By Jolene Farley
Adam Finke was chosen as one of 18 People to People Middle School Advisers for the Sioux Falls area. As an ambassador, Adam visited France, Germany, and Spain this summer.
Finke's trip began on an uncertain note. The delegation was scheduled to fly out of Sioux Falls, S.D., on June 13, but because of heavy rain and thunderstorms their flight was delayed two hours.
Consequently, the delegation missed a connecting flight from Minneapolis to New York City. Luckily, the group was able to board a later flight out of Minneapolis.
After finally arriving in New York City, the group of 26 kids, four chaperones and one group manager was forced to stay two nights in New York while waiting for a standby flight to Paris, France.
According to Finke, the unscheduled time in New York was enjoyable. The group took a tour of the city including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center.
After finally arriving in Paris on Sunday, June 17, the group hiked to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
As part of the ambassador experience, Finke was scheduled to stay with the Jamets family in Orleans, France, for three days.
Finke says there wasn't much difference between his home and the Jamets home except dinner was exceptionally long. It was served in courses with much conversation in between each course.
Cheese was a frequent delicacy, according to Finke. Beef was not served unless it was imported, due to the Mad Cow Disease epidemic in Europe.
After his stay at the Jamets, the tour progressed to Freiburg, Germany. Finke's group hiked into the Black Forest. The area is named the Black Forest because the trees are so thick lanterns are needed to see.
After reaching the mountain lake located at the center of the Black Forest, named Titisee, the group went paddle boating.
Next on the travel agenda was Zurich, Switzerland, where the group toured the city and cruised Lake Zurich.
They then journeyed through Switzerland to Annecy, France, visiting glaciers and ice caves in the Swiss Alps.
On day 13 of the trip, the group arrived in Geneva, Switzerland. The ambassadors attended an educational meeting at the United Nations and the Red Cross.
They then traveled south toward Barcelona, Spain. The group sunned themselves at the beach and viewed the work of some of Spain's famous architects.
The group flew to Seville, Spain, for a guided tour of the city and a tour of the worldÕs largest Gothic church.
Next they journeyed through the Spanish countryside to Madrid, Spain, stopping in Toledo, Spain, the religious capital of Spain.
In Madrid, the group viewed the world's largest collection of Spanish paintings and saw the Royal Palace.
After 21 days, on Tuesday, July 3, the group departed for the United States.
The trip was very educational, according to Finke. "Everything there is pretty much older than our whole country," he said.
Finke said he would go again if given the chance. He made many new friends and was exposed to a great deal of history.