Social Activities

RETURNED STUDENTS' COMMENTS ABOUT SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARRANGED BY HOST INSTITUTIONS

ARGENTINA

BridgeLinguatec-Buenos Aires: • They provide many excursions.

AUSTRIA

Actilingua: • ... some excursions in Vienna more fun to take with friends than the school.

BELIZE

Belize Field School 2007: • Trek stop-great, Las Cuevas-excellent, Popeye's-very nice. • Enjoyed caving at the "ATM" cave. Medicinal garden, the museum, and the butterfly house were educational.

BRAZIL

Bridge Linguatec-Rio: • Had some tours around the city offered in English and Portuguese-free or cheap. Tourist attractions are great. Prepare for the expense of lots of excursions.

CANADA

U Alberta: • Many interesting activities scheduled during week conflict with classes.

CHILE

• Try to go to the Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Chile.

COSTA RICA

CPI: School organized excursions and activities were: • crucial to enjoying the experience • great • easier with school, but maybe cheaper on your own • safer with school than planning individually unless one knows Spanish well. • expensive (•about $60-75 per week) • got stranded in the middle of the jungle at night on two differert occasions.
Needed: • more information about our options • many community activities were not mentioned or advertised at the school.
Opportunity to take couple fishing trips--great. • CPI helped me arrange a scuba dive (not offered by CPI). • Lots of afternoon activities, but students taking the 5.5 hour program can't participate or have to make arrangements to take enough hours.

ECUADOR

BridgeAbroad-Quito: • Amazing, but plan on $100 per weekend

EGYPT

NRCSA-Cairo: This is what we do to socialize: I have been to the pyramids and the light show there (it was awesome), students love to go to cafe's and smoke shesha while drinking coffee, study groups are helpful, the Cairo museum is amazing!!! And school trips are expensive so it is just better to grab a friend and decide to have a sometimes dangerous and maybe scary adventure (nothing serious mainly just getting lost on the other side of Cairo).

FRANCE

Grenoble: • International student group will arrange trips for minimal cost.
Lyon 3: • Many international dinners.
MICEFA: • Stay away from touristy places during holidays.

GUATEMALA

Proyecto Linguistico: • The excursions and activities were good but the costs added up. • Excursions with teachers and the school are extra cost, but affordable and worth it.
Xelaju: • Book hotels and bus rides in advance, so you don't have to worry about this later when traveling.

JAPAN

BA-Tokyo • Much to do in Tokyo so easy to spand a lot of money. But the entertainment is well worth it.

PANAMA

BridgeAbroad: • Done mostly for the groups. Independent students might have to tag along with groups brought from other universities. • School usually gets good rates for museums.

PERU

BridgeAbroad-BL-Cusco: • incredible cultural activities and a great tour guide provided by the school. • Most students prefer to organize their own.

MEXICO

Cuauhnahuac (Cuernavaca): • The social and cultural activities were great, the excursions were fun and interesting. Everything was positive for me. • need to be aware of cost, some believe expensive, others believe the excursion package a great deal.
Fenix: • No excursions on weekends-just Saturday morning visits to museums as part of the cultural program. • There’s no excursions – only when students from California come in. • If smaller groups are there, won't have as many excursion opportunties. • They are strict on arrival and departure times, so one can be left behind!
TEC de Monterrey: • Lots of clubs, volunteer groups, culture classes-great way to get involved. Also great PE classes and a cool gym. (Monterrey)

SWEDEN

Orebro: • Many activities planned by international group "Fadderiet"

SPAIN

BridgeAbroad: (Barcelona) • Good and should use those provided by school. (Madrid) • They get you to do most of the activities yourself. • Experience both the touristy areas (historical and night life) and aspects local people would enjoy. (Marbella) • Learn bus times and routes-a lot cheaper. (Malaga) • We got charged twice for the excursions. • Thought they were included, but had to pay extra. • Felt school outings were expensive. • Offered trip to Granada, too expensive and we didn't see what was advertised. (Sevilla) • Go to as many cultural events as possible. This is a good way to meet people. Went to Ronda-well organized and worthwhile. (CILC-Valencia) Didn't provide much.
PIEE-Ronda: • Excursions to nearby areas cheap by bus. UPO: No organized excursions available. Excursions are done on students' own time and cost and can be expensive.
Texas Tech Sevilla Center: • Excursions aren't mandatory but are a great learning experience.
UPO: • Take advantage of excursions they arrange. • Take advantage of "free entrance" days at many tourist sites. • Good way to meet international students is through the activities organized by the centro de extranjeros office (study abroad office).

British Studies London: • Spent a lot on tickets to theatre and gifts.

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Last Updated: Friday, 11-Sep-2009 15:30:33 MDT