Junior’s Senior Trip

Senior trips often involve beaches, theme parks, or weeks spent exploring Europe. For our son, who has already done all of those things, this milestone adventure was something entirely different: a chance to dive into the world of aviation with Mr. FamTrav, and then share an unforgettable international soccer experience that celebrated his Belgian roots.

The trip kicked off at the Flight Sim Expo in St. Paul, MN. This part of the adventure was all about looking toward the future, exploring new technology, learning from industry experts, and connecting with people who share a passion for flight. For a time, Junior considered becoming a pilot and even took aviation classes during his last two years of high school. While he ultimately decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science, aviation remains a strong interest, making this conference a perfect fit.

After several days surrounded by simulators and aviation enthusiasts, it was time to trade the runway for the pitch. Their next stop was Seattle for the World Cup match between Belgium and Egypt.

For Mr. FamTrav, cheering on Belgium was about more than supporting a team. It was a connection to home, heritage, and lifelong memories. Being able to share that experience with Junior made the match even more meaningful. They proudly wore their Belgium jerseys, although Junior still prefers the colors of an earlier version. The energy in the stadium was electric, and naturally, yours truly made sure they had excellent seats.

Back home in Nashville, Junior attended several watch parties at Nashville Soccer Club. He said he was usually the only one cheering for Belgium and often kept his celebrations relatively quiet. In Seattle, though, he was surrounded by fellow supporters and finally had the chance to roar.

While the match was the main event, they also found time to revisit a few favorite Seattle spots. Since we’ve visited the city before, it was fun to see them return to places we enjoyed together while creating a few new memories of their own.

More than anything, I’m grateful they had this time together before college. They were able to share two of their biggest interests, spend uninterrupted time together, and make memories that will last long after the cap and gown are packed away. And who knows? Maybe in 2030, all four of us will be cheering on Belgium together.