A Week in Rome, Italy

Author: Amanda Lowrey

In February 2019, a group of 6th-8th graders and chaperones were exposed to bountiful aspects of Rome including history, cuisine, art, and culture! With the amazing assistance of Italy’s Program Coordinator, Rachel Zitin, the group uncovered a richer understanding of life in Rome, as it was in ancient times and present day! 

For travelers who love history, architecture, art, churches, fountains, piazzas, ancient buildings, and tasty cuisine, Rome is not a destination to miss! There are takeaways that everyone benefits from that allow students to receive hands-on experience in a culture different from their own. At the same time, teachers explore aspects of a city’s history with a dynamic that makes classroom material come alive through the culture.

Within a week in Rome, students got to know the city quite well and appreciated the top attractions while exploring the less popular ones!

Read on to find out what the group got to see and participate in during their week in Italy!

A Roman Welcome

Following a long day of travel from the U.S. to Italy, the group enjoyed a relaxing dinner of authentic Roman pizza to start off their week! The Esquilino neighborhood acted as their home away from home and playground for exploration, which also houses important basilicas, such as Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterano. 

Closely located to their accommodations was the Colosseum and Roman Forum! Considered one of the world’s most popular attractions, the magnificent Colosseum was once a grand spectacle for gladiators, and the group got the chance to tour the arena from 80 AD! Ancient Rome’s city center was also explored within the Roman Forum and students got to take in the sights of the beautiful ruins. 

Let’s not forget about Italian cuisine! The group partook in a flavorsome dinner at a local favorite nearby their neighborhood, which included hearty pasta, vegetables, and a delicious tiramisu dessert to wrap up their third day! 

Pompeii

Additionally, students and chaperones thoroughly appreciated the day excursion to Pompeii, a famous Roman city located 150 miles south of Rome, which was buried under volcanic ash in AD 79 as a result of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius! 

The group had the chance to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site with Rachel and an archaeological guide. Though the city is known to be “frozen in time,” the ruins gave students a unique insider’s look into ancient Roman life.  

Speaking of Mt. Vesuvius, did you know that it is still considered an active volcano today? The group had the opportunity to climb to the top, where they were able to see the Bay of Naples, Herculaneum and the Mediterranean Sea!

Art & Gastronomy 

Moreover, the group had the chance to become artists for the day! Since Italy is greatly known for its abundant art and culture, students walked around iconic sites and attended a watercolor workshop with an artist, where they created their own masterpiece to take home! 

Besides marvelous art and architecture, Italian gastronomy is hard to beat! The group prepared a three-course meal with a local chef, with a menu including Rome’s most famous dishes! Students and chaperones had a wonderful time and loved the experience in the kitchen! 

Correspondingly, Testaccio Neighborhood used to be the central port for food supply in ancient Roman days, and now accommodates some of Rome’s greatest eateries! In particular, Testaccio’s food market offered local delicacies that the group savored together! 

The Historic Center 

Furthermore, Rome’s historic center is rich in piazzas, cobblestone streets, and architecture, but also the headquarters of massive attractions, including the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon! This 135 step staircase was completed in 1725! The Pantheon is a two-thousand year old temple, which is now a church, and features the largest unreinforced concrete dome. 

In a similar manner, the Trevi Fountain is arguably the most famous fountain in the world! Tradition states that visitors toss a coin into the water to ensure a return to the Eternal City! Our students got to try this tradition out for themselves!

Vatican City 

Situated west of the Tiber River, the Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent national site and the epicenter for the Catholic Church. Covering a little over 100 acres, this city possesses stunning buildings, gardens, museums, churches, and maintains its own banking and media stations. 

The group ventured inside the Vatican Museums, which feature the world’s greatest art collections, including frescoed rooms by Raphael and Egyptian mummies! The Sistine Chapel was another fascinating and momentous building the group toured, which houses Michelangelo’s frescoes and The Last Judgement. 

