Educational Travel Photo of the Week: Charging Bull in NYC
This photo was taken while on tour in New York City. Can you guess the significance of the bull?
Get to Know Student Tours to Vietnam: Vietnamese Water Puppetry
Experience one of Vietnam’s oldest forms of entertainment—the art of water puppetry—that has kept its people captivated for over 1,000 years. It’s exactly as it sounds: puppet performances over water. And with two of the country’s top puppetry troupes based in Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, a show is one of many unique stops on your tour. The spectacles are chock-full of delights. They’re complimented by traditional music, song (known as chéo), lights, firecrackers and even fire, particularly when a mythical dragon is part of the cast. Look out for Teu, a carefree farmer, who appears in every story to keep Vietnamese folklore alive and tells tales of daily life. And because his name means “laughter” in ancient Vietnamese, he’ll make sure to keep the chuckles coming.
Educational Travel Photo of the Week: Birds in Brazil
We love this photo of a student on an educational tour in Brazil getting acquainted with these beautiful birds!
Educational Travel Tip Tuesday: Breaking the ice when abroad
Talking with the locals is probably the best way to learn about authentic customs and cultures. But sometimes breaking the ice can feel a bit awkward. So, try a tip or two from Explorica. You never know, you might make a friend in the process.
1. Flex your dimples
Even if you don’t speak the language of your host country, you do speak the language of the world. (That’s a friendly face and a broad smile to you and me.) In many parts of the world good eye contact helps build bridges, too. Particularly in European countries such as Spain, France and Germany because it says that you want to strike up conversation. But in others, such as Japan and Peru, keep eye contact to a minimum to show respect for the locals.
Get to Know: Student Tours to Vienna
Satisfy your love for music with a trip to Vienna where it plays on and on. And on. Well, why wouldn’t it? After all Vienna is packed with opera houses, orchestras and choirs, such as the infamous Vienna Boys Choir that dates all the way back to 1498. It’s home to some of the world’s greatest composers who ever lived—like Schubert, Haydn and Strauss. And there’s even a museum, the House of Music, dedicated to the sweet sound of music. (Not to be confused with Maria and the von Trapp story.)