Twenty-eight Berkeley Institute students left the Island recently for a field trip thousands of miles away in Europe.

The third and fourth year teenagers have all been in Paris, France, from where they were due to leave for Madrid, Spain.

To limit culture shock, the students prepared projects on different aspects of France and Spain before their departure.

And while in Europe, they maintained a daily journal and scrapbook to record their experiences. The creator of the best scrapbook was to receive a prize on their return to Bermuda.

Teachers said they hoped the young people would use the experience as more than just a pleasure trip.

Although none of the students have studied Spanish, they all have some basic French.

"We are going really to give them experience in the use of the language,'' said teacher Geoff Kerr before the departure.

For Meah Defontes, who said she had only ever been off the Island to visit the US, the trip promised to be a "once in a lifetime experience''.

John Correiro, who prepared a project on Notre Dame, said he was looking forward to actually visiting the famous site.

"It should be interesting because there's a lot of history in the town and the cathedral,'' he said.

And Tristan Richardson said he was looking forward to seeing "that big statue'' -- also known as the Eiffel Tower.