Located within Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the world’s holiest catholic shrines and enormous central church in Rome. In the fourth century, the church was built on the site of St. Peter’s grave, but the original building was replaced with the current Basilica millions of visitors tour each year.

The group toured the aforementioned areas and learned about the plans and purpose of the city. In the evening, the group enjoyed a family-style Italian meal, including appetizers, pasta dishes and main courses! 

In closing, the group had an amazing time and took away lessons and knowledge that they’ll cherish for life! After having so many immersive experiences within one week, it’s no wonder that the group departed Italy with suitcases full of educational and captivating moments!  This type of program in Italy grants students, teachers, and chaperones, the ability to pursue an interest in international education, improve their second language skills, and see another part of the world.  

It’s important that programs feel connected and understood. Reflecting on experiences provides students with the opportunity to express their own thoughts and build trust in the team. For this reason, EdOdyssey directs groups to participate in group reflections each day, in order to unpack observations and takeaways together. 

For more insight into the importance of these meaningful moments together, check out our past blog, “Three Main Reasons Why We Do Group Reflections”!

Exploring Pompeii: Learn About The City Frozen in Time

In an age where even distant lands are only a few flights away, it is easy to visit new places in the world. Covering long distances is no big challenge for a modern traveler like you, but how often do you get to travel through time? 

Whether you are a history lover or a curious student looking for a new unforgettable adventure, you’ll love learning about Pompeii, the city frozen in time!

Step into the past as you read about what happened on a fateful day in the 1st century C.E., what remained in the aftermath, what the place was once like long before and up to the event, and how you can experience the past through an EdOdyssey adventure in Pompeii!

A FATEFUL ERUPTION AND EVENTUAL REDISCOVERY

Mt. Vesuvius, standing at over 4,000 feet above sea level and holding the unique status as mainland Europe’s only active volcano, made history on a fateful day in 79 C.E. It erupted and destroyed cities several miles away, leaving them buried in ash for centuries. Among the places it demolished was Pompeii, a city that, despite being wiped out by the eruption, became known as a city preserved by the same volcano that destroyed it.

The volcanic ash that had forced out the city’s residents protected the ruins from erosion long after the 1st century C.E. 

The ruins of the city were eventually uncovered and studied by archaeologists starting from the 16th century, and from then on, it became a top destination for curious scholars, adventurers, and tourists alike. While the city is not fully intact, the pieces that are still standing are recognizable as parts of massive structures like temples and houses, and the Latin inscriptions on the city’s signs and grave monuments are still legible to the naked eye. Most eerily, the human side of everyday life seems to be frozen in the moment of the eruption.

Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the last moments of the people fleeing their homes by making casts out of the voids their bodies left in the ash after Mt. Vesuvius erupted over the city. 

In the past, EdOdyssey has helped high school groups visit Pompeii as part of its immersion programs in Italy! Students not only got to walk through the streets of the ancient city, but also climb to the peak of Mt. Vesuvius for an incredible view of the Italian coast!

DIVERSE CULTURES AND STRUCTURES OF POMPEII

Even though many associate Pompeii with the ancient Romans, the first people to settle there were from native Italic tribes in the southern Italian peninsula. The place had different cultural influences from native peoples and Greek settlers before it became a Roman city later in the 4th century B.C.E., after the region of Campania, which is where Pompeii and Naples are today, merged with other Roman lands after a series of wars between the Roman Republic and the local tribes in the area.

From the 3rd century B.C.E. onward, people in Pompeii followed customs that were a mix of the ancient traditions practiced by the native tribes and the Greco-Roman traditions that were brought to the area by outsiders like the Romans; many wall paintings that are still visible in the archaeological park today show the diversity of cultures and art styles in the city.

Up to the infamous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E., Pompeii was a busy, growing city. The population had been growing since the Romans had incorporated the area into their territory during the time of the Republic, and the increasing number of residents in the city lead to rapid repairs and construction of roads, vast villas, and several public spaces like the open forum, eateries like thermopolia (places that served hot meals), and temples for different deities, both local and foreign. There were also a large number of different occupations for the people of Pompeii, such as bakers, actors, priests, priestesses and government officials.

