The Classic Europe Early Bird Discount has been extended to December 21, 2007.
If you pay in full by December 21, 2007, you will receive $150 off the 17-day trip + airfare or $100 of the 11-day trip + airfare.
Give us a call if you have any questions!
Chelsea
Friday, December 14, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Classic Europe Experience
The Classic Europe trip is a great way to see the sites of cities such as London, Paris, Rome, and Athens and also get a taste of what the different cultures of the four countries have to offer. It's ideal for those who have never traveled abroad and for those who are seasoned travelers.
I went on the Classic Europe trip in 2005, when I was a sophomore at the University of Iowa. Our group was a great mixture of students from the University of Iowa (about 23 or so), Penn State University, and other colleges with one or two travelers. Our total travel group was about 60 people. We had so many people that we were technically two groups traveling together. This was nice because we had two wonderful tour guides, Karin and Freidel. Another great thing about the group was the range of ages. The majority of the group were seniors who had just graduated from college but there was also a mixture of current students and younger alumni who took the trip. Overall the group was very friendly and inviting. Even though we were a large group, being in a foreign country and having the common background of being (mostly) students or past students from a Big Ten University was a great bonding opportunity. I traveled without a roommate and was matched with another traveler. This worked out great and I would recommend to anyone who wants to go, but doesn't have any friends who can go on the trip, to register as a single traveler and request the tour company to match you with a roommate.
I had never traveled abroad before and was a little apprehensive about traveling to countries where I did not speak the language. Thankfully, our tour guides were great about teaching us a few phrases that we would need to know in order to get around. I was surprised at how you could get by knowing so little of a language. Simple phrases like hello, thank you, excuse me, please, good bye, and "Do you speak English?" (I will go further into my experience with this phrase in a blog later on) can be all that you need. In most countries, the younger population could speak English and those who do not speak English are generally very willing to put together what you know of their language and what they know of English to help you out.
To me, the trip is a perfect balance of just enough time in each city to not only see the famous sites, but to also get a taste of the culture of that country. On the trip, you have a tour guide who is with you the whole time and is a great resource in finding out what you should see, how to get there, where you can get delicious (and inexpensive) food, where to find the best souvenirs, etc. They also can help you out with giving you pointers about the cultures (taboos that you might not know about), some words of the language to know, and answer any questions you might have. There also was a city guide for each new city we went to. The city guides were typically locals who took us around to see all of the highlights of the city (Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, for example) and gave us a great introduction to their hometowns.
I would reccomend the experience of traveling abroad to everyone! It's a great way to open your mind to the global community. Being in another country where my language was not predominate as well as the first hand experinences you gain spending time in a foreign country, changed my perspective on how I see myself as a global citizen.
For more information on the trip that I went on, feel free to contact us or if you are a University of Iowa Junior or Senior... stay tuned to your mailbox. Brochures should be dropping at your home address in the next week. Perfect timing for giving hints for a holiday gift/graduation present of Iowa Voyager's gift certificates which can be used towards our student and young alumni trips! Wait are you waiting for? You should start packing your bags!!
Chelsea
I went on the Classic Europe trip in 2005, when I was a sophomore at the University of Iowa. Our group was a great mixture of students from the University of Iowa (about 23 or so), Penn State University, and other colleges with one or two travelers. Our total travel group was about 60 people. We had so many people that we were technically two groups traveling together. This was nice because we had two wonderful tour guides, Karin and Freidel. Another great thing about the group was the range of ages. The majority of the group were seniors who had just graduated from college but there was also a mixture of current students and younger alumni who took the trip. Overall the group was very friendly and inviting. Even though we were a large group, being in a foreign country and having the common background of being (mostly) students or past students from a Big Ten University was a great bonding opportunity. I traveled without a roommate and was matched with another traveler. This worked out great and I would recommend to anyone who wants to go, but doesn't have any friends who can go on the trip, to register as a single traveler and request the tour company to match you with a roommate.
I had never traveled abroad before and was a little apprehensive about traveling to countries where I did not speak the language. Thankfully, our tour guides were great about teaching us a few phrases that we would need to know in order to get around. I was surprised at how you could get by knowing so little of a language. Simple phrases like hello, thank you, excuse me, please, good bye, and "Do you speak English?" (I will go further into my experience with this phrase in a blog later on) can be all that you need. In most countries, the younger population could speak English and those who do not speak English are generally very willing to put together what you know of their language and what they know of English to help you out.
