By Kayla Allen
There are plenty of good reasons to stay with a family when traveling and I'll tell you what they are.
If you've decided to do a language immersion program the first thing you should embrace is the idea of immersing yourself in another culture. Homestays offer a really easy way of doing this. Usually the families have had long standing relationships with their school and even though they don't speak English they've had many students before you arriving to their homes not knowing their language. They're used to this process and won't be offended if you can't say everything you should to be a polite guest or to carry on a conversation. They know that this will come in time. Helpful hint: do try to use what little language skills you may have. It's always nice to try to communicate even if it sounds broken and nonsensical, they won't hold it against you.
Once you've got a little vocab and grammar under your belt though that's when living with a native speaking family really comes in handy. What could be more effective and efficient than living and eating with people who know and will ask you to use the language your whole trip is based around learning. It's like a 24-hour classroom. Hint: try to intentionally incorporate the vocabulary and grammar that you're learning in class into your conversations with your hosts, this will help reinforce what you're learning in school and hear what responses it elicits from your hosts as well. This will help to broaden your knowledge base of the language.
Along with it's other potential benefits, choosing a homestay is invariably the most inexpensive way to go; unless of course you have a second home in your chosen study location. If this is your good fortune why ball means, stay there, and kudos!
All of the above are reason enough to choose a homestay but it's hard to evaluate just how potentially meaningful living with native speaking family can be. There is something so amazing about traveling to another country and getting to know someone truly on their terms. You're learning their language, living in their home, eating their food and experiencing their culture and they are sharing it with you. Living with a family can put a whole new prospective on traveling abroad and add a positive element to your language program you just might not have expected.

By Laura Miller – Guest blogger traveling in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rica countdown begins!
I leave for Costa Rica, specifically Samara Beach, in three days. I am leaving with the hope of relaxation and fun in mind. It has been a long and tough year for me. What with teaching a classroom of crazy seventh graders, surviving a year of living in my own apartment all alone, finishing my master's degree and trying to find some leftover time for fun! Phew! I am tired!
Thank goodness, I have a break coming so soon! Although, I find that my excitement is coupled with a little bit of nervousness as I am leaving to go to a country I know little of, with people who speak a language I am not very familiar with either. However, the incentive of gaining an amazing new perspective on life draws me in.
This trip all came about a couple of months ago when my friend Angel told me that she is going to leave the country for five weeks with this program to learn Spanish and stay at a white sand beach. I was intrigued with her plans and found out more for myself. I also did not want her to go alone and thought, "Hey I have the whole summer off, why not go with her!"
Now it is Angel, myself and two other California girls leaving the country in hopes of relaxation and tan. The things that I look forward to the most are the language classes, the Latin cooking classes, surf lessons, rainforests, horseback riding on the beach, the dance classes and of course, the golden bronze tan I will return home with. I am also looking forward to meeting the Spanish family that I will be staying with. I am writing this blog three times a week, which will be interesting to chronicle the adventure that will no doubt be one of the most amazing times of my life. I pray that all goes well at home while I am gone, and that all goes smoothly during the travels there and back. I am also going to pray that the bugs are kind to me as I hear they are fierce!
So here, I find myself all packed and ready to leave the country passport and travelers checks in hand! Off we go!