The bakers who made and sold bread for the community ,the actors rehearsed and performed plays in the massive amphitheatre in city, both priests and priestesses tended to sacred rituals in the temples, and officials who handled governmental business on behalf of the Roman Empire.

As part of our custom itineraries in Italy, EdOdyssey arranges opportunities for high school students to take closer looks at the cultural gems like art from different eras of history. Through expert-led walking tours of Pompeii, students can enter the ancient villas of the wealthy Romans and admire the colorful paintings that are still on the building walls!

POMPEII TODAY

You can still walk through the cobblestone streets of Pompeii through entering the Parco Archeologico di Pompei in Campania, Italy. It is one thing to learn about Pompeii through books and documentaries – there is no shortage of those, considering the widespread interest in the famous place – but another to experience Pompeii in person.

The ruins alone are massive enough and already seem larger-than-life upon just a single glance, but the fact that the structures of the city were once larger and full of people who carried out their daily lives there is astounding.

You can imagine that ancient people who might be around your age or around the ages of other people you know walked the streets or entered buildings like you can and lived their lives like any other person in the world. You can almost picture people conducting business in the public forum or heading to events at temples and theatres like you can see with people in modern cities.

Being there in person makes the city come to life, and there is no substitute for the unforgettable experience. Follow us on social media to learn see all the places you can go with an international adventure! 

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Sources

Britannica, Encyclopaedia. “Vesuvius.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 

Inc., 19 May 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Vesuvius. 

Jashemski, Wilhelmina Feemster. “Pompeii.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia 

Britannica, Inc., 17 Mar. 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Pompeii.

Travel Prep and Planning Now: Benefits For Students and Teachers

At EdOdyssey, we believe that travel changes people, and people change the world. We know that students experience travel differently at different points in their lives, and educators and school communities play a pivotal role in showing their students the meaning of these experiences.

Visiting a foreign country invites people to pursue new experiences and adopt different viewpoints of the world. Like students, travelers are always learning new things and pondering how their new knowledge fits into their lives.

Travel plays a pivotal role in any student’s experience. School trips add a more adventurous and interactive side to course material. As students grow older and prepare for life after graduating from high school, it is important to provide them with formative experiences that leave a lasting impact afterward and further promote their personal growth.

As avid travelers and educators ourselves, we believe that traveling to a different country can provide students with exactly these experiences, and we believe that you - teachers, parents and communities - can make them happen.

Beginners in student travel, or global student travel experts, have an opportunity to plan to expand classes into a global setting. Now is the perfect time to learn how to develop or be a part of the moment to enhance your school’s experiential learning programs abroad, and you’ll see the long term benefits of preparing and planning for student travel.

YOUTH TRAVEL STARTS EARLY

What do you imagine when you see the phrase “Youth Travel?” A group of twenty-somethings backpacking in foreign countries? College students studying abroad for a semester or two?

While a lot of people travel in their late teens and early twenties, youth travel begins before then in high school.

Young people start traveling before they head off to college and become young professionals. According to the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSETC), young people make up 23% of international airports around the world!  This survey includes people as young as 15; high school students are among the millions of young people traveling abroad.

High school students also made up a majority of the young people surveyed about their interest in international experience earlier this year. According to data from Statista, over 10,000 of the 18,000 total participants stated that they wanted to experience travel abroad! From the same survey, 8,000 students also said that they were very interested in a study abroad or international exchange program.

Even during a time of travel restrictions, it is important to keep a global perspective and continue planning for international trips for the future. After thousands of students were sent home earlier this year, Ahmad Ezzeddine, the Associate Vice President of Educational Outreach and International Programs of the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA: Association of International Educators) said about the worldwide nature of the current situation:

“It’s a perfect example of how everything we’re dealing with has a global nature. It’s why we need to continue to invest in study abroad and the international experience.”

