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Show A brush with world crisis adds spice to student trip by NAN CHALAT Record staff writer A number of Park City parents were unusually happy to see a certain jet land at Salt Lake International Airport last week. It carried 12 sunburned Park City High School students on their way home from a travelstudy trip to Greece. But the trip had been anything but ordinary. Two weeks earlier the students had landed at Athens airport just 20 minutes before another American jet was hijacked there by a group of Lebanese terrorists. Although they received assurances assur-ances from the children and their chaperones that they were not only safe, but having a great time, the parents were relieved to have the group back on home turf. Teacher John Mark Krenkel said he wasn't aware a hijacking had occured until two days later. By that airport security had been stepped up and he felt perfectly safe, he said. "In fact, I believe we picked a perfect time to go. Because of the crisis, the students learned more lessons about international politics than a teacher could ever hope for." He added his only concern was for worried relatives back home. In addition to getting a new perspective on terrorism, the students stu-dents experienced a taste of the Greek culture they studied in school last year: The trip included a hike to the top of Mr. Parnassus and several afternoons on the shores of the Aegean Sea. "The students learned a lot about the history of Greece before we left, which was then reinforced by actually being there," said Krenkel. "I think they also realized, from attending a few dances in a small village, that although we are all human, there are many cultural differences they must learn to accept." Krenkel added the high school travelstudy program has been very successful. He said he is planning a trip to Russia next summer. |