Now that some time has elapsed since our return to the States, I have had enough space to fully reflect on the events covering our two weeks in the U.K.

Experiencing a trip so packed with activities is no small feat, especially if you are playing nearly three hours of squash every morning. Thus, everything seems to fly by in a somewhat uncomfortable blur of historic landmarks, unfamiliar accents, and of course, fish and chips. It is much to the kids' credit for simply surviving such a unique journey to begin with!

But despite the aching muscles and the perpetually overcast skies I think everyone's experience, including that of all of the coaches, was both fulfilling and revealing in its own way. Enjoyment came in many forms and styles and I think that for the kids to realize that and understand that what they may find exciting or interesting may or may not appeal to those around them was a crucial lesson that they all learned together.

For some, this interest lay primarily on working towards the perfect volley drop. For others it came from catching their first glimpse of a professional soccer (we now prefer to call it football) match in Manchester. And for others, the purest satisfaction came from digging into a nice juicy rump steak at the Bee Hive pub in Carlisle. I think what everyone is going to take away from this trip is not only the fantastic group activities, like our guided tour of Edinburgh or walking around London, but also his or her own individual moments: finally hitting that
crisp volley drop, or spending some time alone exploring one of the lesser- known towns such as Carlisle or Keswick.

Eye-opening exposure to foreign culture is perhaps one of the greatest catalysts for personal growth. And yes, we did take in the major tourist attractions-there is a certain natural desire to boast to your friends about how you saw Big Ben or went shopping on the Royal Mile-but we also saw a very different, more humbling side of the countries we visited. Our drives to and from Edinburgh allowed everyone to take in the rich beauty of the countryside while training at the Surrey Health and Racquet Club placed us all in the middle of an everyday fitness club where we no longer felt quite like curious tourists but rather members of the Surrey community itself.

Ben, Nick, and myself truly hope that the kids have learned from each other and from interacting with these numerous foreign environments. Nick and Ben were

exceptional leaders and mentors. Nick is the best coach a squash player could ask for, not to mention he knew every city we visited, and Ben has a gift with kids and with helping everyone to enjoy their surroundings. I hope that we have inspired the kids to travel, to take an interest in the people they are with and the landscapes they see, and more importantly to try to enjoy themselves no matter what the circumstances are.

It was a pleasure getting to know everyone!