Speak to most educators and they will agree, you cannot underestimate the value of experiential learning and where better to experience art and architecture but in Europe.  Students at Villa Maria College had this opportunity for ten days in May, travelling to Paris and London.  Some had traveled to Europe before for family holidays but most were visiting for the first time and in the end all had an experience that left them memories to last a lifetime.  And in addition to the memories the students were also able to earn three credits towards their respective undergraduate degrees.  We had 19 participants on our trip which included Sandra Reicis, Associate Professor of Interior Design and trip coordinator, and Dr. Joycelyn Burdett, Assistant Professor Fashion Design and Merchandising serving as a second faculty chaperone.  According to our group tour guide, this was one of the most ambitious and robust tours that he had led.  Which gets us back to discussing value for the financial investment that a student makes in order to participate in study abroad.  As in most cases, you will get out of your education something that is relative to what you have invested in it, and in most cases the investment I refer to is more personal than financial.  Our ten day trip had an impressive itinerary.  By most accounts it sounds like a month long trip.  Prior to setting foot in Europe, students and their parents know that time will be used wisely and experiences will be varied and rich with wonderful sites, sounds and stories.  After flying through the night with hopes that everyone gets a bit of sleep on the plane, a coach bus meets the group at the Paris airport and on the way into the city we start to see Paris unfold before us… and begin to learn about new things.  A relatively quick bus tour of the city gives everyone their bearings.  A photo stop by the Eiffel Tower gives the local guide an opportunity to share interesting facts, including a discussion on the weight of paint, and the suggestion that before the tower can be painted again it is likely that the layers of paint already on the tower will need to be removed to maintain its structural integrity. Next stop is Notre Dame which includes a discussion about the history of the cathedral, its architectural legacy, social and political influences and interesting facts about interior details and displayed objects… including the crown of thorns worn by Christ and a sliver from his cross.  Everyone is given the opportunity to tour the cathedral at their leisure, visit the surrounding area with a stop for lunch, check out the books at Shakespeare & Co., where I encourage a purchase that includes a stamp inside the cover as a special souvenir and most important a chance to share first impressions.  The cathedral is always larger than expected, the windows are more beautiful than imagined, the artifacts are more special and the experience is the first step in our global enlightenment.  And just think… we have yet to check into our hotel.  That does become our next stop though, where we freshen up and then off to our first dinner in Paris.  And so the first day comes to an end, and already a sense of change is upon us.  Anticipation of the next day is only calmed by the complete need of a good night sleep to prepare us for the second day of our wonderful adventure.