ADVANTAGES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TRAVEL

The excitement of adventure does not end after the trip is over - students bring home new experiences and memories that will last a lifetime! The impact that travel has on them during the trip stays with them and can benefit their success in high school and beyond. 

Exploring a different part of the world challenges students to approach topics from new perspectives.

Travel also grants students an opportunity to develop their own viewpoints. Their experiences in a different country are perfect to make their college applications stand out! Each student interprets travel experiences differently, and their unique stories can distinguish them from other applicants and wow the college admissions officers!

Bringing students abroad in high school inspires them to keep traveling and learning on their own beyond the educational setting! A 2016 survey focusing on youth travel states “28 percent of students who travel take more than one trip per year and those traveling between ages 10 and 18 are more likely to return to the destination later in life.” (Peltier and O'Brien 5 Charts Showing Student Traveler Preferences in the U.S. and Abroad)

WHY PLAN NOW?

Just because travel is on hold doesn’t mean that planning has to be. This is the perfect time to plan a trip abroad. This fall, EdOdyssey is hosting its first-ever Global Student Program Certificate for Educators course. Teachers, administrators, and faculty will have a chance to learn skills to develop, market, and enrich school trips abroad.

You’ll have the chance to take any of your benchmarks, your learning objectives, and your content area’s curriculum to infuse them into the design of your program for almost any theme and content area(s). As educators ourselves, we’ll show you how we build a trip that also functions as an academic program that prioritizes student learning while still creating a fun, enriching program.

Pick and choose from different modules, and get certified after completing the entire program. With the right travel planning and management skills tailored for you, you will be able to make international trips a reality for you and your students.

As Matthew Wolfe, an EdOdyssey featured traveler, wrote about his experience abroad, “Being able to see the world from a completely different perspective in another country is an opportunity that you simply should never pass up.”

To explore more about the benefits of travel prep and planning now, learn more about The Four Major Benefits Of Customizable Programs!

Ready to start planning?

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Sources

Duffin, Erin. “Interest among Students about International Experiences by Type U.S. 2020.” 

Statista, 13 July 2020, www.statista.com/statistics/985046/interest-among-students-international-experiences-type.

Peltier, Dan, and James O'Brien. “5 Charts Showing Student Traveler Preferences in the U.S. 

and Abroad.” Skift, 15 July 2016, https://skift.com/2016/07/15/5-charts-showing-student-traveler-preferences-in-the-u-s-and-abroad

Rifai, Taleb. “Facts and Stats.” WYSE Travel Confederation, 2020, 

www.wysetc.org/about-us/facts-and-stats/.

Toner, Mark, et al. “Internationalization, Interrupted.” NAFSA, 1 Apr. 2020, 

www.nafsa.org/ie-magazine/2020/4/1/internationalization-interrupted. 

What Makes Berlin Different

Pictured: Brandenburg Gate

Berlin is known for its inspiring street art and delectable foodie scene. As a city with tremendous historical turbulence, its history and art alone, is worth learning about in person. A visit to Berlin is bound to be an incredible experience, filled with gorgeous sights and intriguing architecture, it’s likely you’ll be captivated by its charming ambiance and culture.

What about Berlin, specifically, makes this city so unique? Together, we will explore a few aspects of Berlin which make it a bucket list destination. 

Berlin Teaches Visitors History 

Has Berlin moved on from World War II, the Cold War, and atrocities from the Holocaust? Even the most devastating parts of Berlin’s past are still a part of their present. 

Pictured: Topography of Terror
- Dennis Jarvis, Flickr

To expand, museums pertaining to WWII, including the Holocaust Museum, East Side Gallery, and Topography of Terror, are free for visitors. This is another example of Berlin opening up the discussion, admitting to their faults in the past, and opening the door for visitors to understand for themselves. Even Hitler’s bunker where he committed suicide, which can be considered a pivotal moment in history, is now a parking lot, because they do not allow for pilgrimage or homage to the Nazi regime. 

