Total World Tour 2020 Travel

Huffines Middle School, TX to Florence, Italy: approx. 5473 mi

Florence, Italy to Johannesburg, South Africa: approx. 7695 mi

Johannesburg, South Africa to Yellowstone, National Park, WY: approx. 9817 mi

Yellowstone National Park, WY to Nairobi, Kenya: approx. 8847 mi

Nairobi, Kenya to Los Angeles, California: approx. 9653 mi

Los Angeles, California to Cayman Islands: approx. 2481 mi

Cayman Islands to Auckland, New Zealand: approx. 7760 mi

Auckland, New Zealand to Fredericksburg, Texas: approx. 7248 mi

Fredericksburg, Texas to Delta Junction, Alaska: approx. 3836 mi

Delta Junction, AK to Antarctica: approx. 10488 mi

Antarctica to Nara, Japan: approx. 8116 mi

Nara, Japan to St. Vincent and the Grenadines: approx. 8952 mi

St. Vincent and the Grenadines to O’ahu, Hawaii: approx. 6308 mi

O’ahu, Hawaii to Sydney, Australia: approx. 5072 mi

Sydney, Australia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: approx. 4250 mi

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Cape Town, South Africa: approx. 6528 mi

Cape Town, South Africa to Okayama Japan: approx. 8816 mi

Okayama, Japan to Greece: approx. 5745 mi

Greece to Halmstead, Sweden: approx. 1680 mi

Halmstead, Sweden to Jamestown, Virginia: approx. 4106 mi

Jamestown, Virginia to Huffines Middle School: approx. 1357 mi

TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED!

Approx. 134228 miles, 216019 km, or maybe more!

How much time it SHOULD’VE taken (by plane):

Approx. 314 hr 43min

(without stops, although that’s not how vacations work, it would’ve been a lot longer)

8:30AM Halmstad, Sweden

When: March 13th, 2020 @ 8:30am CST
Where: Halmstad, Sweden
Who: Students (Spanish Speaking)

Right now we are on a mystery Skype call with students learning Spanish in a non-Spanish speaking country. We have learned that they live somewhere in Europe and is not an island. They are in the northern part of Europe. We finally got it! It's Sweden! It is 7 degrees over there and they do not live in the capital of Sweden. They also live near the ocean and in a major city. Halmstad is the city they live in.

7:30AM Skydra, Greece

When: March 13th, 2020 @ 7:30am CST
Where: Skydra, Greece
Who: Teacher

She is in the northern hemisphere. She is in Europe. She is near an ocean. English is not the common language. Her country does not touch the Black Sea, but does touch the Mediterranean Sea. She is in Greece! She is a teacher, but her students cannot come to school due to the Coronavirus. It gets up to 60 degrees Celsius for spring. She hopes the Coronavirus will die due to the heat this summer. She is also curious about Texas and our sports. She has a keen interest in our careers as well. Also, she had questions our time-use of our electronics. She is interested in Greek Mythology, and she knows about Greek history. Everything is closed down due to the Coronavirus. She is very impressive with her Greek language and understanding of it. Custard Phyllo Pie is a very yummy dessert. Interesting, Chios Mastic gum tastes bitter at first, but after chewing it releases cedar and pine flavors. The Greek national plant is the Olive tree. The laurel wreath is a sign of prosperity, victory, and high-status people. She can play the accordion.

κουρασμένος-Tired in Greek

3:00AM Okayama, Japan

When: March 13th, 2020 @ 3:00am CST
Where: Okayama, Japan
Who: Mari Ishii

It is now 3:00am, and we just started a tour with Japan!

We talked to Mari about the culture in Japan and how it's different from American culture. For a little bit, we talked about the different cafes and what they're like. The cakes/sweets there don't have a lot of bright coloring, and they're not really big on sugar. She spoke a little about earthquakes and her experience with one in her life and tsunamis. She started talking about how they only use cash, not Apple Pay there, but if they use Apple Pay, it's very rare in their country. Their traditional food is fish based, because they live on an island, but they have all kinds of food. She talked about the beaches in Japan and how they are not hot spots for tourists. Next, we talked about the different types of transportation, how fast the bullet trains can go, and how the architecture there is very small and compacted. They are in the spring season right now, and they are 14 hours ahead of us. Then she talked about the music they have, and how they have J-Pop, which is Japanese-Pop (like K-Pop). We spoke about the crime rates and different laws our countries have. Mari asked us a question about the World Tour and how long we were doing it. Then, sadly we had to say goodbye.

