Study Abroad Blog

Top 10 Inside Tips: India

 1. Buying & Bargaining. Shop owners insist that they are giving a variety of discounts to you and only you. i.e. the “Pretty Girl” discount,  “First Customer of the Day” discount, “Last Customer of the Day” discount, etc. You can easily spot “touters” after getting taken once or twice. Often times, the hotels and taxi/rickshaw drivers work together and they make commissions at the shops. Bargaining is a must. If a street vendor tells you 50 rupees for some bananas and an orange, he probably would have told a local 10 rupees. Never accept a first offer. Walking away is the best way to get a good deal. If they want your business, they will call you back over. When riding in rickshaws, negotiate a price prior to getting in. Bigger cities like Mumbai have rickshaws with fare meters. Also avoid buying tour packages until you get in country. Many hotels have travel agencies on-site that can organize great tour packages for reasonable rates.

2. Saris. Saris range in price from 15 USD to hundreds, even thousands of dollars. When Sari shopping, opt for something more elaborately decorated if attending a nice function like a wedding. The more intricate detail the better. Saris can also be extremely difficult to wrap, so consider asking for help from a local instead of attempting to do it yourself. Remember, you may only wear it once, but there is tons of fabric so you can always get a nice sari turned into a fabulous western style dress or wall tapestry upon return home.

Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer in India

 1. Variety, variety, variety. Experience medical projects in small clinics of Jaipur, orphanages and day care centers, women empowerment programs teaching sewing and computers to adolescents and housewives, domestic violence shelters, environment projects working with sea turtles on the beautiful beaches of Goa or volunteer at a school for children of local fisherman families. You name it, India’s volunteer program has something for everyone; challenge yourself in one of our amazing projects while making an impact. 

2. Visit a country with little language barrier. English, while it’s not India’s official language, is widely spoken and written on many street signs, restaurant menus, etc. This makes for an easy adjustment into a new, very different culture. Where English is not widely spoken, like in the volunteer project sites, you have the opportunity gain experience teaching ESL, which helps locals become more valuable in India’s job market. It also gives you some teaching experience to add to your resume.  

Lions, Rhinos & Cheetahs Oh My! Volunteer in South Africa

Interested in wildlife conservation and photography? One of our newest volunteer placements, African Wildlife Photography and Conservation, needs volunteers to help photograph the local wildlife to help raise local awareness of wildlife conservation. This is a great opportunity to interact with locals, get up close and personal with some serious wildlife, and help out an organization in need. Not a pro behind the camera? Not to worry, as there is a three-day photography course given by an experienced wildlife photography included in the placement. 

4 Tips for Studying Abroad in Spain

So you’ve chosen to study Spanish in Spain. Lucky you! There is so much to do, where should you start? Read our tips for studying abroad in Spain to find out!

1. Punto de Informacion: Every city and town has a punto de informacion (information center) where you can find maps, museum info, bus and train schedules. Guidebooks are excellent resources to get some of this information in advance, as well.
2. Transportation: Spain has one of the most modern and efficient train transportation systems (www.renfe.es), and it is the best way to travel between cities. But, if you want to get around within the big cities, you can always take the subway in Madrid or Barcelona.
3. Food: You should try the typical Spanish dishes: paella, jamon Serrano, tortilla de patata, gazpacho…the list goes on!
4. Entertainment: Catch a flamenco show in a theatre, or see an equally enthralling dance by the street performers in the plaza. Endless museums of art as well as examples of Roman, Moorish, Gallic and other architecture abound. Spain is known for a vibrant nightlife, which for the most courageous can last well into the next day!

