 The group traveled to Ecuador; participants stayed with host families in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, and had the opportunity to study Spanish and explore the area’s wonders. Excursions included tours of attractions within the city of Quito, a visit to the active Pichincha Volcano, and shopping at the famous Otavalo Indian Market. During the second week, participants became involved in community service by volunteering at either a local social organization or a public hospital. The total cost for the program, including estimated airfare, was $2,150..
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 The photo is of Machu Picchu, Peru
Study Abroad program 2007: Peru
The group, spent two weeks in Cuzco, where they lived with families and took language classes on weekday mornings. On the weekends, the group traveled to legendary sites such as the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca with its floating islands inhabited by the Uros, and the Nazca lines, ancient carvings in the desert.
Study Abroad program 2006: Cuernavaca, Mexico
Cuernavaca is located approximately an hour outside
of Mexico City. The group stayed with local families
instead of a hotel. They took Spanish
classes in the mornings at the Cemanahuac
Educational Community. Most afternoons and over
the weekend, they toured surrounding sites. They
visited Buena Vista, a rural mountain village. They
saw an historic cathedral, the Jardin Borda, with its
elaborate mural. They visited the pyramids at
Teotihuacan, an ancient Aztec city. They dined at
Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Hernan Cortes' summer
palace. One afternoon the group enjoyed a cooking
class in traditional Mexican cuisine.
Some other outings included Xochicalco, an ancient
city with an underground observatory, the homes of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and to Xochimilco, where the
group lunched while floating along the canals. The zocalo, or plaza, was a popular place to relax. For more action, some
took dance lessons. Participants in the college-sponsored study trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico, returned with sharper Spanish language skills,
knowledge of a fascinating culture, and memories of a great trip.
Study Abroad program 2005: Santiago, Chile
One of the highlights
was the visit to Nobel Prize-winning poet
Pablo Neruda’s home. Many of the rooms resembled the cabins in old ships,
with beautiful woods and nautical adornments. In Neruda’s
library, the group saw his Nobel Prize for literature and a
model for the writer's retreat that he and his wife planned
with the prize money.
Group members were touched when a Mapuche Indian advocate,
via an interpreter, told about the native Chileans and their
struggles to gain respect in the community. One of the highlights of the trip was the first night
in the port city of Valparaiso.
They found Valparaiso to be a lot like San Francisco, with
steep, winding streets that led into hills that were dotted
with brightly painted homes.
Participants taking the Spanish course met
most mornings for conversation class. Others took a culture
class, learning about the country’s geography and history.
Another highlight of the trip was visiting a public
school for the arts, where they watched a traditional dance
performance.
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This trip included guided tours of the Buenos Aires and surrounding areas as well as spend free time taking in the sights or just sipping coffee at a local café.
They cross the border into Uruguay to spend the day in Colonia, an historic port city originally settled by the Portuguese. They walked along its cobble-stoned streets and visited its many shops and museums.