To me, the trip is a perfect balance of just enough time in each city to not only see the famous sites, but to also get a taste of the culture of that country. On the trip, you have a tour guide who is with you the whole time and is a great resource in finding out what you should see, how to get there, where you can get delicious (and inexpensive) food, where to find the best souvenirs, etc. They also can help you out with giving you pointers about the cultures (taboos that you might not know about), some words of the language to know, and answer any questions you might have. There also was a city guide for each new city we went to. The city guides were typically locals who took us around to see all of the highlights of the city (Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, for example) and gave us a great introduction to their hometowns.
I would reccomend the experience of traveling abroad to everyone! It's a great way to open your mind to the global community. Being in another country where my language was not predominate as well as the first hand experinences you gain spending time in a foreign country, changed my perspective on how I see myself as a global citizen.
For more information on the trip that I went on, feel free to contact us or if you are a University of Iowa Junior or Senior... stay tuned to your mailbox. Brochures should be dropping at your home address in the next week. Perfect timing for giving hints for a holiday gift/graduation present of Iowa Voyager's gift certificates which can be used towards our student and young alumni trips! Wait are you waiting for? You should start packing your bags!!
Chelsea
Friday, November 9, 2007
A day in the life of Bridget (2006 Ken Magid Scholarship Winner)
Below is a Q & A with Bridget, a scholarship winner who volunteered in Romania in the failure to thrive clinic.
At what moment did you feel you were really making a difference?
Honestly, the first moment I walked in. When we first went to the clinic, the children threw their arms up in the air wanting so badly just be held by you. I knew by just a simple hug, that my presence was making a difference.
How was life in Romania different from life in the United States?
Romania is extremely different from the U.S. We couldn’t eat chicken or turkey because of the Avian Flu. Almost everyone surrounding us lived in poverty. Hardly anyone smiles. There weren’t many cars and there were vast lands as far as the eye could see. Do not let that scare you though; the differences between the countries are just culturally contrary effects. The differences really changed my perspective on things and allowed to go into the clinic with an enhanced, doer attitude.
What was your favorite part about the trip?
Did you do any sightseeing? What did you think about your free time?
We had one free weekend that we choose to go to Transylvania and see Dracula’s Castle, as well as Peles Castle (which was the home of a great King). It was very cool to see a little more of the country and hear about the culture. Some of the other people in our group choose to go the Painted Monasteries and see the creation of Black Pottery which I heard was very cool too. I’m glad we had a little time to ourselves just so you kept an eager approach when you were returned to the kids.
What about the trip surprised you the most?
The people on my team! They come from all over, of all ages, with all different personalities. It was great to see such different mindsets and lifestyles. Everyone had something unique to bring to the table.
Is there any advice or are there any stories that you believe are important to share with people considering this trip?
Do not hesitate. You may be thinking about work that you’ll be missing or obligations that you have, but this truly is a one in a lifetime opportunity. And trust me- there is no better time than the present.
What did the experience teach you?
I learned to appreciate the small things life and I now recognize that I am truly blessed in so many aspects of life. You do not realize what you have until you see that others only dream of what you do have. And remember- you cannot change the world, until you let the world change you.
What did this experience mean to you and how has it changed you?
This experience meant the world to me. I knew it would have a great impact on me, but until you go and touch the souls of so many children do you realize what an effect you made. I have changed expressively, emotionally, and psychologically- all of which were for the better.
A big thank you to Bridget to sharing her experience in Romania. Please contact us for more information on this tour or the Dr. Ken Magid Child Advocacy Scholarship.
Chelsea
What was a typical day like for you? What did you spend most your time doing?
We would start off each day by waking up early, getting ready, and eating breakfast with the whole team. The team would read a journal entry about the previous day and someone would recite a “thought for the day” that reminded us of why we were there. We got to the clinic around 9am and separated into our designated rooms. We fed, changed, and clothed when necessary, otherwise we would just play with them and show ‘em some love! Around noon we would put the kids down for a nap and we would go eat lunch together outside. Afterwards, we came back and did the same thing all over again. Around 4pm we would depart- usually stopping in town to buy things we needed or stuff for the children. We would then go back to our housing, eat dinner, and rest for the next day.
At what moment did you feel you were really making a difference?