Additionally, the division of East and West is still clear and you can find traces of its communist past by visiting exhibits, such as the DDR museum. The buildings, alleyways, everything - has a different feel in the East and West. 

The Museum Island is another interesting area to walk through, close to Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of five museums devoted to archaeology and works of art. Take a look into the Berliner Dom and climb 270 steps to it’s observation deck to view Berlin's historic city centre. 

View From Observation Deck

Pictured: Reichstag

After spending some time, walk a few minutes to the Brandenburg Gate, an iconic monument that is now a national symbol of unity. Less than a ten minute walk away is the Reichstag, which is currently home to Parliament. This historical building features a glass dome, built to symbolize the reunification of Germany.

Berlin: Home to Meaningful Memorials

Pictured: Checkpoint Charlie

Due to its recent and relevant history, Berlin’s memorials and monuments really make visitors feel their darkest days. It’s one thing to read about something in a history book in school, but to feel the Berlin Wall with your own hands, walk by former Nazi buildings, and hear firsthand about the stories at Checkpoint Charlie, is something real and worth visiting.  

Europe is known for its incredible landmarks and monuments, but the memorials alone in Berlin are quite remarkable, and at times even abstract. The many feelings evoked just by viewing these are due to the purposeful nature of the city. For instance, the Book Burning Memorial (the “Sunken Library”) located in Bebelplatz, is an underground memorial with hundreds of empty bookshelves below its surface, to commemorate the book-burning in May of 1933. 

Take a stroll or hop off at the Ostbahnhof station to view the colorful murals on the East Side Gallery, which can be seen as a symbol of joy at overcoming the division of Germany. The Berlin wall itself is mostly gone, but you can find its remains around the city. The route of the Berlin Wall is marked along some streets with a double row of cobblestones.

A more somber area to visit is the Memorial for Murdered Jews of Europe, a memorial you can walk through and determine your own meaning behind its overwhelming and massive build. 

The Diversity Behind Berlin’s Evolution  

Berlin is very much a melting pot. The city expresses art and creativity in numerous ways, and even on the coldest days, there is a sense of warmth and liveliness that makes visitors feel welcomed. Berlin has a nonconformist atmosphere that is really something to experience. The edginess and creativity that emits from locals really moves within the city.

Though Berlin is considered to be non-conformist city, people still follow and respect rules, such as waiting to cross the street, even in the middle of the night. Interestingly enough, the train doors at station stops will even open early before the train is completely stopped

During your visit, you may notice a little green man on traffic lights around East Berlin. The Ampelman’s main purpose is guiding walkers to safety across intersections, not only in East Berlin, but also for West Berliners now too. Another intriguing element of Berlin that would be incredibly hard to miss is the TV Tower! You can spot this from almost any point in the city centre at 368 meters high.  

Traveling around Berlin is easy-going and the city really embraces visitors. Besides the extremely convenient public transportation, the ease and diversity in finding great cuisine is another plus! Compared to other large cities, meals and transportation are both affordable. The Kreuzberg neighborhood offers some of the best diversity in cuisine in Berlin.

Street food is plentiful and easy to grab on your way to another attraction. Don’t forget to try currywurst! This delicious snack, consisting of sausage, tomato sauce and curry powder, is Berlin’s pride and joy. For more information about this German invention, feel free to visit the Currywurst Museum in Berlin, around the corner Checkpoint Charlie. 

Locals say that Berlin is a city that is constantly evolving, where the Berlin you may visit now is not the same Berlin you’ll visit later on. Even so with its bustling city life, Berlin is still very much a relaxed place. There are plenty of opportunities to relax with a coffee or enjoy a stroll next to the River Spree. 

