Through a non-profit entertainment show called Up with People, Megan Lacy sang and danced her way through the United States and Europe, performing a show in every city they visited, bringing awareness to social issues. The mission? To inspire young people to make a difference in the world. Up with People was especially popular in previous decades.
Up with People performed in 5 Super Bowl Half-Time shows between 1960 and 1980. Megan was in the 50th Anniversary show and it included songs throughout the ’60s to present. Through this organization, Megan traveled to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. She lived with different host families who accepted her into their family, including when she lived in Europe. When asked about her experience living with European families, Megan said, “I was nervous being an American going to Europe, considering the United States’ reputation. However, people thought it was cool. They were all very curious, very educated and very open to crossing cultures. I think Europeans are so culturally aware because they’re so close to other nations. All you have to do is hop on a train and you can be immersed in an entirely different culture in less than a few hours.”
One of Megan’s best memories was one day when she spontaneously stopped in the scenic city of Bern, Switzerland. She walked through the cobblestone streets and bought a cheap bottle of wine and some strawberries. She and her friends found a spot by the Emerald River that overlooked the city and had a picnic and swam in the river. Can you have a more scenic night than that? Through this experience with Up with People Megan experienced diverse cultures and grew as a person!
“It was a wonderful experience and I hope that everyone gets a chance to spend time abroad.”
Bern, Switzerland
Megan at the River with friends!