Honestly, the first moment I walked in. When we first went to the clinic, the children threw their arms up in the air wanting so badly just be held by you. I knew by just a simple hug, that my presence was making a difference.
How was life in Romania different from life in the United States?
Romania is extremely different from the U.S. We couldn’t eat chicken or turkey because of the Avian Flu. Almost everyone surrounding us lived in poverty. Hardly anyone smiles. There weren’t many cars and there were vast lands as far as the eye could see. Do not let that scare you though; the differences between the countries are just culturally contrary effects. The differences really changed my perspective on things and allowed to go into the clinic with an enhanced, doer attitude.
What was your favorite part about the trip?
I would always sit in the front of the van so that when I got to the clinic I would be the absolute first person to walk into the room with the children. When we are not there, they often put all of the children in ONE room! It’s terrible for them, but when I opened that door, they would all come crawling with lit up faces! It nearly made me cry every time.
Did you do any sightseeing? What did you think about your free time?
We had one free weekend that we choose to go to Transylvania and see Dracula’s Castle, as well as Peles Castle (which was the home of a great King). It was very cool to see a little more of the country and hear about the culture. Some of the other people in our group choose to go the Painted Monasteries and see the creation of Black Pottery which I heard was very cool too. I’m glad we had a little time to ourselves just so you kept an eager approach when you were returned to the kids.
What about the trip surprised you the most?
The people on my team! They come from all over, of all ages, with all different personalities. It was great to see such different mindsets and lifestyles. Everyone had something unique to bring to the table.
Is there any advice or are there any stories that you believe are important to share with people considering this trip?
Do not hesitate. You may be thinking about work that you’ll be missing or obligations that you have, but this truly is a one in a lifetime opportunity. And trust me- there is no better time than the present.
What did the experience teach you?
I learned to appreciate the small things life and I now recognize that I am truly blessed in so many aspects of life. You do not realize what you have until you see that others only dream of what you do have. And remember- you cannot change the world, until you let the world change you.
What did this experience mean to you and how has it changed you?
This experience meant the world to me. I knew it would have a great impact on me, but until you go and touch the souls of so many children do you realize what an effect you made. I have changed expressively, emotionally, and psychologically- all of which were for the better.
A big thank you to Bridget to sharing her experience in Romania. Please contact us for more information on this tour or the Dr. Ken Magid Child Advocacy Scholarship.
Chelsea
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Travel Advice
We always receive tons of questions regarding traveling overseas whether the traveler is a seasoned or a novice traveler. This article I found on msn.com does a really good job of giving advice on some of the most common concerns. (http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=414416)
Here are some of my thoughts on the points he brings up:
1) Passports - The second you decide that it's a possibility that you would like to travel overseas, start the paperwork on your passport! It can sometimes be a time-consuming process that just leads to undue stress wondering if you will receive it in time for your trip or if you'll have to cancel trip if you don’t receive it.
2) Getting Sick - Even if you aren't traveling to a country that you have to worry about malaria, etc. you still face the possibility of getting sick. The nature of travel itself can leave you tired and your immune system weakened. The best thing to do is make sure you are receiving adequate sleep and drinking lots of (safe) water and liquids. I would definitely suggest bringing the basic medications with you (aspirin, etc.). If you are going to be traveling somewhere which will be experiencing summer-like weather, don't forget the sunscreen or the bug spray (and the aloe and anti-itch cream). The environment you are traveling to could be completely different from your home environment. Differences in weather or location on the earth (whether the ozone is thinner thus making the sun stronger) can make a huge impact. While you can purchase most of these medicines overseas, it's also good to have a small quantity of it on you so you can have it available when you need it on the spot. There is no such thing as over-preparation when you are traveling to a place that is unfamiliar to you.
3) Insurance – If for anything, just for the peace of mind you will receive knowing that you have a safety net for the unpredictable situations that seem to always come up when you are traveling.
4) Money – I completely agree with his strategy of using your credit cards or debit cards when you can (and I also stress how important it is to contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know you are going out of the country and asking them their policies on foreign charges or withdrawals, this might make it easier for you to choose which ones to use) and carrying the majority of the rest in travelers checks. The positive to travelers’ checks over cash is that if they get lost or stolen, you can trace them based on their serial numbers, etc. The negative side is that is most situations, you will receive a worse conversion rate on travelers’ checks vs. what you would receive on cash. In my opinion, having a balance of both is a good thing.