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
We have a short excursion this morning to Qoricancha. I have passed by this site many times because it is located on Avenida Del Sol. It is where the bank and house of change are. Qoricancha was built in 1440 by a great Inka King, Tupac Yapunqui, also known as Pachacutec. It made me so sad that much of this magnificent site was destroyed by the Spaniards and the San Dominican church was built on top of its foundation.
Some parts of temples still remained. We saw Temple of Rainbows, thunder, and open ceremonial room. Let me write a few words about each of these three rooms. The Temple of Rainbow was used to establish connection with gods above. It was believed that rainbow is one of the ways humans can connect with gods. The window from this room lined up perfectly with the windows in the other two rooms. They used bamboo like plants and basins filled with water to detect whether the rocks were lined up or not. The open ceremonial room was used to sacrifice llamas. The animal's heart was taken out. If the llama had a good colored heart, it predicted good future. Black llamas were used because the color black symbolized invincibleness. In Western culture, white symbolized holiness. However, white could be contaminated whereas black remains black even if you add other colors into it. The third temple was for thunder. It was believed that thunder represented life. With thunder comes rain, with rain plants and animals will flourish. Across the courtyard, we also visited temple of the stars. This is a temple used to observe the star positioning in the sky. People believe that the Inka knew that earth rotates because they knew about the solstices, equinox and the planets. However, they did not have a system to record their findings in tapestry or writing. Most of what people knew was passed down generations after another through word of mouth.
In the middle of the courtyard sat a fountain that had been to many places. It was stolen many times but now returned to its original place. This fountain served in rain ceremonies. Inka believed when there was a lack of rain, it was because the sun was thirsty. Thus, they would fill up the fountain with sacred drink, Chicha. Then they would wait until it rains (which signified that the sun was satisfied and decided to go to bathroom).
We walked out of the courtyard onto the wings of the building. There were a shelf where a Tambor Solar (disc of sun made in gold) used to be. It was believed that before the Spaniards had a chance to destroy Qoricancha, a Cusqueno hid this disk in the cave in Sacsayhuaman. This lead to many expeditions that ended in many deaths of students and explorers. The caves in Sacsayhuaman connects to Qoricancha, Ollantaytambo, Pisac and other ruins. Many years ago, 4 students went into the large cave in Sacsayhuaman and never came out alive. Only one student was found one day at the exit at Qoricancha. The government decided to close down the large cave in Sacsayhuaman and the entrance here in Qoricancha. I wonder if one day more daring souls would venture into these caves and tunnels.
After my visit to Qoricancha, I walked around and ran into Convento de Merced (where my host family's daughter got married). I spent half hour taking a tour of this beautiful church of Merced order. The guide was very helpful because he spoke English. Even after this month of intensive Spanish lessons, I still preferred a guided tour in English. I love the Septor adorned with pearls, beautiful gems and diamonds displayed in one of these rooms. Too bad I could not take any pictures here.
At lunch time, I went to the market to buy vegetables and meat for lunch tomorrow. I promised my host family I would cook them some Chinese food. I am very nervous about how my cooking will turn out. I have to admit that I am not familiar with their oven and their cookware. I just want to give thanks to my favorite person in the house, Delia, the cook and mother of 2 beautiful children (Anita and Sebastian). Everyday she cooked for me and talked to me for a long time. I also love the children very much.

Part 2 – By Alexa Boyce
Back by popular demand, I've decided to answer a few more frequently asked questions here!

How much money should I bring with me?
This depends on several factors, including which country you are visiting, if your lodging includes meals and how many, how many excursions you plan to participate in and what kinds of extra souvenirs you plan to purchase. Countries in Central America such as Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama should be fairly inexpensive. The cost of living in the southern part of South America, however, is probably more comparable with the US or Europe.
If you are staying with a homestay, generally between 1 and 3 meals per day is included. Please check the individual location pages on our website for details.
Excursions can cost between $30 USD and $200 USD, depending on the distance and time you plan to travel. Check with the school upon your arrival for a schedule of upcoming trips
Please note that we recommend a combination of cash (you can exchange dollars at the airport upon your arrival or at a travel agency ahead of time), credit and traveler's checks. While traveler's checks are waning in popularity, they are still recommended in case your wallet is lost or stolen or you visit a remote area that does not offer ATMs.

What is the difference between the Spanish taught in Latin America vs. the Spanish taught in Spain?
Grammatically, the biggest difference is the use of the 'vosotros' subject in verb conjugation in Spain. The accents also differ as well as colloquialisms and slang terms. These differences I would equate to the difference between British English and American English. The two dialects are mutually intelligible and won't pose a problem. Please keep in mind that the same differences exist between countries in Latin America, similar to regional dialects in the US.
Program-Specific FAQ Lists can be found at the following links:
* Volunteer/Intern
* Teenager Summer Abroad
* SALUD Medical Spanish
* Business Language Immersion
* MAESTRO Programs for Educators

