This year, Booth started the Fall Quarter on a Monday and in return granted students a full week off for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Well-deserved time to take a break from recruiting and classwork! While many Boothies chose to stay in Chicago or travel to visit family, some students organized group trips to locations around the world! Here’s a look at some of the cool places Boothies are traveling to this week.
A BOLD trip into the Grand Canyon
Let’s be honest, most people love to indulge in relaxing Thanksgiving traditions during the holiday. Eating turkey and pecan pie, watching football on the couch, catching up with high school friends at a local pub. Members of the Booth Outdoor Leadership Development group (BOLD) took a more extreme path this Thanksgiving break… a group hike into the Grand Canyon.
BOLD is a great group for anyone interested in outdoor activities, regardless of prior experience. Some of the co-chairs of BOLD, such as Derek Bannatyne, Louis Ernst, and Will McDowell, started planning for this trip before the start of the Quarter to ensure that whoever was interested could join. As such, half of the group this break backpacked 10 miles from the rim to the Colorado River, while the other half had a stationary camp and tested their skills on day-long hikes. Both groups met up at the end to share some quality time over brats, burgers, and Smores.
Derek, Will, Louis and the rest of the BOLD crew were very excited to escape the hustle and bustle of business school and become one with nature during their Friendsgiving.
First Years take on Mexico City
Most Boothies step into leadership roles during their second year, which allows them to plan events and book trips for large groups of students. Going above and beyond their call of duty as first years, Deek Velangadula and Claire Olson (members of the Class of 2020), organized a 45-person Friendsgiving trip to Mexico City.
This group of students was very active throughout their trip. They dined out in incredible restaurants throughout CDMX (often considered one of the world’s best food scenes), visited cultural landmarks such as the Frida Kahlo Museum, and explored the nightlife throughout the city. They even shared a night of karaoke with a group of Stanford GSB students! Like BOLD, these students also found time for plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking the pyramids and partying on a raft on the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco.
One member of the trip, Aanya Chadha, enjoyed the trip so much that she hopes it becomes a First Year tradition!
A Tradition Dating Back to the 15th Century
Cesar Reynaga and Gonzalo Chavez, two members of the Class of 2019 hailing from Peru, decided to organize a trek that would put modern day life in perspective… a trek to Machu Picchu. Having hiked the 5-day Salkantay Trail prior to business school, I can attest to the power and beauty of the natural surroundings. Cesar and Gonzalo wanted to ensure that other Boothies were able to experience this beauty firsthand over the Thanksgiving Break.
No trip to Peru is complete without a quick stop in Lima. It was there that this group of Boothies experienced some of the world’s best ceviche and the local drink of choice, the Pisco Sour. The group then traveled to Cusco to acclimate to the elevation and prepare for the trek ahead. Some even were brave enough to try what has always been considered a special meal in Peru… guinea pig. Definitely an interesting substitute for turkey.
A train ride connects Cusco to the nearest village outside Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, and from there the group can make their way to Machu Picchu and Waynapicchu, an even higher peak at 2,667 meters of elevation. This Friendsgiving featured plenty of unforgettable memories that will certainly be brought back to Booth.
No matter where you are for Thanksgiving this year, hope you enjoy the holiday and get a chance to spend time with friends and family! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Booth Experience!
