Thank you

For seven months I sold candy bars to raise money to go to Europe as a student ambassador. Well, I finished selling and was able to go to Europe for three weeks in June and July.

I am writing this letter to say "thank you" to all of the people who generously supported me along the way. A smile, a greeting, an inquiry—I never expected to make so many new friends over these past few months.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank The Acorn for sharing my letters with the Westlake/Agoura community. Thank you to everyone at Albertson’s, Wells Fargo and Amgen for allowing me to sell candy and for their encouragement and generosity.

Thank you so much Agoura/Westlake community!

I learned many things while on my trip. A British member of Parliament gave us a warm welcome. We visited many interesting and historical sites including: Anne Frank’s home, the Van Gogh Museum, the famous windmills of Holland, Stonehenge, Normandy/Omaha Beach and Versailles.

Our delegation planted a commemorative tree in the Black Forest and, I of course purchased a cuckoo clock. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral were absolutely awesome. I just couldn’t stop taking photographs and they turned out!

My favorite city was London because of all the bustling activity and monuments such as Big Ben, the British Museum, London Eye, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels.

I experienced many aspects of European culture. We stayed with an English family in Wells, a quaint Victorian village, where we learned the similarities and difference in our lifestyles. I developed a better understanding of the People to People Student Ambassador program name and mission.

I’m especially grateful that Dwight D. Eisenhower had the vision to create cultural exchanges for students like me who are able to develop a larger view of our world and the people and place who make it a great place to be.

I’ll be at Albertson’s in Westlake on Sun., Aug. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. and look forward to reuniting with my friends and sharing my photos. I’m also submitting an Acorn photo taken in England and hope that you’ll see it later this year.

Until we meet again, best wishes, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Douglas DeVries

Westlake Village