Shared experiences, a generation apart
As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, many stories span generations. Lyn Aborn and her daughter, Sabrina, both experienced the transformative power of Putney programs—decades apart, yet connected by a shared experience.
Lyn first traveled with Putney as a high school student from New Jersey. She joined our French language immersion program in 1990 and a service program in the former Soviet Union in 1991.
“My lasting memory of my homestay in France was sleeping on top of the covers because I couldn’t figure out how to get in, and I didn’t want to ask them because I was embarrassed — but it was still fun,” Lyn recalls.
Her USSR service trip left an even deeper mark:
“At the time, the Soviet Union seemed like such a scary and foreign place, and to be able to visit and meet the people and live with them for a few weeks was such a unique and special experience. One of our leaders had lived in Leningrad and we spent a night eating blinis at someone’s apartment — truly special, and an example of how you can connect with people in so many different ways.”
When it was Sabrina’s turn to go on her first program, she chose Putney’s creative writing program in Ireland.
“I met so many great people who I’m still in touch with to this day, and I also got to do so many cool things. I had the best time,” she says. Walking through Dublin and exploring streets off the beaten path, Sabrina found the experience unforgettable:
“At first, I was a little wary about the miles we were walking, but in the end, it was actually so fun to be able to be in the city walking around for that long.”
Looking ahead to another summer, Sabrina is already planning her next adventure to do service work in Peru:
“I’m hoping to meet a bunch of new people, from tons of different backgrounds and with tons of different interests, but who are all going to the same place to do the same thing,” she says.
Reflecting on the Putney legacy, the connection between mother and daughter shines through.
“I heard a lot about my mom’s trips and how much fun she had, and I think it’s really cool that I was able to have the same experience,” Sabrina shares.
“It’s amazing that Putney has been able to keep the quality of programming for this long… it says a lot about the company’s legacy, and the people who choose to go on these trips and the leaders,” Lyn adds.
For Sabrina, the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the sights or the culture: it was the people.
“I was nervous going alone, but I found people I could be my authentic self with. That was my biggest takeaway,” she says.
