<![CDATA[The Lantern]]> <![CDATA[The Lantern]]> /Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_kcbzzq5523o2ol2atp3r5snd_7a6a2df6-080c-4a2b-b6da-c5ce474bd9e3_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 23:46:22 GMT 15 <![CDATA[Junior flies one million miles around world]]> By Lisa Nelson

Photo courtesy of Katie Minchak

When students have days off from school for holidays, weekends, or extended breaks, they have the opportunity to participate in different activities aside from their normal day-to-day school routines. Oftentimes, many go to the movies, shop at the mall, eat at local restaurants, catch up on school work, or spend time with friends and family. One student and her family, however, uses her free time to travel throughout the United States as well as other countries across the world. Junior Katie Minchak spends every possible extended weekend, winter break, spring break, and summer vacation traveling the world with her twenty-two year old sister Roseanna, her mother Joan, and her father Bob. Their family has traveled to over fifty countries and numerous states throughout the United States. When Katie was only a freshman, she and her family became a part of Continental Airlines "Million Miler Club," meaning that their family has flown over one million miles, a milestone that most people never attain throughout their entire lives. Katie and her family have loved to travel ever since Katie was young. "It is amazing, I cannot believe that I have been so many places. [I have been traveling] ever since I can remember. We have always traveled since I was a baby, the first time I left the country I was only an infant. We went to Mexico," Katie said. Throughout the United States, the Minchaks oftentimes travel to Florida, Chicago, California, and Las Vegas. Now that Roseanna has moved to New York City, Katie’s family plans to travel there more frequently too. Katie said that her favorite place to travel in the United States is New York City because she loves the shopping, but she also enjoys Los Angeles, California. When traveling outside the U.S., the Minchak family most frequently visits European countries. They have traveled throughout almost the entire continent. While there, the family oftentimes goes to Slovakia and Italy from which their ancestors originated. The Minchaks have also visited other countries outside of Europe including Argentina, Uruguay, China, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and many more. Roseanna recognizes that traveling so frequently has allowed the family to become closer to one another. "When we traveled every other weekend, especially when I was in middle school, I didn’t get to hang out with friends. Katie and I became…really close because it was always just the two of us. [On our vacations,] we always spent meals together bonding, and doing other activities that brought us together," Roseanna said. Katie explained that taking vacations also allows her family to spend time together and avoid the distractions of everyday life. Because her parents own their own business, JB Dollar Stretcher Magazine, they can take off work and the business can run without them. "Traveling really brings us together because my parents work a lot, so when we travel it is our time without work or anything else," Katie said. Seeing how other countries function, allows Katie to have a different outlook on life. "I definitely gained a different way to look at my surroundings. . . .so, I broadened my perspective of everything," Katie said. Roseanna explained the broad sense of empathy she has gained by visiting very different areas around the world. "I have a broader sense of culture and the world because I have seen so much stuff. I have seen huge palaces, but then I have also seen tiny shacks and rice fields in Vietnam. I have seen all different ways people live, and it makes [me] more understanding of other people," Roseanna said. Although Katie does not see many of her close friends while traveling, she still stays in contact. Katie’s friend, Kathryn Ciolkevich, explained that their friendship has not been hindered by Katie’s travels. "I don’t think her traveling makes our friendship difficult. We always make sure we see each other before a big trip, and we always have a good time when she returns," Ciolkevich said. After traveling Katie shares her experiences with friends and extended family. This year, however, she decided to become an International Club executive board member so that other people could learn about different places around the world. She also documents all of the places she visits using pictures and other travel souvenirs. Ciolkevich emphasizes that Katie is grateful for the many experiences she receives while traveling the world. "Katie is a very unique person, she doesn’t take her travels and experiences for granted," Ciolkevich said. Although the Minchaks have traveled to so many different places, Roseanna noted that the approximate fifty countries they have visited only account for about ten percent of the entire world. Their family will continue traveling and learning as much as possible about new places as they build new family memories, expand their insight, and share their experiences with other family members and friends. ]]> Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:27:23 GMT