Shorecrest Students Explore Southeast Asia

In July of 2024, twelve Shorecrest Upper School students, along with faculty members Kayla Brazee (Director of GSI/Upper School Social Studies Chair) and Jessica Thorn (Upper School Math Chair) ventured to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. The expedition was a deep-dive into history, culture and personal growth. 

Mrs. Brazee was looking for a way to expand the global perspectives of the Upper School by leading the trip to Southeast Asia, and was excited to share the experience with many of her history students. In addition to extending their learning about the Vietnam War, students took a rickshaw ride around Ho Chi Minh City, a boat tour of the Mekong Delta, and dined on phở. In Cambodia they met “hero rats” who helped clear landmines, took a cooking class, and explored the temples of Angkor Wat. Their journey concluded in Thailand where they visited an orchid nursery, sipped on Thai tea, meditated with a Buddhist monk, and planted rice at an organic farm.

She described the trip as poignant and meaningful. “Having the ability to stand in the jungles of Vietnam that were ravaged by Agent Orange and to visit the intersection where Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức set himself on fire in protest in 1963 with my students was one of the most powerful moments of my 15-year teaching career.”

Christopher Booth '25 said, “Coming from a Western country, you always hear stories about these far off Eastern areas that you rarely get to interact with, so for me it was really an eye opening experience to be able to really immerse myself in these cultures.” 

Sarah Ayscue '25 mirrored this sentiment. “We were able to see and experience so much in such a little time!” she said.

From local field trips to international travel, field experiences like the Southeast Asia trip allow students to apply their classroom knowledge and expand their horizons. 

- Coming Next Summer - 
Mrs. Brazee plans to continue offering international trips to Upper School students each summer. In July 2025, ninth-eleventh grade students will have the opportunity to attend a global leadership conference in Berlin that will be followed by a trip to Sweden and Finland. Trip details are forthcoming to families. 

View trip photos

Flickr album: Southeast Asia Trip | Height: 250px | Theme: Right Panel | Skin: Default Skin