The Price is Right

One of the most exciting and enriching parts about living abroad is having the opportunity to travel while you are there. On a budget? Don’t worry! If you can afford dinner, you can afford a flight from London to Rome. With airlines such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet offering flights for as little as about $1 USD before taxes one way flights within Europe (total flight cost can often be as low as $20 USD), how can you afford not to go? So hop online and then hop on a plane. You never know how close (and affordable!) your next Grecian vacation may be.

Posted by Susannah

Spring is in the air!

It’s almost spring and time to thaw out from our winter hibernation. Spring festivals are occurring all over the world, especially in some of our TEFL course locations:

Spain: Semana Santa
India: Holi (Festival of Color)
China: Lantern Festival
Vietnam: Youth Day

Be sure to check out what’s happening in your part of the world to celebrate the beauty of the season! http://www.earthcalendar.net/

~Posted by Jennie

Have Fun and Be Safe

Of course experiencing a new culture is very exciting and you will have many memories to bring home. We encourage all of our participants to take advantage of their new homes: go to museums, meet the locals, try the food and beverages. It is important, however, to keep in mind that you are in a foreign country, different than what you are used to and you therefore want to be safe. Here are some tips on safety while abroad. You can also visit the US Department of State’s travel website (http://travel.state.gov/) for up-to-date information.

Personal Safety Tips
· Always travel with someone.
· When traveling at night, stay on well-lit, main city streets.
· Be aware of your surroundings.
· Do not leave any personal items, bags, purses, etc. unattended or out in the open. When at a café or restaurant do not leave bags on the floor or hanging on the back of chairs.
· Carry shoulder bags to the inside of the sidewalk.
· When on a crowded bus or in a crowded public area, do not leave wallets in back pockets and hold backpacks and purses at the front of your body.
· Carry a newspaper or book written in the local language with you so that you blend in with your surroundings.
· Always look as though you know where you’re going, even if you do not. Try to walk briskly and confidently, with your head up and your shoulders back.

Posted by Sarah

Bring it on home...

You're guaranteed to return home with new skills, new friends, and memories following your time abroad. If your like me, you may also find yourself with a trinket or twelve.

You should know the rules ahead of time if you’re planning on returning to the US with an artifact or expensive souvenirs. For instance, some objects are banned from exiting some countries or may be banned from entering others. To increase your frustrations, these rules can even differ between states (just try shipping wine into Pennsylvania!).

For details on bringing souvenirs and artifacts home with you, or even shipping them, visit www.cbp.gov. Happy purchasing!

~ Posted by Marc