2:00AM Cape Town, South Africa

When: March 13th, 2020 @ 2:00am CST
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
Who: Julie - connections with touring company

Julie has been teaching 13 year-olds for 4 years. She prefers to teach her students outside to see the animals. She lives in Cape Town, where they generally speak British. Her 14 year-olds learn 3 languages: English, Afrikaans, and German. There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Cape Town is a very populous city full of people and architecture. They eat low-fat and low-carb carbohydrates, meat (like BBQ), and hybrid dishes, such as Dutch cooking mixed with Indian ingredients. Children can go to safaris and see all the 'big' animals. Cities are somewhat like America, except there is a higher rate of crime, and of course the economy is less compared to America's. The closest ocean to her is 5 minutes away by car. It's the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean is 3 hours away. It's very diverse including races, languages, religion, culture, and people all together. She describes her country as a 'rainbow' country. You need a visa to visit there, and due to the fact that we are under 18, we of course need an adult to accompany us. Some historical places in Cape Town are the Castle of Good Hope, Sa Cultural History Museum, and King's Blockhouse. Meat is a very big thing in Africa, along with salad and vegetables. The scariest thing she has ever seen is a lion killing a zebra and then devouring it! Table Top Mountains are older than the Rockies and were formed due to plate tectonics.

1:00AM Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

When: March 13th, 2020 @ 1:00am CST
Where: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Who: Students

The mystery country is in the northern hemisphere. We asked if the country was by the water, and she said "no." Soon after, we found out they were in Asia. Then we were trying to find the country. Then we asked if it was big or small, and they said ''small.'' Next, when we asked if they were near the China Sea, they said ''yes.'' They were not on an island. The country did not border Thailand. They were in Vietnam! The girl in Vietnem has been home from school for two months because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

12:00AM Sydney, Australia

When: March 13th, 2020 @12:00am CST
Where: Sydney, Australia
Who: Sydney Zoo
Website: https://sydneyzoo.com/

It is now 12:00am and we are Skyping Jess from the Sydney Zoo in Australia. The zoo that she works at holds many traditional animals such as lions, tigers, and koalas! She brought her adorable daughter around who gave her opinion on all the animals and gave us lots of laughs. She led the way to the kangaroos, where we learned about their diet and life style! The area is very open, and you can walk right up the animals and feed them! We got to view the kangaroos up close, and watch them nibble down a carrot. One of the kangaroos had a joey, a baby kangaroo, which we got to view from a distance. We met two other zoo keepers, Kyle and Tiara. Kyle gave us an amazing performance on the didgeridoo. After that, we walked to the Wombat enclosure. Wombats are marsupials and they're native to Australia. They have cute furry coats and a pouch for their babies that faces towards their little tails. We asked to see the dingos, so she took us to the enclosure where we met two dingos named Pocket and Rocket. We viewed a couple other animals like an echidna, emu, goats, a crocodile and a Tasmanian devil! We got to tour an amazing zoo and see the native animals of Australia! Thank you Jess!

10:30PM Kane'ohe, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

When: March 12th. 2020 @ 10:30pm CST
Where: Kane'ohe, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA
Who: Kim Jones

