American School Dhahran Explores the World During Week Without Walls 2024

At the American School Dhahran (ASD), students don't just learn about the world through textbooks—they immerse themselves in different cultures, contribute to communities and create lasting memories through a series of international trips. From Cambodia to Portugal, students in both middle and high school embarked on transformative journeys, expanding their horizons and making a positive impact along the way.

Middle School Adventures:

ASD middle school students went on four trips this year: They visited Cambodia, Spain, Portugal and Sri Lanka.

In Cambodia, students embarked on a week-long journey filled with cultural experiences and service opportunities. Their itinerary included everything from bicycle rides on quiet back roads of the Silk Islands near Phnom Penh to shopping and exploring in the Russian Market and Siem Reap Old Market to visiting the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex to taking part in a hands-on cooking class hosted by a talented local chef. However, the highlight of their trip was volunteering to repair and refurbish a governmental school. 

Students that went to Barcelona, Spain, volunteered with the elderly, visited an urban permaculture farm, attended a yoga and self defense workshops and enjoyed all the excitement of sightseeing and walking the streets of the old city. For their service project, they volunteered at a food bank.

As for the trip that went to Sri Lanka, the highlight was volunteering at the Monaragala School for the Deaf and Blind, home to 110 students. Through painting, cleaning and fundraising efforts, students uplifted the school's environment and made a meaningful difference in the lives of visually impaired and speech/hearing-impaired children.

Students also had the opportunity to participate in unique Sri Lankan experiences such as bottle feeding baby elephants at Udawalawe National Park, learning traditional Sri Lankan dance, exploring the city of Colombo, watching a fire walking dance performance, visiting the sacred Tooth Relic Temple, hiking Sigiriya Rock, taking a scenic train ride through Sri Lanka and seeing five species of sea turtles.

Meanwhile, in Portugal, middle schoolers delved into the country's rich history and vibrant culture. From exploring Lisbon's historic districts (Belem and Alfama) and visiting the Belem Tower a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Monastery of Jerónimos and Maritime Museum, to hiking through the picturesque Serra do Monchique mountains, to going on a walking tour of Cabo Sao Vicente, the southwesternmost point in Europe, students experienced the diversity of Portuguese landscapes and traditions including traditional Fado music and dance and preparing a traditional Portuguese dish.
Their journey also included volunteering at Re Food, an organization dedicated to rescuing surplus food and combating food insecurity.

High School Adventures:

ASD's high school students embarked on six adventures: South Africa, Amsterdam, Greece, Japan, Italy and Thailand each offering unique opportunities for learning and service.

In Thailand, 18 students explored Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They  explored Thai temples, traditional dress, and made quite a few diy projects. The students hiked through the landscapes on the tallest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, and explored a beautiful waterfall. They learned about elephant conservation, and engaging in service learning projects. From recycling elephant dung into paper to donating food and resources to local orphanages, students left a positive impact on the communities they visited. Students also had the opportunity to explore Thai markets and eat plenty of delicious Thai food.

Meanwhile, 20 students traveled to South Africa and had an unforgettable experience blending wildlife encounters with community service at Jeffrey’s Bay.. Safari adventures at Schotia Game Park were complemented by days spent renovating a kindergarten classroom at Pumile Primary School Loerie. Jobs included painting, installing new floor boards inside the classroom, organizing the classroom and assembling a sustainable garden.  Their  donation covered all the material, labor for skilled workers as well as a jungle gym for the kindergarteners. 
Students had the opportunity to take surfing lessons,  go sand boarding, take a river cruise and have fun with a karaoke night.  

Another group of students went to the annual Platon School Model United Nations (PS-MUN) Conference in Athens, Greece. Our students enjoyed exploring the Hellenic heritage and debating about world affairs, returning home with Best Delegate and Honorable Mention Awards. The PS-MUN is an educational experience intended for young people. Delegates simulate the Councils of the United Nations. Students step into the shoes of world leaders working together to solve global challenges. They represent different countries, learn how to research, practice public speaking, have fun and grow into confident student leaders who are prepared for college, internships and their future careers. Students did have time for some sightseeing and visited The Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Plaka, Monastiraki, Anafiotika and Syntagma Square.

In Amsterdam, students explored the cutting-edge digital art scene at NXT Museum, dabbled in spray painting workshops at STRAAT Museum, and marveled at masterpieces in world-renowned institutions like the Van Gogh Museum. They attended an immersive experience at the Digital Art Museum, learned some history at Rijksmuseum, visited the Walibi Holland Amusement Park and the De Hallen and Foodhallen.

In Japan, students visited Team lab planets, Tokyo Trick Art Museum, the Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Design Festa Gallery, Kintsugi Workshop, experienced The Making of Harry Potter, Tsukiji Outer Market, Tsukiji and Tokyo Service Investigation, visited Tokyo Disneyland, the Sensoji Temple and the Imperial Palace.

Finally, in Italy, students experienced magnificent public sculptures, the Pinnacle of Baroque Art and ancient roman landmarks in Rome. They made their way to Florence and Pisa and dived deep into the beautiful architecture and delicious food.  The ASD HS students also took the opportunity to dedicate some of their leisure time to community service. They volunteered at an olive farm owned by Mr. Richard and Emma, a retired English couple who had chosen to spend their retirement years in a village near Florence, working on their farm. The students actively participated in shearing olive tree branches and assisting in the preparation of olive leaves for olive tea.

Each journey was a testament to ASD's commitment to nurturing global citizens—individuals who are not only enriched by their experiences but also driven to make a positive impact on the world. When they returned home, their hearts and minds were brimming with newfound knowledge and perspectives, ASD students continued to embody the school's ethos of curiosity, compassion and cultural understanding.

ASD would like to thank all the chaperones that accompanied out students this year: Hadeer El Tahtawy, Jennifer Mayorga, Maissaa Jenblat, Keywana Stephens, Filza Ahmad, Kyran Odendall, Cameron McGregor, Ana Saturria, Nazli Ahmed,  Ashlie Jensen, Celeste Guerrero, Jake Scherer, Alichia Gerber, Retief Gerber, Hanna Hall, Sara Ahmad, Michael Smith, Zeinab Karnib, Edwin Segbefia, Rasha Al Nasr, Richard Smith, Shaila Koya, Chris Coetzee, Sid Paul and Kat Oefelein.