Columbus Day around the World

It might be history 101, but we all need a little refresher now and then, right? Holidays may come and go, so here’s a small reminder of what many people observe on the second Monday in October. All over North and South America, countries commemorate the day in 1492 when Christopher Columbus “discovered” what was Read More …

Featured Post from Air Canada: Canada’s Claim to Ice Hockey

The following is brought to you by proud Educational Travel Week sponsor, Air Canada.   Bodychecking, boarding, breakaways… Sounds like ice hockey season is back in action. And when you think of hockey, Canada certainly comes to mind, eh? But you might be surprised to know that the official national winter sport of Canada goes Read More …

Featured post from Vista Higher Learning: 2011 Video Contest

The following is brought to you by proud Educational Travel Week sponsor, Vista Higher Learning. If you’re a teacher of student of a language course in either high school or college, you’re eligible to enter Vista Higher Learning’s 2011 Video Contest.  This great class project or individual accomplishment is all about how language study can Read More …

Student Tours Global Fall Festivals

Depending on where you are in the world, the fall season conjures up a time for harvests, changing foliage or…in some places, the height of art and culture. Though autumn darkens the evening sky sooner in September and October, over 120 cities around the world light up “White Nights” to showcase galleries, museums and other Read More …

Traveling with the Foliage East to West

Ah, the joys of travel. Sometimes it’s the language (or the accent it’s spoken in) that tells you that you’re far away from home. Sometimes it’s the architecture enveloping you in history and culture. And other times, it just might be the trees. If you’re traveling during the autumn months in the U.S., parts of Read More …

Modern-day Kids vs. the Ancient Mayans

What’s the difference between kids of today and those who lived over 1500 years ago? Not as much as you think, especially when it comes to Mayan youth. Kids of Mayan culture—an ancient tribe of people who lived where Mexico, Belize and Guatemala are today—chewed gum, learned the three Rs and even went to ball Read More …

Germany and the Berlin Wall

What do Leonard Bernstein, Pink Floyd and David Hasselhoff have in common? They all rocked a common cause—having performed concerts celebrating the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall over 20 years ago. With hundreds of thousands of attendees plus enraptured television audiences around the world, Berlin went from dismally divided to the official party Read More …

Coffee Culture

Sugar or the fake stuff? Cream or milk? There’s lots of personal preferences for a cup of coffee but spin the globe and the coffee culture nuances get nitty-grittier—and not just on the serving. The blending, roasting and grinding of the bean to the time of day coffee’s drunk or even the nibbles accompanying it Read More …

New Orleans: Where Cajun and Creole cultures unite

New Orleans is unlike any other city in the United States, in part because of its heavy Cajun and Creole influences. Both of these French-descended cultures show up in New Orleans architecture, food, and even the music. What exactly is the difference between the two cultures, though? Is it the Cajuns or the Creoles (or Read More …

How to meet and greet abroad

When abroad, correctly greeting locals could be the difference between coming off as a clueless tourist and a well-traveled globetrotter. Don’t leave home before you know whether to shake, kiss, high five or bow upon meeting new friends on your tour. Do you know your French bise from your Kiwi nose-rubbing smooch?