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
It was a pain to get up in the morning today. I did not have a good sleep last night because of very bad stomach problems. I ate too much at the Sanctuary Hotel at Machu Pichu for lunch. I still pulled myself together to go on our trip to Sacsayhuaman. I would not miss the opportunity to see these amazing Incan buildings. Of about 15 of us in SALUD, only 8 people showed up for the trip at 9am. I guess the whole weekend of strenuous hikes and traveling was a big toll on everyone else as well.
The 8 of us took the bus with our guide, Eduardo, to go to the entrance of the first ruin site we were to visit. At every site, Eduardo told information about possible uses and history of each site. It was nice that the bus took us to every site even though they are within walk-able distance. Today was the last day for our Boleto Turistico. I was happy that we are to visit the four sites included on the ticket. I am planning to visit Pikillacta on another day due to the lack of time.
First, we stopped at Tambomachay. It was a bath for the Inkas. There are fountains of water that flows down from a spring on the top of the mountain all-year round. It has 4 windows which could have been shelves to put clothes. There are 2 guard posts for soldiers to watch for anyone approaching. Locals believe that this water has restorative properties. It can cleanse the spirit, allow one to stay young and have fertility. I wonder what is more effective, this fountain of youth or Botox.
Secondly, we stopped by Pukapukara. Its name stands for red fortress. The rocks used to build this fortress are red, small stones. It allows for easy reconstruction. This site served two purposes. One is to control how many people could enter the city of Cusco since it connects Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Lamay. Its second purpose was to protect the Inka King at Tambomachay taking his restorative shower. There are 3 levels at Pukapukara. First level is the living quarter for soldiers. Second level is for depository of food. Third level is a watch tower.
Thirdly, we stopped by Q'Enko. I was very impressed with Q'Enko by its natural cave formations and stone carvings. Q'Enko stands for zigzag. It served as both an astronomical observation and religious ceremonial site. There are 2 tables inside the cave for ceremony. The first one was used to prepare the llama; the second one was used to dry the blood of the llama. This sacrificial ceremony of the llama took place only at the precise moment the moonlight strike the first step of the 3 ladders by second ceremonial table. This three steps symbol could also be seen in other sites as well as the Cusquenean cross. Outside the top of this ruin, you can see a basin and 2 veins that courses down the stone. One vein would lead to the right and the other to the left. During a sacrifice, llama blood was poured into the basin. If it flowed to the right vein, it told a good sign for the future. But if it flowed to the left, it foreshadowed bad signs. Near the basin you can also make out shapes of sacred animals such as Puma and condor.
Lastly, we visited Sacsayhuaman. It was originally named Sacsayuma in Quechua but the Spanish could not pronounce the word. It means head with many colored lines. It made sense because it is located at the head of the Puma (the city of Cusco is in the shape of a Puma). And coursing close by Sacsayhuaman are two rivers (lines on Puma's head). I was very impressed with the gigantic rocks used as columns in building the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Sacsay was not only a fortress. It was a city where many people lived in. There are patios for dance and performance, depositories for water and food, altars for ceremonies, intricate caves that connect to other ruins and a natural playground for kids.
I had the privilege to slide down the slide formed on the rocks across from the fortress by rain. I have to say it is one of the most exciting slides I have ever been to. When the Spaniards arrived, they destroyed much of the site using bombs to explode some of the rocks. They tried to find silver within the stones but had no success. Later, they also used stones from Sacsayhuaman to build up to 15 churches in Cusco. Spaniards were not the only ones that damaged Sacsayhuaman. Locals would drive up here and take some rocks to build their own houses for many years until the government prohibited the practice in 1998.
This morning had been a very worthwhile visit to the ruins. I wish I did not have classes in the afternoon. My legs needed a break.

By Emily Hogge – Guest blogger traveling in Mexico.
As I was trying to think of how to sum up my Morelian experience, place names kept popping into my head, and with them, various memories of my trip here. I've decided to close out my blog experience with a "top 10" of things and places that have been special to me here, and for me represent this great Michoacan city.
1) El Bosque
There's nothing quite like el Bosque- it's this huge park that I walked through every day to get to school. In the mornings, it is an exercise hot spot, with people running, doing aerobics, walking their dogs, and even playing volleyball (as I saw a funny group of middle aged women doing yesterday). In the afternoons, I've loved seeing kids playing futbol with their families, and have been fascinated by the people training for bull-fighting. And, the duck pond is always great too, not to mention the ever-present amorous couples. Love the Bosque.
2) Crossing the Street
Even though this isn't a place, per say, it's still been a memorable part of my experience. At our orientation, our program director told us that men often have trouble crossing the street, because cars will not stop for them, but that when an attractive young woman is looking to cross, cars screech to a stop. I am here to tell you that it doesn't matter if you're old, young, fat, or skinny, cars will not stop for you. In fact, at times they even speed up and try to run you over. Crossing the street always cracks me up, because it runs so contrary to our orientation advice.
3) La Catedral
What can I say? It's beautiful at night, it's got great Saturday evening fireworks, and it's just beautiful. Love it.
4) Casa de las Artesanias
This place is like a museum and souvenir haven in one. Local artisans have shops upstairs, but there are amazing handicrafts on display in glass cases too. And I always enjoy looking at the very large fountain outside, and all the activity around it.
5) My Language School
My language school has been incredible. It's so well-run, and so well-organized, and has great teachers. The salsa lessons and cooking classes have been pretty sweet too.
6) Panaderias
I love going to the panaderia (bakery) by our school and trying something new and delicious each time. . .and avoiding the bees, who also enjoy trying out the goods.
7) Mercado de Independencia
Any place where you can buy chiles, leather shoes, and live birds at one stop is a place I want to be.
8) Las Piramides
So, they're not in Morelia, but the pyramids at Teohituacan are breathtaking, and such a favorite part of my trip.
9) Walking/Public Transport
Morelia is so compact, you can walk pretty much anywhere, or if you want to spend the extra buck or two, take a cab. I never got over my fear of the combis, these VW minibuses that are all-the-rage, but maybe next time I visit I'll be brave and go for it.
10) El Hogar del Buen Pastor
I have such a soft spot in my heart for this place. The kids are sweet, the dogs are sweet, and it's just a nice place to hang out.
I've loved my time in Morelia, and if you ever go there, I hope you love it too. I've had a good time writing these entries, and if you've gotten through them, thanks for reading, and take care!

