During the school year, Ms. Barbara LaPenta is the math teacher many students know and love. At all hours of the day, students hang around her first-floor room, talking about whatever conversation sparks.
“She’s the best. I can talk to Ms. LaPenta about anything,” Sixth Former Finn Lawrence said.
A side most students do not see, because Ms. LaPenta is not one to gloat, are her breathtaking travels.
After a long day of dealing with high schoolers—which she loves—she opens her MacBook to look at Google Flights or Hopper to see what trips catch her eye for the following summer. “Believe it or not, I just look at what’s on sale flight-wise and go with that,” Ms. LaPenta said with a laugh. “I should reach my goal by the end of this summer.”
That goal she is talking about is something she calls “40 by 40.”
On a trip a few summers ago to Jordan, Ms. LaPenta sparked up a conversation with a travel-group companion. The woman mentioned her goal of reaching 40 countries by the age of 40.
Ms. LaPenta immediately knew that this was a goal she wanted to set for herself. “It was the perfect goal,” she said, “it is a great opportunity to expand my travels even further.”
Ms. LaPenta is willing to visit wherever, no matter if it truly seems interesting or not, because she wants to see all sides of the world.
Throughout her expeditions, several countries have especially impacted her perspective on life.
“It wasn’t a glamorous trip or anything like that, yet I got so much out of it.”
Ms. Barbara LaPenta
“The one that has been the most impactful is a tie between Jordan and South Africa,” Ms. LaPenta said.
Whether it was the beautiful nature, the welcoming people, or the history of each country, there is a reason that these countries impacted her so much. The knowledge that Ms. LaPenta soaks in from these trips allows her to be more culturally aware.
In the summer of 2017, Ms. LaPenta traveled to South Africa as a birthday present for herself, unprepared for what was to come. After enduring an extremely long flight, she was thrown straight into 30 days of camping in the southern region of Africa.
She was setting up and breaking down her single-person tent instead of a hotel, every meal was cooked over a fire—a gritty camping experience. “It put me out of my comfort zone,” Ms. LaPenta said.
Most travelers visiting the southern region of Africa go there for the safari animals, specifically the big five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and the African buffalos. Ms. LaPenta isn’t any average tourist, though; she’s a knowledgeable and experienced traveler. So after spending a few days on the safaris, she fully immersed herself in the South African culture.
She explored the fascinating communities through a homestay, which was a first-time experience for her. She stayed with a woman known as “Mama” with her children and grandchildren. Ms. LaPenta was able to see all the different aspects of a wildly different culture than what she experiences at home.
“I still remember us dancing in their kitchen, listening to particular African drum music and things like that,” Ms. LaPenta said.
What stuck with Ms. Lapenta was the uniqueness of their culture and how “Mama” took her in like she was family. “It wasn’t a glamorous trip or anything like that, yet I got so much out of it.” Ms. LaPenta said.
Jordan is not a very popular vacation spot. When Ms. LaPenta told people where she was traveling for spring break, they were thrown off.
“It is not the average destination,” said Ms. Lapenta. “It’s not like going to the Eiffel Tower in Paris; it’s not like going to see the London Bridge.”
A unique travel location requires a lot of research. In Ms. LaPenta’s case, she had to “make sure that as a single white female traveling she was going to be safe, and learn how to be respectful of their culture.”
She noted some specific research before embarking on her journey. A main point she got from her investigation was that “because it is a Middle Eastern country, [she has to] be respectful of Ramadan,” since she was traveling around that time.
Preparation like this makes Ms. LaPenta an aware traveler.
“When I travel, most locals don’t realize that I’m American,” she said, even though Americans can be known as the most recognizable and obnoxious travelers.
A faculty member who knows a lot about Ms. LaPenta’s travels is Director of Global Studies Mr. Andrew Poolman.
“She is a fantastic travel leader,” Mr. Poolman said. Ms. LaPenta has led a few global studies trips, including Denmark last year, and China in 2019. Next year she will lead a trip to Iceland.
Ms. LaPenta plans to continue her journeys for as long as she can move. It is a true joy of hers to see all sides of the world and experience all cultures. “I will pass 40 countries this summer,” she said. “I guess I will have to make a new goal.”
