Our Study French and Painting program in Aix-en-Provence, France is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Not only is France the home of some of history's greatest Master and Impressionist painters, but the region of Provence has long served as an inspiration to painters worldwide.  Its fields of lavender, cypress trees, and green hills and dusty roads have a charm that no other place in the world possesses.

This program combines daily French and painting lessons and includes all art supplies, which is a rare convenience.  You will study at the "Atelier du Soleil.", or "Sun Studio" with a local Impressionist painter in her garden or in the center of town.  Downtown Aix, by the way, is a lively small city where you can practice your French without the intimidation that some feel in fast-paced Paris!

The French school, meanwhile, will give you the comprehensive knowledge you need to speak French confidently while supplementing your language lessons with a brief understanding of French culture and society.

Find out more! Study French and Painting in Aix-en-Provence

Want to learn Arabic? We recommend taking a close look at our program in Amman, Jordan.  I just returned from a trip to Jordan and will be blogging over the coming days and weeks about my experience. The bottom line, I highly recommend the school in Amman and the country of Jordan. Wow is what comes to mind as I think about my experience.

People seem to love this photo of spices at a little store in Amman, so I thought my first blog would be about the food in Jordan. Since I have been on a diet since I returned a few days ago, you can surmise that I found the food delicious.

The staple seemed to be lamb and chicken and it was served in a variety of ways, but I was addicted to the many salads.  Many are commonly known abroad and were already favorites of mine such as Hummus, Baba Ghanoush and others.  You are able to find some of these at ethnic Greek or Lebanese restaurants but others I discovered for the very first time.  

One Jordanian pointed out to me that before Lebanon’s civil war and its continued unfortunate position of being caught between Syria, Israel and other Middle East powers, it had long been a popular tourist destination.  This particular Jordanian gentleman wanted me to know that what so many Europeans and Americans call Lebanese food is NOT just Lebanese food, it is a common throughout that part of the world.  His point was that much of this food so many call Lebanese could just as easily be called Jordanian food, if only Jordan had been a big tourist destination in the 50s, 60s and 70s.  And don’t forget, both the Greeks and Romans at one time ruled Jordan so their impact on the food is everywhere as well.

One widely used ingredient was Za’tar (pronounced ZAH-tur) which is blend of spices and herbs (thyme, sesame seed, salt and more) used throughout the Middle east. Za’tar is said to increase mental acuity. It is usually mixed with olive oil and baked into the crust of flat, round pita bread and boy is it tasty!

One great experience in Jordan is Petra’s Kitchen where you are taught the names of many common Arabic spices and foods, how to cook them and get to eat whatever you cooked.  Anyone going to Jordan should visit Petra where some of the ruins were highlighted in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Petra’s Kitchen experience is available most evenings.

You should never choose a language program for the food but in Jordan you’ll be able to eat well and Learn Arabic.

Learn Arabic in Amman Jordan 

Petras Kitchen Info 

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About the Author: John Slocum co-founded AmeriSpan Study Abroad 17 years ago and is recognized as one of the true experts in Study Abroad.  He has helped start language schools in Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia as well as assisted schools in Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica on improving their overall language programs. Finally, John worked closely with STA Travel when they introduced their language immersion programs in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA.

My name is Sarah and I recently traveled to Jordan to check out this tiny country and its tourist attractions for my company.  Great job, right?  I work for Academic Arrangements Abroad, which organizes cultural travel experiences for many non-profit organizations.  I had heard amazing things about Jordan from fellow travelers, but really didn’t know much about the country.  But once I started my tour, I immediately decided that I didn’t want to leave!

Because so many different civilizations have passed through Jordan throughout history, and because it is a crossroads of religions, there is a tremendous amount of interesting ruins, churches, mosaics, and historical sites to explore.  I especially enjoyed my tour of Jerash, one of the best preserved Roman cities outside of Rome, and my visit to a mosaic workshop in Madaba, where you can watch mosaics being made by local artisans.  I was surprised by the amount of hiking and biking options in the six protected natural reserve areas in Jordan, and I was happy to learn that ecolodges are available in these areas for less outdoorsy people like me, who want to be both eco-friendly and comfortable. 

But the highlight of my touring was Petra – an ancient city hidden within striking red mountains.  I had heard about the beauty of this site and was ready to be impressed, but I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of these cliffs and the intricacy of the buildings and tombs carved into the cliffs.  It definitely has my vote for one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.”  I also had a lot of fun at a restaurant called Petra Kitchen, where all of the guests team up to help make their own traditional Jordanian meal.  We must have been pretty good cooks, because our dinner was delicious!

Travelers love Jordan because of this huge range of diversity and activities in such a small area.  Parents will be pleased that you are having an educational experience, and you’ll be satisfied because you’re having a good time!  If you’re interested in other trips that would make both you and your parents happy, click here to check out our 13-night family summer program to Russia.  This program includes a 1-week cruise along the Volga River to hard-to-reach historic towns, Russian dance and language lessons aboard the ship, and talks by Marshall Goldman, an internationally renowned expert on Russian politics.  Or if you’re looking to escape the cold during winter break, click here to check out our 7-night cruise to the Galapagos Islands, where a study leader and local naturalists will help you come into contact with the creatures that live in and around the volcanoes, beaches, and waters of the 9 islands we will explore.

Guest Blogger: Sarah Whorton

and don't forget AmeriSpan's Jordan Arabic school

Italy, as you already know, is renowned for its unique traditional cooking methods and flavors that tie together the bounties of the Mediterranean and the fresh vegetables and spices of the countryside.  We regularly see commercials zooming in on red and white sauces, meats, and pastas being tossed onto a plate from an overflowing pot and know immediately what kind of food we're being sold. In our 'Italian and the Tastes of Sicily' class, you can explore a world you may never have been exposed to otherwise!  

