What Documents Do You Need to Study Abroad?

There are many documents that you will need to get in order prior
to your trip. Which ones do you need? How do you get them? How far in advance of your study abroad trip do you need to start applying for them? Read on for all these answers and more.

Passport: If you do not have one, make sure to
apply for one at least 6-8 weeks prior to your departure in order to save money
and headaches from expediting your passport. If you already have one, check the
expiration date. For travel to many countries, it is required that your
passport be valid for a minimum of 6 months after you are planning to return
home. Also make sure there are enough blank pages left. A good website to order
or renew your passport at is PassportVisasExpress.com.
A helpful article: Don’t Forget Passports When Studying Abroad

Read more on “What Documents Do You Need to Study Abroad?” »

Study Abroad Costa Rica: People in the Park

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program

People in the Park – *names changed

The best place to hang out for an interesting day in Coronado is
the park right in front of the huge gray church in the center of town. Almost
always you will meet some entertaining character or another. The first was Mark.
Four other gringos and myself were hanging out at the benches and this
middle-aged man approaches us and introduces himself. With his dark skin we
assumed him to just be an English-speaking Costa Rican but it turns out he’s
from California, with Italian heritage. Mark has lived in Costa Rica for 22
years; he moved here for a more simple life after getting out of the US army.
He was definitely an interesting character, who talked with a twitch, and we
enjoyed his company until he started getting carried away with over helpful
information about all the places he could take us in Costa Rica. (He works with
a tour agency.)

Read more on “Study Abroad Costa Rica: People in the Park” »

Study Abroad Peru: Rainforest Excursion

By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

Sadly this is my last blog about Peru…

So we left the somewhat modern civilization that I had come to
know for the past 5 weeks and ventured into the rainforest/jungle/selva/amazon
(whatever you want to call it) there were all sorts of animals. We took a
30 min plane ride into Puerto Maldonado and were met by a guide who took us on
a 1 hr bus ride to the Tambopata River. We were given all natural,
rainforest snacks of fresh banana trips, a local cocona juice, tiny (finger)
bananas and the most famous, brazil nuts. We boarded a small boat that luckily
had a good motor and were on the river for about 3 hours with some occasional
stops for animal sightings. We were given another local delicacy for lunch: a
fried rice dish in a banana leaf that we disposed of in the water when we were
done. We very much felt like jungle people! 

Read more on “Study Abroad Peru: Rainforest Excursion” »

Language Immersion Tips for Study Abroad

Whether you know ZERO vocabulary or you are an advanced speaker in your target language, a little preparation can help you get the most out of your immersion program. These are some pointers from AmeriSpan Study Abroad’s experienced staff members about expectations, goals, ways to build your vocabulary, and tips on how to get by if you suddenly forget every word you learned in your new language. For more tips and preparation, download our newest e-report, Pre-Departure Guide.

Read more on “Language Immersion Tips for Study Abroad” »

Study Abroad Costa Rica: Diversity of Countries

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program

This trip to Costa Rica has opened my eyes in so many ways. And I
don’t mean to sounds like a lame college essay either! Back home, in the US,
I’ve met all types of people but have never really had the chance to get to
people from all over the world. Not only have I been exposed to the Latin
American culture and language but also many other countries that I knew nothing
about before I reached out and met these people. Now I even know a handful of
German words (mostly inappropriate ones though) and even an Austrian word,
which I am obsessed with saying all the time now since I can finally pronounce
it (and remember it!): GadaLada Lella Shnala. It means…your mother’s bedroom
window blinds…strange I know.

Read more on “Study Abroad Costa Rica: Diversity of Countries” »

Study Abroad Peru: Final Days

By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

So on Saturday I finally slept for more than 3-4 hours at a time
and actually slept for close to 10 hours!! Woohoo! It felt so good to not have
to get up for anything and just be able to lay in bed and relax. Sadly I had to
start packing up all my stuff and tried to get a little organized. It was hard
packing everything up because if it wasn’t enough to have all my friends leave
the day before it was even tougher to see my room be emptied.

Read more on “Study Abroad Peru: Final Days” »

DELE Spanish Exam Course Price Slashed

The DELE (Diploma de Espanol como Lengua Extranjera,) or “Spanish
as a Foreign Language Diploma,” is the only certificate for non-native Spanish
speakers that is officially recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sport. For people who are going to work in a Spanish-speaking
environment, who will be studying at a Spanish university or those who want to
work in a Spanish-speaking country, the DELE Exam is an excellent way to prove
your proficiency. These are just a number of reasons to take the exam and
anybody taking long-term Spanish courses can benefit from the DELE.

Another reason for taking the DELE Exam is that it is a great way
to add a stand-out quality to your resume, college or graduate school
application. With unemployment rates soaring and college and graduate school
admissions shrinking, adding a special skill or quality to your resume or
application often means the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Read more on “DELE Spanish Exam Course Price Slashed” »

Study Abroad Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio Trip

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program

The
weekend trip to Manuel Antonio was surprisingly very successful! We were told
it would be near impossible to get bus tickets the day of and definitely not
seated. Some of us were skeptical but others, myself included, were ready to
just wing it, go with the flow and hope for the best. With this optimistic
mentality seven others and myself fruitfully purchased 8 tickets with seats for
a 6pm bus. WOOHOO! We had just 4hours to kill in San Jose and then a 4.5 hour
bus ride and then we would embark on a hopeful quest to find a hostel with 8
available spaces at 10:30pm.

Read more on “Study Abroad Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio Trip” »

Last Days in Peru: Futbol, Food & Discotechas

By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

I have just finished up my time in Cusco :( I can´t believe its
actually over! On Thursday night my parents and brother just got back into town
so I took a taxi to pick up my brother since its hard for them to get around
without me since they don’t speak Spanish. We tried to find my friend’s
apartment which proved much more difficult than it should’ve but after asking
many people we finally found it. So we had some snacks and drinks before
grabbing two taxis for 10 people and cramming in for the game. The roads
were all blocked off so we walked for a while after we got dropped off. The
roads were going crazy, every street was jam packed with people all over the
place going to the game and people selling gear for Ciencero. I had already
bought a jersey so I was set for the night!

Read more on “Last Days in Peru: Futbol, Food & Discotechas” »

Pre-Departure Guide for Study Abroad

If you are preparing to study abroad, you know how overwhelming
it can seem. AmeriSpan has compiled a very useful reference, our Pre-Departure
Guide. Download this free e-report for an extremely handy checklist of everything
you need to do to be prepared for your trip.

The Pre-Departure Guide is conveniently sectioned off into steps.
Each step covers a different aspect of preparation, from what documents you
need and how to get them, to planning about how you will keep in touch once you
are overseas, to packing, and even how to stay healthy. Then, we give you
cultural tips for different areas of the world, and tips for language
immersion.

Helpful links are included to streamline your search and save you
time. Download the Pre-Departure Guide and get ready to study abroad!

Read more on “Pre-Departure Guide for Study Abroad” »