San Miguel de Allende

Must see! By Alexa Boyce San Miguel was founded in 1542, with the "de Allende" part being added later in honor of the independence patriot born there. San Miguel de Allende today is a city of vistas: the town was built on a hillside facing the Rio Laja and with a great view of the Guanajuato mountains. The view from the mineral spring El Chorro, in the center of town, has been declared a national monument. San Miguel is also famous for its nearly perfect year-round weather. It is also not as large as some other attractions nearby, and most sights can be reached from the town center on foot. El Chorro: Of course, if you are visiting San Miguel de Allende, the view from El Chorro cannot be missed. The entire city builds up to it in terraces, and the brightly colored domes of at least 20 churches can be seen from the top. Plaza Principal: According to Footprints travel guides, this serves as a sort of "open-air living room for the whole town". Social life in San Miguel revolves around the market and the Jardin here. It is surrounded by several colonial buildings of note, including the Palacio Municipal, the elaborately decorated La Parroquia church, and the church of San Felipe Neri a the southwest end of the market. Palo Huerfano: This mountain is situated on the south end of town. It will take a good day to hike it, but once again, the views are absolutely breathtaking. Comonfort: Along the way to Celaya, 3 km north of Comonfort, you will run into some pre-Colombian ruins near Rancho Arias. It's definitely worth a look for any amateur archaeologist! La Concepcion: The large baroque style building was erected in 1734 as a summer convent for the Condes de Canal. Today it houses both the Art school of Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez Nigromonte and also the language school Instituto Allende.

Surfing Costa Rica

By Connie Marianacci One of the most recognized places in the world for surfing is Costa Rica. Why? * warm water * affordable prices * over 700 miles of coastline * international tournaments are hosted here * many other adventurous activities available. * great waves all year round Jaco Beach in particular is one of the best choices. It is the closest beach from San Jose attracting both tourists and locals on the weekends and holidays. It takes about 2 ½ hours to get to Jaco Beach by bus or car so it is ideal to combine a stay in the city and at the beach. Jaco is the surfing beach party capital of Costa Rica with over twenty bars and many surf shops. Surf during the morning, shop and hang out in the afternoon and go out at night! Never a dull moment to spare. Here is what Waive Junters has to say about Jaco: "Beach break slammers. Prevailing wind is SW after 10 am. Blocked from NW swell. S and SW only. 7km of beach with lots of peaks. Plenty of waves. Strong current, difficult to get out when over 5ft." If you are going international.... find all the benefits at one location, Costa Rica! PURA VIDA! Great Resource: http://www.surfing-waves.com/

Must See in Beijing

By Alexa Boyce Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, and therefore is what the Lonely Planet China Travel Guide calls, "the center of the Chinese universe." While it's shiny skyscrapers and creature comforts belie the true economic situation of the country, those who have braved China's rough interior will appreciate what Beijing has to offer. The already rapid development of the city has doubled down in order to prepare for the 2008 Olympics. Beijing seems hectic upon arrival, but it is actually laid out geographically in an orderly, grid pattern. The Forbidden city is the center of the grid, and the major roads are generally named for where they are located or where they go. For example, Chongwenmenwai Daije literally means "the avenue outside Chongwen Gate", and Xi Daije ("West Avenue") heads west from the Forbidden City. Once you know these tips, the city is easily navigable. Bikes are the easiest and most efficient way to get around, and if you get a flat there are many roadside repairmen willing to help. Forbidden City: Of course, the best place to start a tour of Beijing is the Forbidden city, the famed Ming and Qing dynasty palace that was off-limits to everyone but the royal court, and some places off-limits to everyone but the emperor and his harem. Tours all day. Tiananmen Square: Chairman Mao's creation, this massive square is now the heart of Beijing. Once used for reviewing parades of troops, this square was also the site of the 1989 massacre of protesting students. Be careful to walk (not ride) your bike across the square. Mao Zedong Mausoleum: Westerners may have been raised to hate Chairman Mao and his deeds, but his impact on Chinese and World history in the 20th century cannot be denied. Throngs of sightseers flock here to pay their respects and view the body of this influential leader. Summer Palace: Described in Lonely Planet as "one of the finest sights in Beijing", this lakeside retreat was designed for royalty, enlarged in the 18th century, abandoned and rebuilt in the 19th, destroyed by foreign troops in the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, and renovated again in 1949.