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
Today, we had breakfast at 5am. It consisted of delicious ham, cheese and egg sandwich. We also had a choice between pineapple juice, orange juice and strawberry smoothie. We left our bags in storage in the hotel and took off to a bus that would take us up Machu Pichu. We went up to the Caretaker´s hut because you can get the best view of Machu Pichu from up there.
The sun did not rise until 7:14am, so the guide told us some history while we waited for the sunrise. He told us how Hiram Bingham was not the first one to discover Machu Pichu because the farmers nearby had known about these ruins for a long time. At that time, they still cultivated crops on the agricultural terraces of the mysterious city. They only cleared the agricultural section and left the other parts alone.
Originally, Bingham was set out to discover Vilcabamba (the last stronghold of Incan empire). According to the journal of a Spanish priest, under the Temple of the Sun at Vilcabamba, there would be a spring of water that fed 3 fountains. However, when Bingham checked under the natural white rock under the temple at Machu Pichu, he could not find a spring. People would confuse Machu Pichu with Vilcabamba for many years until Bingham discovered Vilcabamba years later. He was not impressed with Vilcabamba as much as he was with Machu Pichu because the Spaniards destroyed much of Vilcabamba. It is also only half the size of Machu Pichu.
He went back to United States to gather funding, then he came back to Machu Pichu to clear the site that was covered in the jungle. They did many excavations but they did not find the body of the King under the Temple of the Sun (this meant that he must have retreated to another site with all of his people). They did find the body of the queen in a rock perched high up in the cliff facing East by herself. She had a beautiful Manta (blanket) covering her. A dog and a marsupial also accompanied her. Many tombs were found at a nearby slope. The diseased were mummified in fetal position because they believed that the dead should depart in the same way they came into the world.
The condition of the tombs further proved that Machu Pichu was not completely unknown by the locals. This is because during Inca Empire, it is common practice to close the tombs with stone walls. However, most were found with walls already broken by tomb raiders.
After all the clearing in Machu Pichu, Bingham took all the findings back to the United States for exhibit in Yale University. There are debates about whether these findings should be returned to Cusco. After all, most of the items buried were offerings to Pachamama (mother earth).
Finally, we saw the sun rise above the mountains. It would light up the entire Machu Pichu with such brightness. I took many pictures of the panoramic view. This is when I regret not purchasing a digital camera. I cannot help but take more and more pictures. I want to remember the view of every different shade of light coming into Machu Pichu. After an hour of marveling how the sun illuminates the valley, our guide gave us the tour through different temples and quarters in Machu Pichu.
Basically, Machu Pichu has one side that was for quarters for the important general, king and priests. This side would be build with beautiful big stones of perfect alignment and precise cuts. The other side is living quarters for the soldiers and common people. It was built with smaller and uglier rocks. There are also large terraces along the cliffs for farming. Planting them higher and higher along the terraces would slowly acclimatize agricultural plants in lower altitude.
About the construction of Machu Pichu, we could learn how they cut the stones by observing some un-finished work at the granary. We can also observe how the builders had intentions to build more walls but got to complete such. These remains of unfinished work made this site even more endearing. It was a little imperfection in the city build with perfection. We were told that the construction of the city that we could see with our eyes were only 60 percent on the surface. Much of the construction was underground for foundation, filling and drainage system.
After our guided tour, we had 2 hours free time to wonder around Machu Pichu before we ate lunch. Some students went to hike Waynupichu, the smaller mountain nearby. I just re-traced the steps we walked by to experience again the peace I felt in each temple and quarters. I even encountered a llama by itself in a common room eating grass. I cannot help but to admire just how magical this place is. It brings out not just a feeling of admiration within me but also adoration. Later, we had lunch at the famous Sanctuary Hotel. It was right outside of the entrance into Machu Pichu. We had more time in the afternoon to shop at local vendors and relax. I bought three Cusquenean crosses. According to our guide, the cross will bring good luck.
We took the 4:15pm train back to Ollantaytambo, and then went on a bus back to Cusco. I went to bed early tonight. However, my stomach was not very happy all throughout the night.