Pictured: River Spree (Berliner Dom on the right)

Berlin is the perfect city break in Europe and it’s no surprise that many travelers consider it to be one of their favorites! With its vibrancy and historical relevance, every single corner in this city has a story worth understanding. 

A visit to Berlin, and surrounding areas, has potential for life-changing experiences for school communities. Teachers enjoy working with our organization because experiential learning abroad takes a team of teachers and international educators to extend the classroom into meaningful, culturally enriching activities!

Do you want a better idea of how teachers and schools infuse our organization's resources and tools into their academics? Please check out the detailed description of this unique, fully customized German immersion program from the perspective of one of our trusted partners!

Four Advantages When Traveling in a Group

Group travel offers the perfect opportunity to embark on an exciting adventure abroad, with people you know or friends who you haven’t met yet! Traveling in groups can be extremely rewarding and there are plenty of advantages, including cost-effectiveness and accessibility!

Read on for four aspects of group travel that students and faculty can look forward to with our custom programs!

Leave Worries At Home 

For starters, you don’t have to worry about planning or extraneous costs! Planning for a group can become overwhelming, and with the help of EdOdyssey, any worries about planning or surprises will be eliminated. We work with you step by step through pre-departure to make sure that you know what to pack and handle coordinating the logistics with our local team and partners; you just have to keep an eye out for updates leading to the programs and then you go! 

A passport is the most important document you’ll need to bring for your travels, but we handle the heavy lifting. The nature of each program’s inclusions come custom but we like to include as much as possible, such as your flight reservations, hotels, transportation, and excursions. We will provide you with a detailed and easy-to-follow itinerary to help you stay on-time throughout your time abroad!

This experience is a valuable time to explore unique countries. Instead of worrying about logistics, focus on letting go and having fun soaking in the scenery! 

A Personalized Guide 

One of the more interesting aspects of EdOdyssey programs is the amount of knowledge our travel experts bring to the experience! As you travel with your group, someone will always show you the way through the city and give you facts you might not have discovered on your own. 

Your EdOdyssey educators are passionate and cultured experts who want to share their knowledge about local areas with you. You’ll receive support every step along the way, and you will have the ability to ask as many questions as you like to make the most of your experience!

During day your visits and your interactive activities, you’ll always have access  to an EdOdyssey educator or a local guide to delve deeper into relevant topics regarding culture, history, and language. 

Comfortability & Safety 

Feeling comfortable during your time abroad is important. For students, having the ability to travel with friends you already know from back home is a huge advantage! Group travel will give you a unique chance to bond closer with your peers and educators. You can share your adventures together and even get the opportunity to meet other international students during your journey! In addition, group travel also allows students to “test drive” what studying abroad would be like with our shorter programs!

EdOdyssey is committed to the safety of our groups! For custom programs, the group will always have access to an EdOdyssey educator leader available for advising and reassurance. This is a component we take very seriously and make sure that program participants feel secure during their time abroad. As a result, students and faculty will be able to see sights without worrying about visiting unfamiliar territory on their own! 

Our local teams have been trained on our health and safety procedures and protocols, and they have access to our comprehensive emergency health and emergency concierge service, in case anything unexpected were ever to happen abroad. 

Photo Op, Anyone? 

A more humorous, but convenient, advantage of group travel is the fact that you’ll always have someone who can take your photo! In a group, you will be able to share experiences with your fellow travelers and friends during travel, mealtimes, and interactive activities. Since our custom programs are catered to a class’s specific content focus, students will have no problem creating memorable experiences with their peers that they can later share with loved ones back home! 

A group of high school students had a blast sand boarding in Ica, Peru!

At EdOdyssey, we want to make sure our partners, faculty members, students and parents feel confident in international education! 

In addition to the simplicity in planning and organization, our custom programs are a great way to get your feet wet if you’re new to travel, or if you’re looking to dive into a new culture for a shorter period of time. Pack a positive attitude and a sense of adventure, and you are bound to experience some amazing moments along the way! 