But, as with the gastronomy of India, China, France, the US, and virtually most countries in the world, a further look at the regional differences in Italy's cooking will reveal unique differences.  Sicilian food is in many ways it's very own, and was recently the subject of extreme food show 'Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern' on the Travel Channel.  (But don't worry, like all of the other locations on this show, you have plenty of less scary options.)

We can tell by looking at the Mediterranean Food Pyramid that seafood and vegetables play a larger role in coastal Italian diets, and such is especially the case on the offshore island of Sicily.  Some typical Sicilian dishes include "Tonno al Siracusana" (Tuna Siracusa Style) and "Sarde a Beccafico" (Stuffed Sardines).

If you have an interest in learning Italian and learning how to prepare healthy and distinct ethnic meals, we cannot recommend AmeriSpan's very own Italian and the Tastes of Sicily program enough!

 Choosing a study abroad program can be overwhelming. Luckily, AmeriSpan Study Abroad is here to help! Today, we will look at five great reasons to study abroad in Ecuador.

1. Learn Spanish - Well yes, you already knew that! However, Ecuador is an excellent place to learn Spanish. Particularly if you are choosing an immersion program with a homestay, you will find that the Ecuadorian people are very kind, friendly, helpful, and encouraging on your quest to master Spanish. You can choose to study Spanish in the capital of Quito, the beach town of Montanita, or in the Andean city of Cuenca. Click to learn more about Studying Spanish in Ecuador.

 2. Surfing - Montanita is a Latin American surfing hotspot. With consistent surf, even temperatures, and beautiful location, you can have a great time combining learning Spanish with learning to surf in Montanita. Click for more information about Spanish & Surfing in Montanita.

3. Galapagos Islands - The Galapagos Islands are a part of Ecuador. Take a trip to see the incredible wildlife while you are studying abroad in Ecuador, or be a part of a volunteer project there. The Galapagos Foundation needs volunteers to help with reforestation and to reconstruct the native habitat on these amazing islands. Click to learn about how to Volunteer on the Galapagos Islands. 

4. Go to College - What? College in Ecuador? Really? Yes, AmeriSpan offers College Study Abroad in many locations, including Cuenca, Ecuador. This amazing semester program includes extensive travel throughout Ecuador, a ten day study tour to Peru, and a five day trip through the Amazon rainforest. Click to find out more about College Study Abroad in Ecuador. 

 5. Medical Spanish - If you are a medical student, nurse, or other healthcare professional that is interested in learning or improving their Spanish, with an emphasis on medical terminology and the Ecuadorian healthcare system, consider one of our two excellent SALUD Medical Spanish programs in either Cuenca or Quito, Ecuador. Click for more information about SALUD Medical Spanish in Ecuador. 

Click to find out more about all of AmeriSpan's programs in Ecuador.

Before you study abroad, take the time to figure out how you will keep in touch with friends and relatives back home, and in your host country as well. If your cell phone and cell phone carrier offer international service to your host country for reasonable rates, great! But if not, don’t despair. There are options out there! 

1. Cell phone: A great option is the Mobal GSM World Phone. They are fairly inexpensive to buy, require no contract, you pay only when you use them, you keep the same phone number whenever you travel, and work in 150 countries worldwide. Read an article about this great phone here: Keeping In Touch While Studying Abroad

2. Phone card: AmeriSpan has an international phone card with special low rates, access to over 150 countries, and your friends and family can even messages for you. 

3. International country codes: Participants & their families should know how to dial internationally. Country Calling Codes is a website that includes all country calling codes, and instructions. 

4. ATT USA Direct: A service where you dial a code in the foreign country and then dial the USA to save on the rates of calls. They even work with cell phones. ATT allows you to use the calling card and credit cards. Click for country access numbers and other information 

5. Skype: Skype is a free and/or cheap way to make phone calls, chat, text, and even video calls. Skype to Skype calls are free, and you can download it for free at Skype's website. To make calls or texts to a non-skype cell phone or land line, you can either use a pay-as-you-go plan or a monthly plan. It’s a great way to keep in touch while overseas, and all you need is an Internet connection and a headset. To make a call, you can enter a phone number, search for a business or person, or go to your contacts list. They even make importing contacts from your email easy! AmeriSpan has a system set up where we don’t have to be logged into Skype for the calls to come through, they simply forward to our main phone line.

6. Internet: Find out prior to your trip about Internet access. Is it available at the school? Most likely. Is it available at your homestay? Maybe not. A good source for Internet while abroad is in Internet cafes in town. A laptop will make this much more accessible.  

Contacting AmeriSpan while Studying Abroad: 

• Email at info@amerispan.com
• Skype to ‘amerispan’ (note: if we are offline with skype the call automatically forwards to our main switchboard)
• Live chat service at our main AmeriSpan web site, from our Facebook welcome page, or click on the Live Help icon on the top left corner of this page.
• We are in the office from 09:00 am to 19:00 pm Eastern Time from Mon-Fri 
• You may also call us at +1-215-751-1100
• Emergency message service: During an emergency if your family can’t contact you, they may call us 24 hours/day, dictate the message and we will relay the message to you. Conversely, if you cannot reach your family and it is an emergency, call us collect from anywhere and we will relay the message.

Want more predeparture tips and advice? Download our free e-report, AmeriSpan's Guide to Predeparture

Watch a video of AmeriSpan's Russian schools. AmeriSpan offers Russian language immersion programs in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Click to learn more about studying Russian in Moscow, or studying Russian in St. Petersburg.