By Alexa Boyce
While we enjoy speaking directly with our clients, we do often answer the same few questions. I have decided to answer them here for those students who haven't asked them yet:
How do I get credit for an AmeriSpan program?
The easiest way to get college or high school credit for our programs is to receive it directly through your home institution. This avoids any problems in transferring credits. Upon request, we will send you a syllabus for the specific location you are interested in, as well as any other information your school requires. You simply take this to your study abroad office or academic advisor and inquire about the process for granting credits for off-campus programs.
We also offer credit through Brookhaven College and Seattle Central Community College. You can find out more information about which programs are eligible for this credit here.

Should I get a cell phone?
If you are traveling for less than 4 weeks, a calling card should be sufficient. The AmeriSpan phonecard can be used in over 130 countries. Please contact us and we will send you a card containing 10 bonus minutes. To get started right away, please visit ekit.
If you plan to be in country for a longer period of time, a cell phone might be a good idea. Beware of using your regular phone abroad, as international fees might apply. We recommend a Telestial cell phone, because all incoming calls are free and local calls are at local rates. Please visit our Staying in Touch page.
Do I need a visa?
In many countries, a tourist visa is granted automatically upon arrival to US citizens and is good for 90 days. Your participation in an AmeriSpan program does not require a student or work visa. Each student is responsible for ensuring their legal status in the country. Please check with your local embassy for information on entrance requirements. You may find contact information for embassies at here.
For help on obtaining visas, airfare and other helpful predeparture tips, check out our Get Ready page.
For more frequently asked questions, please see our FAQ list

By Emily Hogge – Guest blogger traveling in Mexico.
I have loved the people I have met here in Morelia. At school, some of my teachers are now like friends, like Luz, who I've had for 2 hours each day this week. We laugh and joke, and my Spanish is getting more natural, and less of a chore. It is amazing- this week there hasn't been anyone here in my class level, so I've had private lessons. I feel like it's perfect- I've learned so much, and in several classes we're working on things I've long had trouble with. I think the subjunctive is finally starting to click (haha, it's only taken 4 weeks, and multiple years of previous study). The teachers are very willing to stop when I have questions, and it doesn't feel like I'm holding the class up, since it's just me– great!
The staff at the school here Morelia really take pride in what they do, and it seems like people are encouraged to use what they're passionate about for the school. Like Tere, a woman who cooks at the café, offers cooking classes each week (which are amazing, since she's such an excellent cook). And a guy who works in the computer lab just put up a signup sheet for futbol de salon (indoor soccer). It's just an incredible school, very well run, with wonderful people.
And my host family- having almost been here a month, I'm really feeling a part of things. My "abuelo" and I joke about the yogurt that his wife always offers him (that he doesn't like). And whenever I hang out with Regina (who's almost 2) and her great-aunt, it seems like we're always doing something silly. Regina likes to make us lie down on the floor, and we all pretend to go to sleep. And the best was last Monday, when some good music came on the radio, and Regina, Abuela, the Great-Aunt, and I were dancing away in the kitchen. They're really a nice family, and they kind of remind me of my own, especially the grandparents with their quirky ways.
I've also met some really great people at school. Lee, Amanda, Patricio, Natalie, and I all arrived around the same time, and we've explored the city together. I feel like I've done many things that I probably wouldn't have on my own (like salsa classes! so fun), and they're just good people to be around. I mean, who else could I hike with around el Mercado de Independencia in search of a tortilla press?
As I look back over my time here in Morelia, the people are what have made it special. Fountains and panaderias are great, but if you don't have friends to share them with (or to gawk at the pickled chicken feet together!), they're not quite as sweet, at least not for me.