Interested in hearing from other travelers and their experiences abroad? Check out quotes from friends, educators, and fellow alumni featured in our past blog, "How Travel Changes People". 

Three Key Components to Keep in Mind When Planning Programs Abroad

The educational impact that travel contributes to teachers and students goes beyond the classroom. Educators, administrators and faculty from schools around the nation extend their lessons abroad and work with EdOdyssey to develop custom programs that create holistic and enriching learning experiences that best fit their needs. 

Additionally, short-term programs help students become more self-aware, flexible, and creative, while gaining an enhanced experience in an unfamiliar country. As you start planning, you’ll want to evaluate the day-to-day structure of your custom program. In this blog, we will discuss three components to consider as you begin to design your next student program. 

Keeping Students in Mind 

When it comes to managing an itinerary and deciding on logistics, EdOdyssey wants to ensure that the student’s learning outcomes are included and considered throughout the entire program. From an organizer’s perspective, what resources, if any, need to be available onsite? Which activities will grant the greatest participation from the group? 

Interactions within the host country and cross-cultural exchange opportunities will encourage your students to build upon their language skills. In doing so, these purposeful encounters will complement their time abroad. Ultimately, our team makes certain that you feel supported informally or formally assessing your students, and that they feel confident expressing their feelings and observations in order for them to convey the lessons that they’ve learned once they’ve returned home!

More Time in Fewer Places?

For short-term programs with limited time, many interactive activities in fewer locations allow students to really get the most out of their experiences! Our itineraries center around intentional goals, and in many cases, we’re able to meet most learning objectives in fewer cities for students and teachers. The focus of some programs requires a multi-city itinerary, and we make sure that each city meets specific objectives, since additional cities means more time in transit. 

Is there a particular reason to spend time in more places in your itinerary?

This key question centers around the focus of the learning objectives because more cities can spread a program thinner and actually take away value from your program.  The deceiving nature of planning itineraries doesn’t fully indicate the work that goes into traveling between cities. The process of packing, the traffic to the station or airport, the arrival, and checking into the next hotel can take an entire day with a large group. These various logistics are important to consider when deciding on areas to see. Likewise, it’s sensible to examine if the additional cities will bring value to the overall goal of the program, and how each day coincides with those macro-level goals.  

Longer lengths of time in fewer places permits all participants to feel comfortable in the chosen city and expand on their experiences. As a result, your students will have the ability to connect and enjoy an area at their own pace, which allows for deeper discussions and reflections regarding the local life, culture, and history. Day trips to nearby locations are always an excellent alternative as well because students will be able to receive a great deal of information from the activities without the stress of moving to another destination. In short, EdOdyssey guarantees that students are getting more than enough knowledge and guidance in whichever city is chosen!

Flexibility Allows For Spontaneity 

Furthermore, a crammed group itinerary with non-stop action may lead to tiresome travelers or reluctant students. In order to avoid overextending the group, EdOdyssey includes free-time add ons and flexible activities, such as city scavenger hunts, which give your students and faculty a bit more leverage to informally add more fun, academic value within the framework of the itinerary. As a result of reasonable spontaneity, your group will be able to explore with less stress and stay on track with the pre-planned agenda for the day! 

Travel through experiential learning and free-time activities, such as visits to local markets or parks, brings about a sense of adventure and livelihood to the program. Nature-based visits or recreational day visits, tend to be environmentally conscious, historical, and overall refreshing. This type of learning tends to empower students to connect with one another in meaningful ways. 

The overall shared learning experience through short-term programs allows all participants and stakeholders to feel supported during their respective programs abroad while maximizing their experience. The unique opportunity to choose custom activities for your program will become memorable experiences for your students and faculty to reminisce on. Whether you and your students look to travel to multiple locations or concentrate on one city in particular, you’ll work with an EdOdyssey educator to ensure that your learning objectives are met in order to create the best experience! 

Visit our Custom Programs webpage for more information on how to get in touch with EdOdyssey today!