Travel & Scuba

Scuba Diving – By Glenn Rigby I have had the opportunity to scuba dive on a few occasions, mostly when I was younger. It is an activity I would love to do again, and probably will do when I decide to visit some fun and exciting locations. Because a great way to enhance the fun-factor of any trip is to strap on scuba gear and go diving. Let us look at a few spots that may be of interest to the scuba enthusiast and beginner alike. Puerto Rico- Being exposed to northerly swells, the north coast has only a few dive sites, and divers staying along this coast are usually taken by road to the east coast for diving. East coast diving is easy as the sites are relatively shallow and the seas rarely rough. Fine white sand creates idyllic beaches but reduces visibility after ground swells. The diving terrain is typically gently sloping fringing reefs with both hard and soft corals, especially bushy gorgonians. This is a gregonian: Costa Rica- Most good diving is on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The Caribbean reefs were decimated some years ago due to pesticide runoff from the banana plantations although the last two or three years have seen a definite return of life to the region. Dive operations are not very sophisticated but if you happen to be on that side of the country a day of diving can be fun. The best months are in September-November. There are three main areas for diving on the Pacific Ocean side. The first area is Isla del Caño, located on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica. The other two lie in the northern province of Guanacaste. Chile- Chilean beaches are easily accessible and generally have similar characteristics: a small sandy bay of approximately 1 kilometer (.6 mi) of extension limited at both ends by cliffs. This is important for your orientation when in the sea. The bottom of the sea alternates between sand and generally large, round stones. Once in the water you will quickly notice a great difference from other coasts: the abundance of seaweed and the variety of sea life. The abundance of fauna is remarkable, even near the coast, which is due to the almost total absence of divers. This amount of fauna living in relatively shallow waters coupled with excellent visibility makes for ideal conditions for marine photography.

Travel to Madrid

By Alexa Boyce The city that stands under the crest of the bear and the Madrone tree has been occupied since prehistoric times, but the earliest facts known about the city date back to the Moorish occupation in the 9th century. It was then that Umayyad Emir of Cordoba, Muhammad I built a small palace on the site where the Palacio Real stands today. A citadel was built around the palace, and this was named al-Mudaina. The nearby river Manzanares was called al-Majrit, meaning "source of water". This word is credited as being the origin of the name "Madrid". Interestingly enough, the word Madrid does not translate into most other languages and is therefore identified as Madrid throughout most of the world. In 1085 Alfonso VI of Castile then conquered the city on advance to Toledo and took it back from the Moors. The Iberian Peninsula was divided into Crowns, and per the tradition of the time, each time a king died the kingdom was divided among his offspring. There was much clashing between the Crowns of Castile and Aragon. This strife was put to an end when King Ferdinand II of Aragon married Queen Isabella I of Castile, and they conquered Grenada and expelled the Moors. Then, to demonstrate the new 'unified Spain', Phillip II moved the capital to the centralized location of Madrid in 1561. Madrid has remained the capital, seat of the Royal Family, and center of government since then. Therefore it has become one of the most influential and historically important cities in Spain. Today Madrid is an industrial center, second only to Barcelona. Madrid is made up of 21 districts that in turn are divided into barrios (neighborhoods). Like the rest of Spain, the city has really only blossomed since the death of dictator Francisco Franco. There are so many exciting things to do in this city today. The Palacio Real, though it no longer functions as the home of the royal family, opens most parts of the castle for tours. Admission is 6€ ($6.90) for adults, 3€ ($3.45) for students and children. It is located on Calle Bailen, at the Opera/Plaza de Espana metro stop, and is open 9:00 am-6:00 pm Monday - Saturday and 9:00 am-3:00 pm Sunday. The largest and most important bullring in the world is located in Madrid. It is called La Plaza de Toros de las Ventas and is located on the east side of the city and can hold 25,000 spectators. The best time to go see a corrida, or bullfight, is in May or June when the festival of San Isidrio is taking place. Seats are priced based on how close they are to the action and whether they are located in the sol (sun) or sombra (shade). Shady seats are more expensive. The Parque del Buen Retiro was once a retreat outside the city, but now is completely surrounded by it. It was originally the site of a Royal Palace built by King Philip IV in 1632. Most of the palace was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars, and the park was opened to the public in 1868. Some parts of the original palace still stand today, such as the colonnade in honor of Alfonso XII located near the lake. Many festivals and activities take place in the park, though at night it is notorious for the sketchy characters hanging around. It is not advised for tourists to visit the park after dark. Art lovers can be found frequenting the Golden Triangle of Art, housing the Museo del Prado, the Museo Reina Sofia and the Museo Thiyssen-Bornemisza. The Museo del Prado houses an impressive collection of European painters, sculptors and other artists. It can easily claim to have the world's best collections of Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez, as well as other painters such as El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrant, Durer and other works from the 14th-19th centuries. Nearby Museo Reina Sofia houses an impressive collection of modern (20th century and today) art. A large claim to fame for the Reina Sofia is that it is the current home to Pablo Picasso's famous work Guernica. The Museo Thiyssen-Bornemisza was started as a private collection in 1920 and fills in the gaps in the other two museum's collections. Madrid is also known for fabulous shopping. You can find specialty markets, major designer boutiques, and other shops for every price range. The Spanish department store El Corte Ingles has various outlets throughout the city, and sells everything from electronics to sporting equipment. El Rastro is a large flea market where one can go to practice the art of haggling. Calle Serrano, Calle Carmen and other places around the Puerto del Sol are also known for interesting shopping.

