Summer abroad programs?

Question

i am thinking about spending the summer abroad the summer of 2009 so i have awhile to figure stuff out and

i know about afs but it is really expensive around 6000 dollars does anyone know of any other programs like afs that is cheaper or does anyone know about scholarships?

i am thinking about going to italy

Answer 1

I've been looking into this recently as well, for either summer or a semester, I'm not sure yet because I don't really want to miss out on school.

But these are some other websites I've found, besides AFS, that seem pretty good.

STS

http://www.sts-education.com.au/australi...

YFU

http://www.yfu.com.au/exchange/countries...

(Not sure if it includes Italy or not)

But just do lot's of searches on google using different words for 'student exchange'. Like high school exchange, etc. Tere are lots of programs.

Answer 2

This program I know about does not offer Italy, instead offers Spain. Spanish language may be more useful to you in the long run as it is widely spoken, while Italian is only spoken in one only place. Spain is also a  wonderful choice and the program

www.beautifulspain.com, one of the best if not the best of the programs offered abroad world wide. Location is a safe and most amazingly beautiful beach resort in Northern Spain.

Host families are extremely well screened and very loving. This program gets returnees year after year, so great it is.

Cost is really reasonable considering everything included (as long as you sign up with this program through their web site as there are organizations that sell the same program for much more so high quality it is). The cost of this program this year is less than USD4,000 but that is only this year, as in 2009 prices will be higher for any program or organization.

Some of the activities and excursions it offers besides Spanish, cooking and dancing classes are: Guggenheim Museum, paella dinner, bullfight, fireworks on the beach, city tour, medieval towns, fishing villages, many beach days, Aquarium, tall ship vessel excursion,  Roman village hiking trip, canoening down the river, shopping, and much more.

It offers you the possibility of enrolling with a friend with whom to share same host family home, or for you to stay alone at host family. Many host families count on children of similar age to participating students.