Should we bring our own?
- What kind of beds will we be sleeping in?
General
What is family history? Why is it important?
Family history is simply your personal history – that is, the story of where you come from – and therefore who you are now. Since the families of most Americans today came from different countries a hundred or more years ago, you and your family have your roots in a different country or countries. Those ancestral countries have partly made you what you are – they have given you your unique face and body (your genes originally came from there), and the culture from these countries was what originally formed American culture, your own present culture. So getting to know these places, and the people and cultures from there, is about getting to know yourself more than anything else – why you are a unique and special individual in this world. And we think that is about the most important thing in life!
Why should I go on this trip?
Well, hopefully not just because your parents or grandparents organized it and you’ve got no choice in the matter! Really, this trip is designed as much for you guys as it is for the adults. So count on it being a lot of fun! Look at it as an adventure into a new land and into your own personal story – it’s about where you come from. You'll be going somewhere where you and your brothers and sisters, your parents, your grandparents all belong, the place your family lived for probably hundreds of year before emigrating to the U.S.
To make it fun for all, we’ll be including morning activities for your whole family, altogether – stuff that’s fun and interesting – like bike riding through little old villages, playing bocce (like Italian bowling) with locals, throwing pizzas with real Italians, and so on. But in the afternoons, you mostly be heading off to do stuff that’s purely about fun and games – windsurfing, going to an amusement park, watching a movie, playing football with local kids, eating gelato, hitting the pool or the beach. And at least one night on the trip, you’ll also be going out for dinner without the adults, just you and the guides.
Why is this trip important to my grandparents/parents?
Your parents and grandparents are really interested in the place where your family came from before they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Now that you’re older and able to appreciate the great big world out there, they want to take advantage and go as a family, so you can all learn about your family and have a fun vacation together. In fact, hardworking parents often don’t have as much as they would like with you guys, so this may be another reason why they want you all to come along. Vacations are perfect opportunities to create lasting memories for everyone.
Finally, your parents and grandparents know, although you might disagree, that it won’t be long before you leave home and start a life of your own. They want to build memories of their time with you before you have your first job or go off to college.
What kinds of fun things will we be able to do?
That depends mostly on the region of Europe your family comes from – this trip is being created just for your family, so what ever fun stuff is out there, we’ll be sure to include it. Remember, this trip is as much for you guys as for the adults.
Because it’s a specially made trip, you can also tell us in advance what your idea of fun is and we’ll try to include it. Water sports, arts and crafts, music, beachcombing, treasure hunts, photography, nature watching, cooking… or just eating ice cream!? Think about it and tell your folks to let us know what to look out for.
Before you leave
How much money should I bring?
You’ll probably want to buy some gifts for friends (as well as a keepsake for yourself!) to take back home with you – you’re almost certainly the only one of your friends who’s ever gone to the south of Italy or East Germany, so they’ll probably appreciate an Italian or German soccer jersey or some other cool local gift. We’re covering most everything else on this trip, including afternoon snacks, entertainment and so on.
What clothes and supplies do I need to bring?
This will depend on where and when you’re traveling. Generally, we advise everyone to travel light; we provide a list to help you decide what to pack and what to leave behind. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars, but you don’t need to bring any specialized equipment (such as kayaks or snorkel gear) for activities; we have that covered.
What about Ipods and Gameboys?
We know that music and electronic games are a big part of our culture today and sometimes we play at home ourselves! But, to be honest, we discourage the use of personal electronic devices on tours, since we believe people should "tune in" to where they are and not "tune out." You may only see the cool things this part of the world has to offer once in your life, but your Gameboy will be waiting at home when you get back. We do usually organize movies in hotels and in the vans during longer transfers. And we’ll happily take you to the nearest Internet cafés are so you can keep in touch with your friends.
What’s this reading list about – sounds like homework!?
Along with a packing list, we will send you a list of reading resources concerning your destination that make your trip more interesting. Though reading before you leave is not essential, a book or Web site can prepare you for what you will see and do. We want to give you an overview of your ancestral land in order to make your adventure even more meaningful. Understanding where you will be going and how the people live in each destination will make it a whole lot more interesting and meaningful for you, especially since you are actually from this place!
While on tour
Is it going to be like school?
Definitely not! This is a vacation – it’s just that it is in the ancestral region your family came from and you will be doing activities that are based on your family history there and the culture of the people living there now. Sure, you’ll learn something – we sure hope so – but learning will never have been this much fun and this unconventional,promise. Mostly because you’ll be active and doing fun stuff, not just sitting around and listening or taking notes.
Will I meet other kids who live in the place I am going to visit?
For sure, this is one of the most fun ways to learn about another culture (in many ways it's your own culture too). So you will be meeting local kids. For example, we might visit them at their school, play a game of soccer or swap songs and information about your lives. We want you to experience the lives of the local kids in the places we're visiting.
What kind of foods will we eat?
While we can’t describe every meal for the whole trip, we can say the meals are both nutritious and delicious! Food is part of culture, and we make sure that the local foods are offered to our guests. But we also request alternatives you're sure to like at each meal.
What kind of snacks are there? Should we bring our own?
Snacks are designed to give you a quick energy boost between meals. We’ll provide a snack box of granola bars, nuts, cookies, water, etc for when you are on the road. Due to agricultural restrictions, you won’t be able to bring any food with you from the States, so snacks will be purchased at the destination that you are visiting.
You won’t have the same choices available as at home, but there are many delicious treats to be found all over the world — and that’s part of the fun of travel!
What kind of beds will we be sleeping in?
Each place is different. Sometimes we will be in a traditional hotel, other times it will be a family-run bed and breakfast, or even an old castle or monastery! But they’ll always be the nicest places the region has to offer, so you should be very comfortable. Generally, beds are twin size. There may be no adjoining bedrooms, but you’ll probably get rooms next to your parents’ or grandparents’ rooms.
How to plan a Terrestra Family Heritage Tour