{"id":10235,"date":"2025-08-10T07:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T07:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=10235"},"modified":"2025-07-06T06:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T06:21:17","slug":"lucas-goes-to-speak-teens-camp-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=10235","title":{"rendered":"Lucas Goes to Speak Teens Camp in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As soon as Lucas turned 15, he flew from Bucharest to Italy with several of his worldschooling friends to attend the <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Speak Teens<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> camp, and what an adventure it turned out to be!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10237\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-1024x780.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-1536x1170.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-320x244.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-480x366.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7d9302-576a-40d0-a034-0edee2f5033c-800x610.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10241 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"666\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3.jpg 666w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3-150x300.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3-513x1024.jpg 513w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3-320x639.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/62b15665-64fe-4da8-8688-a28ff74205d3-480x959.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Speak Teens is a week-long English immersion camp where international <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">teens<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> help Italian <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">kids<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> improve their English through conversation and <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fun<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> activities.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Lucas and his friends were not only responsible for guiding their younger campers; they also got to enjoy activities including kayaking, swimming, soccer, volleyball, and even drama workshops. As you might imagine, pasta was on the menu <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">every single day<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2014an unofficial perk of camp life in Italy!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-10235 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10238'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1774\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec.jpg 1774w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/419647b0-b468-4fde-bf0a-3bc2562bc9ec-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1774px) 100vw, 1774px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10239'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-10239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614-577x1024.jpg 577w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614-320x567.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0614-480x851.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-10239'>\n\t\t\t\tScreenshot\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10240'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1774\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726.jpg 1774w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9d72d89d-2c39-479b-ae4c-8a2f1b68a726-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1774px) 100vw, 1774px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The days were intense\u201416 to 17 hours long!\u2014and we barely heard from Lucas while he was gone. Not because anything was wrong, but because he was completely immersed in the experience. Between camp duties, nonstop activities, and hanging out with friends, he was in his element.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-10235 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10242'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"998\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-10242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab.jpg 998w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0cfd9bc8-3637-4859-afe3-23afb2f956ab-800x1066.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-10242'>\n\t\t\t\tLearning about dams\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10245'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"998\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-10245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6.jpg 998w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c3d333f1-641f-4057-b461-aad1c1cb96d6-800x1066.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-10245'>\n\t\t\t\tWhere they went kayaking\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10243'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1774\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-10243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38.jpg 1774w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/29866880-f06a-4333-840a-2d6718229d38-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1774px) 100vw, 1774px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-10243'>\n\t\t\t\tSunsets in Italy\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10244'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-10244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a9af19b1-8228-48bc-a5ee-0647fa4078fa-800x533.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-10244'>\n\t\t\t\tSpeak Teens Group\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One highlight for Lucas was finally solidifying his backflip (yes, the one he learned at Forever Wild in Bali!) with the help of his friend Kayson. Another win from camp life!<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 708px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-10235-1\" width=\"708\" height=\"398\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4\">https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We missed all the boys while they were <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">gone<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, but we knew they were having a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">blast<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> What we <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">didn\u2019t<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> expect was the dramatic turn things would take at the end of the week&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Ryanair Saga \u2708\ufe0f\ud83d\ude2c<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After we booked the boys&#8217; tickets home, Ryanair changed their unaccompanied minor policy without any warning\u2014and we found out that Lucas and Camden, both under 16, could no longer fly alone with Jake (17) and Gabe (16), who didn\u2019t meet the new guardian age requirement (18)<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Cue<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> panic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We caught the policy change just in time\u2014thankfully!\u2014and Camden\u2019s dad, Mel, saved the day. He booked a same-day round trip to Italy to bring the boys home. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It still took hours on the phone and in the live chat with Ryanair to link their bookings, and there was still some drama at the airport <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">with<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> their flight <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">being<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> delayed.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> The whole crew didn\u2019t get home until after 2 a.m., but they made it\u2014and they came back full of stories and smiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10294\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"738\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752.jpg 738w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752-166x300.jpg 166w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752-568x1024.jpg 568w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752-320x577.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0752-480x865.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10247\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1588\" height=\"1132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526.jpg 1588w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-1024x730.