When you’re a teacher, you spend the whole school year in the four corners of your classroom with your students. However, when it’s summer, you get the chance to temporarily leave that classroom and explore a new place.
“Josh Recommends” for the Week of June 9, 2018 By Josh Garrick
I will never forget the summer of '94. Working in London as the MSU Summer London Study Abroad Director, I packed as much theatre as I could into my time there. I danced onstage at Five Guys Named Moe, marveled at the chilling and realistic sound effects in Miss Saigon, bought countless tickets to Hot Shoe Shuffle, and went with my students to as many shows as we could pack in around classes and work. It was GLORIOUS.
One way to enhance a travel experience is to stay at an historic property. These distinct sites offer a glimpse into the region’s culture and history and set the tone for daily and evening adventures. Price points and room styles vary from location to location. My trips have included a sparse room at a former U.S. Army barracks to an opulent suite at a restored Asian palace. Each experience has demonstrated why it’s important to occasionally select an historic place as a place to stay.
When my girlfriend’s birthday was approaching, I knew I had to outdo the extravaganza that I pulled off last year. This is why I decided to plan a trip to Phuket, Thailand.

I had visited Prague in 1991 and been sent to fill an empty jug with beer from the best brewery in Prague.
I stumbled through the streets, found the clock that hangs over the door, and filled the jug. I enjoyed some of the best beer I had ever tasted.
This trip, I was hoping to take my children to the same place if it still existed.
Every day, students show up to learn. Whether they’re five years old in a traditional classroom or fifteen in a home school setting - or anywhere in between - there's curiosity, intrigue, and interest somewhere inside them waiting to be entertained and engaged. Some show up craving the excitement of learning, while others are there without any excitement, unless that necessary hook can grab their attention. Long ago, one of my favorite quotes grabbed my attention and hasn’t let go since.
Fun, unexpected experiences, and products align with Dr. Frank N. Furter’s character in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, now playing at the Avon Theatre. This experience is presented in conjunction with the Stratford Festival, which opened June 2.

