AmeriSpan's Study Abroad blog.
By Jonathon L., guest blogger studying Spanish and skiing in Santiago, Chile
WHAT A TRIP IT WAS!!!
So the day started with me waking up at about 6:40 in the morning to my Chilean Mama with my breakfast ready to go, and tea!!! I dragged my bag (with wheels) the 30 minutes to my school to meet the drivers who would drive me and one other student (Tim, from Texas) to the mountain, El Colorado.
By Niki W., guest video blogger at the Teen Junior Immersion program in Heredia, Costa Rica.
Surf's up! In this video, Niki W. captures the efforts of some surfers-in-training from her Junior Immersion program's Spanish school in Heredia.
For more information on this program go to Teen Junior Immersion in Heredia, Costa Rica
See Spanish programs in Heredia
See all of Niki's video blogs from Heredia
By Miki S., guest blogger, Cusco SALUD participant and AmeriSpan Delegate Scholar.
This weekend was a vacation trip to Puno! At least in my mind it was, Puno is about a seven hour bus ride from the town of Cuzco and is a gateway to the beautiful Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable piece of water but has also been the source of some tensions because it borders Peru and Boliva. The ownership of the lake seems to have been solved, although each side likes to claim they own more of the island.
By Josephine K., guest blogger studying Korean in Seoul
Nothing to do in Seoul? Check out a museum!
Seoul is such a busy city that it's hard to find yourself with nothing to do. However, if you are ever stuck I recommend spending the day at one of the MANY museums. There are museums dedicated to anything and everything, including art, history, the olympics, and even the popular Korean food kimchi.
For those considering volunteer work and/or language immersion in South America, Volunteering in Bolivia might not be first option to come to mind, but AmeriSpan has sent many a volunteer to Sucre who return with a positive report and plenty of enthusiasm. One such volunteer was our esteemed guest blogger Alison B., whose insight will enlighten future volunteers and Spanish students for years to come!
Read more on “Volunteering and Discovering Wildlife in Bolivia” »
First, AmeriSpan's opinion has been the benefits of studying abroad far outweigh any perceived risks whether that be terrorism or homesickness. Secondly, the threat of terrorism is with all of us every day, no matter where we are or what we are doing. Finally, let's remind everyone that security and travel experts remind travelers that the odds of being hurt in an auto accident or even struck by lightening are greater than being a victim in a terrorist attack.
If you have turned on the news over the last couple of days, you are sure to have heard about the US and UK's travel warning for Europe based on the threat of terrorist attacks. However, there really isn't a US travel warning, it is a travel alert to US citizens in Europe to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe … as current information indicates [terrorist organizations] continue to plan terrorist attacks. The alerts advice is to "U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling." as well as register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. To read the full text of the alert, go here.
So basically what is new? It sounds the same, Islamic extremists want to attack Western Europe and the US, the government's advice is don't change your plans and remain more diligent. It seems like the same message we have been hearing since 9/11. However, there are some differences this time including the following:
By Ashley C., guest blogger studying French in Lyon, France
Basic (4/hours a day in the morning): Every student at the school has a morning class for four hours a day (starting at 9 a.m.), and there are several levels: debutant (starter), beginner, beginner plus, intermediate, and advanced.
(Note: the beginner class is really what would be an intermediate class in the states, though. I had taken a full year of French classes in San Francisco before coming to Lyon, but I was placed in the beginner class [not even the beginner plus!] and the beginner class was hard for me at first! People who have studied French for years and years, had private tutors, taken intensive French classes before, etc. were often placed in the intermediate class).
Read more on “Language Levels and Activities at the French School in Lyon” »
By Niki W., guest video blogger at the Teen Junior Immersion program in Heredia, Costa Rica.
In this video, Niki W. takes us on a tour through the Junior Immersion program's Spanish school in Heredia.
For more information on this program go to Teen Junior Immersion in Heredia, Costa Rica
See Spanish programs in Heredia
See all of Niki's video blogs from Heredia
UPDATE 10/4/2010: The crisis in Ecuador has passed and the finger pointing has started was it a coup attempt or was it just a group of unorganized police upset at a new law which cut their benefits. The bottom line is that things are back to normal in Ecuador and even during the crisis the most noticiable effects were fewer people outdoors as the were inside watching the developments on TV throughout most of Ecuador.
Original Update below:
As it's one of our most popular destinations in Latin America, AmeriSpan is following the news in Ecuador closely. So far, we feel that the reports in the media don't quite match what is happening on the ground. In other words, the reports tend to make things seem worse than they are. This is somewhat being fanned by President Rafael Correa's fiery personality.
We have been in touch with our contacts in Ecuador and this is what we have learned:
By Jonathon L., guest blogger studying Spanish and skiing in Santiago, Chile
On my first day of school, I took a test to determine which Spanish class was appropriate for me. After the test, I played table football (foosball) when I was waiting for test results. Moments later, the secretary told me to go to room fourteen. I arrived a little later to class than the other students, but we introduced ourselves to the whole class and the teacher began a short lecture of the past perfecto (I think). An hour later, we had a short break and returned to read an article about the Mapuche (indigenous people) in South America. And in the last hour, we had an oral test to determine our personalities. The teacher asked us what we would order in a bar, what we would wear when sleeping, what is our most favorite type of film, and where we preferred to go for a vacation. My result was that I like things simple and I'm content. 
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