Right now, we are interviewing Hawaii. It's very humid and sticky. The houses, stores, and buildings are very expensive. If you're an ou door persons, then Hawaii is the best place to visit! There are a lot of mosquitoes there. Even though living or visiting Hawaii can be fun, there are some downfalls. For example, schools are different. But that shouldn't stop you from visiting or living there. Hawaii is known for its beautiful places to see, such as beaches, people, and the culture. Right now, it's currently 5:38 P.M in Kane'oke, Hawaii. They are 5 hours behind us. Some of the best things about Hawaii are the beautiful oceans and equal access. There are no private beaches, so the beaches are open for anyone. The people there are also very nice! No matter where you live, Hawaii will welcome you, and it's still a very nice place to visit. The climate is just the right temperature, and it's very fun for people who enjoy the outdoors. Hawaii is also known for their volcanoes. They can be very dangerous but they help Hawaii grow bigger. Did you know that Hawaii doesn't have snakes? Because of the volcanic eruptions, there aren't many diverse wildlife on land.  Hogs are an invasive species that were brought over to Hawaii and huge rats. People who can't afford a house in Hawaii are force to leave the island. A word used a lot is "cahine," which can be used for anything! Even though, there is little biodiversity, there is still a lot of nature there. The beautiful culture is happy, bright, and welcoming. Hawaii is a great place to vacation! You can enjoy the views, the food, and culture.

8:30PM Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

When: March 12th, 2020 @ 8:30pm CST
Where: Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Who: Gabrielle Rupard

We are about to talk to Mrs. Rupard's daughter in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. She is studying to be in the medical field.

It is 9:30 pm. We asked what language they speak and its mainly English with an accent. Now we asked about what the food is like there. She said "basically its KFC and that's it," also sweet potato fries. We are now calling her via Phone because the Skype wasn't very clear. She said that the skin of the sweet potato is poisonous. Ava is now talking about someone eating a part of a yuca fruit that was bad for us humans to eat. They are sold out of bread because of COVID-19. She said that Physiology is her hardest class that she's taking as of right now. She wants to be a pediatrician. I heard her say something about her taking Bio-Physics and Radiology. She is in her first year of medical school I'm sure I probably said that already though. There are waterfalls and spiders, VERY BIG SPIDERS!!!!!  Now she is showing us pictures of the landscape. I think they are very beautiful and cool to look at. She showed us a picture of a lion fish, and they taste very good. I have had them before. Hurricanes are a very big issue, I heard her say. Finally she gave us advice of medical school. She said to "never give up, and keep your grades up."

6:40PM Nara, Japan

When: March 12th, 2020 @ 6:40pm CST
Where: Nara, Japan
Who: Students

This is our next mystery Skype! Our interviewees started out the call trying to figure out our location by asking us if our country's flag has more than two colors, followed by if our country's name started with a vowel, and finally if it was day or night where we were. We just now figured out that they are in Japan by asking them questions such as did their country border a body of water, if their flag has more than two colors, and if they were in Asia. A couple of fun facts about Japan is that they believe that cutting your nails at night will bring good luck, but it may also be a sign that you won't accompany your parents when they die, and that a Maneki-neko cat, known here as the beckoning cat, may bring the owner good luck.

6:20PM South Pole, Antarctica

When: March 12th, 2020 @ 6:20pm CST

Where: South Pole, Antarctica

Who: Research Base

We are now interviewing Antarctica! As many people would think, it's very cold, -59°F, to be exact. The way people are able to get to Antarctica is they fly in a plane. The elevation is 9,300 ft. They have 65000 sq ft to move around in. 42 people are there this winter. They use 450k gallons of fuel for tractors. The rooms they stay in are small, but they are pretty comfy. The ice shifts 30 ft per year. They have some of the most fresh water in the world, and all they have to do is melt it. The coldest temperature was -107°F to -113°F. The average temperature is about -60°F, and the warmest it's ever been is about 8°F. The hardest parts of being there are that they have to miss holidays with their families and feeling home sick.

5:00PM Delta Junction, Alaska, USA

When: March 12th, 2020 @ 5:00pm CST
Where: Mystery - Delta Junction, Alaska, USA
Who: Delta Junction Elementary - 4th Grade Class

Both of us are trying to guess where we are in the world. They asked if we are bordering any counties or great lakes. They are somewhere in North America. They guessed where we are, Texas. They are currently in Alaska. They are south of the Brooke Range. They guessed if we are in San Antonio, which is wrong. They are currently Delta Junction.  They go to Delta Junction Elementary School. After many tries, they finally guessed where we are! It is currently 5°F where they are in Alaska. They cancel outdoor recess -10°C!

