world travels From Liberty to around the globe

Ryan Fitzsimmons, 17-year-old son of Mary and Bill Fitzsimmons of Liberty, recently journeyed to Antarctica through the Students on Ice educational travel program. He’s been to the other continents, with only Asia left to visit. And, of course, he lives in North America, where he has traveled with his parents. A summary of his trips through People to People Ambassadors Program follows. The program also features a community-service project as part of the trips.

Europe: Ryan’s first trip when he was 12 years old took place in the summer of 2004. He visited England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. “He was gone three weeks and never called home,” his mother said but noted the People to People organization and Web site updated parents on the trip. “I liked Wales the best ... the language is interesting but it’s almost extinct,” Ryan said. Souvenirs he brought home were a sword, Waterford crystal for his mother and plaque with the crest for Fitzsimmons.

Africa: Ryan journeyed to South Africa in the winter of 2005. He visited Cape Town, Johannesburg and a nature preserve. “We saw lions from where we were staying,” he said. He spent Christmas Day at an orphanage in Johannesburg, where the People to People group distributed school supplies and stuffed animals they had brought. “He called home on Christmas,” Mary Fitzsimmons said. He learned about apartheid and saw people living in slums. A tribal mask and handmade cane were among souvenirs.

Australia: Ryan traveled there in the summer of 2006 and was in four of the six states — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The group visited Sydney along with Ayers Rock, a large sandstone rock formation in central Australia, which shows the red sand. It is a powerful place to aborigines. “I stayed with a host family who just took me around to places in their daily life,” Ryan said. “It was cool.” A boomerang and whip were among souvenirs.

South America: In the summer of 2007, Ryan visited Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. “It is the only place I’ve been where there has been a language barrier. They speak Portuguese,” he said, noting that even if English isn’t the official language, many people speak it. He attended the Pan-American games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. A blow gun was among his souvenirs.

North America: Ryan has visited 20 states in the United States and Quebec and Ontario in Canada.

Source: Ryan Fitzsimmons