I thought the trip was fabulous!
   It was, of course, designed for students so it 
tended to be nibbles of a great variety of things 
(in other words, there were many instances when I
wanted longer at a stop or when I wanted more detail 
about the history or significance of things we viewed.)   
It certainly has fuelled my desire to travel and to 
return to some areas we visited (especially Tours and
Avignon).
   I thought the level of service by guides, hotels, 
and sites was particularly good:  I wonder if we offer 
such patient, pleasant service to tourists in Canada...   
One thing that travel anywhere has taught me is to be 
wary of my complaisance, of my belief that my culture is 
THE way.  I think I enjoy the feeling of being a 
foreigner, of not understanding "how things are done", 
of realizing that there are other, sometimes better, ways
to view life.
   Although I dislike bringing in any negative aspects 
this late in my comments, I suppose I should note that I 
found two things particularly trying after a while:  a) 
staying only one night in a hotel; and b) being with a group 
where we spent a good deal of time waiting for other group
members.
   I really did love it.   And that's why I am keen to go 
again next year to England and Scotland.  Most people my age 
don't or can't travel;  EF has given me an affordable and 
pleasant way to see parts of the world that I would like to 
re-visit after I retire.

-Elaine Laxton