4:00PM Fredericksburg, Texas, USA

When: March 12th, 2020 @ 4:00pm CST
Where: Fredericksburg, Texas, USA
Who: World War II Museum

We talked to a WWII Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas. We were introduced to Mr. Degner. He told us stories about Edward Nimitz, who became a naval officer through hard work and dedication, after deciding he didn't want to go into work at a hotel like his relatives. He later gave us a tour of the museum, which included insights about how America went into the war at a disadvantage, our worries about Hitler, and how severely unprepared we were when Japan made a surprise attack (what is known as Pearl Harbor).  He took us around the museum and showed us many exhibits. We saw planes, artifacts, and other memories from the war. Mr. Degner told us lots of intriguing stories from WWII and Texas. Many artifacts from WWII were shown to us including weapons, bombshells, badges given to soldiers during that time, and airplanes that were actually used in the war! Near the end of the tour, Mr. Degner showed us one of the medals given to soldiers that showed dedication and hard work called "The Medal of Honor."

3:00PM Auckland, New Zealand

When: March 12th, 2020 3:00pm CST
Where: Auckland, New Zealand
Who: Rosmini College (Boys' School)

We're currently doing our first mystery Skype of the day. After many queries, it's been found out that the students we are talking to are in Auckland, New Zealand. On their first question, they managed to find out our location! The biggest sport in New Zealand is rugby, and they even play the sport at the school. A new group of students came in to talk to us after the other group of boys left. They asked a few questions before also figuring out we are in Texas. They then tried to figure out what school we go to. They eventually found out we go to Huffines Middle School. Then we continued to figure out whet school they went to. We asked questions like if they were close to the coast and if they were at all boys school. After many questions, we found out that they attend the Rosmini College for boys, which will help them prepare for secondary education. We talked about the different subjects at each others' schools. Some fun facts the boys shared about their cities was that they're about 80ft from the coast and near a once active volcano. We got to see their school on google maps, and they got to see ours. Then our interviewers gave them a tour of the inside of our school. Their national bird is the Kiwi. They're flightless, endangered birds.

2:00PM West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

When: March 12th, 2020 2:00pm CST
Where: West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Who: Cayman Turtle Centre
Website: turtle.ky

We are now in the Cayman Islands at a turtle research facility. There are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus there just yet. The main language is English. No baby turtles are there as of right now. Breeding season starts in May! They are a democracy. They are their own country as well. Turtles have been around since the dinosaur ages. There are only four different types of turtles in the Cayman Islands, and the turtle they specialize in is the Green Sea Turtles. They have been around since the 1990's. The sea turtles are very important to the Cayman Islands. Caymans use the sea as survival. It is vital to their well being. Mature breeding turtles are kept in a breeding pond, and female turtles lay on the nesting beach. The eggs are collected as nesting occurs. Some eggs are planted on the local beaches. The eggs are incubated, and they hatch in 50-60 days. Humans are a danger to turtles because of pollution, fishing nets, and even lights. Wild turtles are still being hunted and captured for their meat, even though it is illegal. This research facility insures that the turtles will remain safe. Even when you aren't near a beach, if you just pick up 3 pieces of trash, you can help save the turtles!

1:00 PM Los Angeles, California, USA/Hyderabad, India

When: March 12th, 2020 1:00pm CST
Where: Los Angeles, California, USA (Also, discussed Hyderabad, India)
Who: Daniel Martin

Los Angeles, California, USA

Right now we are talking to California, the first stop on our tour list. It is very diverse and movies are made there. Hollywood/Los Angeles is a very cool place to visit. You'll see people shooting movies and celebrities. You can actually go up and see the Hollywood sign.  Lots of mountains are there and are pretty hard to get to. Los Angeles has a very beautiful beach, and many people go there. Warner Media owns TBS, TNT, TRU, CNN, Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, DC, and many more. Since Los Angles is very diverse, many people bring their food and share them with everyone.


Hyderabad, India

The food in India is very good. They eat lots of curry and it is very spicy. There is a lot of smog in India and it is very crowded there. And they don't use cars very often everything is in walking distance. Over 11 million people live in Hyderabad, India. People in India don't usually use forks and spoons but they always have an extra pair!