UAE-Oman Border Conflict

By: Alexa Boyce Buraimi is an Omani city situated directly on the border with Al Ain, UAE. This joint-city is located in the center of what has been known for hundreds or thousands of years as the 'Buraimi Oasis'. Originally made up of six tribes, half of which were loyal to the Sultan of Oman and the other half were loyal to the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi. The national borderlines were drawn in 1972 to separate these two groups. The border actually runs through the downtown area, but customs are on the outskirts of Buraimi so that one may easily walk between Buraimi in Al Ain in the UAE. However, for the last 5 years, rumors have been spreading that the UAE intends to position regular border guards along the Al Ain-Buraimi border. No one seemed to know for sure what the case was, and nothing ever happened. However, back in September, rumors became stronger and more conclusive that something was going to happen very soon along the border. AmeriSpan's school in Al Ain was forced to move its classes into the homes of host families in Buraimi, as all but one of the teachers lived on the Oman side of the border. This political situation caused us to temporarily discontinue our Al Ain program. This is unfortunate because a student traveling last spring said about the program, "I cannot compliment this school more; absolutely effective and patient instructors and extremely disciplined to make sure that students don't use English as a crutch." If the border problems continue, the school may permanently move into Buraimi. For now, AmeriSpan offers very popular Arabic programs in Cairo, Egypt and Fez, Morocco. A good site for historical facts about Buraimi and Al Ain go here.

Travel to Honduras

By Glenn Rigby Located in Central America, Honduras shares a boundary with Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. It is also bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Honduras (that's a lot of water). Christopher Columbus reached the coast of Honduras in 1502, after which it became a part of Spain's vast empire. The Spanish ruled for approximately 300 years, and then Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. Besides lush rain forests, untouched cloud forests (which can rise up to nearly three thousand meters above sea level), mangroves, savannas and mountain ranges laden with pine and oak trees, Honduras harbors yet another priceless ecosystem: The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. In the Bay Islands it is no coincidence to swim with bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, parrotfish, schools of blue tang and even the colossal whale shark. The white sands, tall coconut palms and the easy-going Caribbean atmosphere provide refuge from the busy Central American cities, or across the Atlantic Ocean. Copan: A city located in Western Honduras, near the Guatemala border. It has a population of about 24,000 inhabitants, and has an unmistakably colonial feel. Copan also houses famous ruins of the ancient city that once dominated the territory. Outlined are some of the attractions of Copan's ancient Mayan ruins: * The Ball Court is the most artistic of its type in Mesoamerica, with unique sidewall markers resembling macaw heads. Below is a picture of one of the Court's side buildings. * The Acropolis is divided into the east and west court plazas and features the most monumental temples in Copan. * The Great Plaza famous for its stelae and zo zoomorphic altars scattered around it. The Hieroglyphic Stairway holds the longest known text left by the Maya civilization. It was erected by ruler number 15, known as Smoke-Shell, and is believed to be a lineage tree recording the ascension and death of all Copan kings from Ya-Kuk-Mo to Smoke-Shell himself.