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-1536x1095.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-320x228.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-480x342.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-06-081526-800x570.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1588px) 100vw, 1588px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I even wrote Lucas a goodbye letter, just in case he got stuck in Italy with Ryanair. (You can read it below.) It was a wild ending to an unforgettable week.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019re so proud of how independent, responsible, and adventurous Lucas has become. Flying internationally without parents, stepping into a mentorship role, helping others learn, pushing his physical skills, and navigating unexpected challenges\u2014he grew a lot in just one week.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10248\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10248\" style=\"width: 1330px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10248\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1330\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0743-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10248\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lucas has changed a lot in the last three years!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He will be holding onto these memories for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here is our letter to Lucas when we thought he might be adopted by Ryanair.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dear Lucas,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Well, it\u2019s been a lovely 15 years being your mom. Your dad, Michael, sends his warmest regards and says he\u2019s proud of the young man you&#8217;ve become \u2014 even if your Ryanair citizenship now technically supersedes your American one. We are forced to say goodbye. Not because we want to. Not because you did anything wrong, but because you boarded a Wizzair flight to Italy in June, and due to a tragic combination of mid-year policy updates and the fact that you are not yet 16 (but also not a baby?), Ryanair won&#8217;t let you fly back to us. You now legally belong to Ryanair or maybe Italy. Possibly both. The paperwork is unclear. We\u2019ve asked. Repeatedly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Henry says he\u2019ll &#8220;sort of miss you,&#8221; but he\u2019s already started moving his stuff into your room and has claimed your computer. He says he&#8217;ll \u201ckeep it warm\u201d which is a weird thing to say about a graphics card, but he\u2019s coping in his <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">own<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> way. We\u2019ve assured him that you\u2019ll write from your new home: the departure lounge at Bologna Airport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As you\u2019ll recall, back in March, we booked you and your buddies \u2014 Camden (15), Gabe (16), and Jake (17) \u2014 on a trip to Italy. At the time, Ryanair\u2019s policy said anyone over 15 could escort other under-16s. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Totally<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> reasonable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But then came May. Ryanair, in its infinite chaos, decided that now only passengers<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18 and up could escort minors. So suddenly, your group of capable, worldly teenage boys became, in Ryanair\u2019s eyes, a rogue pack of unsupervised children \u2014 <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">despite the fact that<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> you all travel the world, have lived on your own, and you can explain the stock market better than your father.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We tried everything to fix it. But Ryanair\u2019s system, much like its seat cushions, offered <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">zero<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> support. Unfortunately, by the time we figured that out, it was too late. You had boarded. You had flown Wizzair. You had \u2014 against all odds \u2014 <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">arrived <\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We tried to fly Camden&#8217;s dad to Italy from Bucharest <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">just<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to retrieve you <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">like<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> you were a lost suitcase full of live animals<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2014 because<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> retrieving one&#8217;s child from Ryanair custody now requires international intervention.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> BUT. You\u2019d already made it to Italy. You\u2019d crossed the Ryanair Rubicon. And now, because of a bureaucratic paradox and a backend system that\u2019s somehow coded in ancient Sumerian, you\u2019re stuck there. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We spent over eight hours trying to reach customer service. We tried calling. They said, <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cYou need to talk to live chat.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Live chat said, <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cYou need to call.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One chatbot named Patricia told us you might need <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to legally emancipate yourself<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, then immediately offered to sell us \u20ac29.99 priority boarding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At one point, Vicki spent 45 minutes on hold listening to what we can only assume was Ryanair\u2019s original Nokia ringtone on loop, only to be told she would need to pay to remain on hold.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It was like trying to navigate the IRS or Hogwarts blindfolded, with only a chatbot for help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So\u2026 we accept your fate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You now live in Italy. Or in a Ryanair supply closet. Camden is stuck with you too, since he\u2019s also 15, and Ryanair has adopted him as well. Please take care of each other. Remember to hydrate. Don\u2019t accept unsolicited Ryanair scratch cards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019ll think of you often \u2014 especially when <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">are<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> only rolling three suitcases instead of four, or when we smell airplane peanuts and feel a single tear roll down our cheeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We hope that in one year, when you are 16 and officially \u201cold enough\u201d by Ryanair\u2019s constantly shifting standards, we can be reunited. Until then, we\u2019ll send care packages: socks, milk <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">chocolate<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> bars, and an extra charger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We love you endlessly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Even<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> if your legal guardian is now the Ryanair help bot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mom, Dad, and Henry<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> (<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">currently on hold with Ryanair, again<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As soon as Lucas turned 15, he flew from Bucharest to Italy with several of his worldschooling friends to attend the Speak Teens camp, and what an adventure it turned out to be! Speak Teens is a week-long English immersion camp where international teens help Italian kids improve their English through conversation and fun activities. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[166,31],"tags":[182,344,151,15],"class_list":["post-10235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-worldschooling","tag-italy","tag-speak-teens","tag-worldschool","tag-worldschooling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10235"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10295,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10235\/revisions\/10295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}