5) Current Events – It’s always good to be aware of the political environment of a country before you travel there, you can be prepared for what you are going to experience and may give you the option of cancelling your vacation before you actually depart if you feel uncomfortable.
6) Phones – I have one word to describe my experience with phones in other countries… yikes! You might as well leave your cell phone at home because unless you have international calling capabilities (and have contacted your cell phone provider to inquire what the fees associated with its use are) it will only serve as an alarm clock (speaking of which, I highly suggest packing some sort of a travel alarm clock even if you are planning on staying in hotels with alarm clocks provided… you never know when you will need it!) [-- Update 11/16/07 -- You will not want to plan on using your phone as an alarm clock because depending on your cell phone provider or the country you are visiting (and their concentration of cell towers), the time update features on your phone might not work and charging your cell phone with international outlets might be an issue]. Using the phones that are provided or pay phones are a nightmare. Not all of them work properly and sometimes trying to figure out how to use them is completely impossible. I suggest keeping in touch with e-mail. If you are in a major city, there is usually an internet café on every other block (check out local libraries for free access) and even in some remote locations, you would be surprised with how available internet access is.
7) Weather – It is always good idea to look into what they typical weather is like before you pack! When traveling, wearing layers is always the best policy. Packing items that can be utilized, such as a long sleeved shirt that can be placed under the other shirts you are packing, with the wardrobe you are bringing will only make you feel prepared to face any situation. Three essentials for travel include a good pair of sturdy walking shoes, an outfit for weather cooler than you anticipate, and an outfit for weather warmer than you anticipate. You might also want to take into consideration what you can buy in way of souvenirs (sweatshirts, etc.) that can add to your clothing options while on vacation.
Advice from my mom: It's always better to pack light (when you are packing clothing) and add while you are traveling than to over-pack and have no room for your souvenirs. Also, always have a flashlight (like the paper thin, touch flashlights you can get at bookstores) in your purse, backpack, etc. because you never know when you are going to get stuck in an elevator.
The best way to get travel advice specific to the country or countries you are planning on traveling to is to talk to someone who has traveled there!
Want to share any of your travel expereinces or advice? Make sure to comment back to this blog.
Chelsea
Here are some of my thoughts on the points he brings up:
1) Passports - The second you decide that it's a possibility that you would like to travel overseas, start the paperwork on your passport! It can sometimes be a time-consuming process that just leads to undue stress wondering if you will receive it in time for your trip or if you'll have to cancel trip if you don’t receive it.
2) Getting Sick - Even if you aren't traveling to a country that you have to worry about malaria, etc. you still face the possibility of getting sick. The nature of travel itself can leave you tired and your immune system weakened. The best thing to do is make sure you are receiving adequate sleep and drinking lots of (safe) water and liquids. I would definitely suggest bringing the basic medications with you (aspirin, etc.). If you are going to be traveling somewhere which will be experiencing summer-like weather, don't forget the sunscreen or the bug spray (and the aloe and anti-itch cream). The environment you are traveling to could be completely different from your home environment. Differences in weather or location on the earth (whether the ozone is thinner thus making the sun stronger) can make a huge impact. While you can purchase most of these medicines overseas, it's also good to have a small quantity of it on you so you can have it available when you need it on the spot. There is no such thing as over-preparation when you are traveling to a place that is unfamiliar to you.
3) Insurance – If for anything, just for the peace of mind you will receive knowing that you have a safety net for the unpredictable situations that seem to always come up when you are traveling.
4) Money – I completely agree with his strategy of using your credit cards or debit cards when you can (and I also stress how important it is to contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know you are going out of the country and asking them their policies on foreign charges or withdrawals, this might make it easier for you to choose which ones to use) and carrying the majority of the rest in travelers checks. The positive to travelers’ checks over cash is that if they get lost or stolen, you can trace them based on their serial numbers, etc. The negative side is that is most situations, you will receive a worse conversion rate on travelers’ checks vs. what you would receive on cash. In my opinion, having a balance of both is a good thing.
5) Current Events – It’s always good to be aware of the political environment of a country before you travel there, you can be prepared for what you are going to experience and may give you the option of cancelling your vacation before you actually depart if you feel uncomfortable.
6) Phones – I have one word to describe my experience with phones in other countries… yikes! You might as well leave your cell phone at home because unless you have international calling capabilities (and have contacted your cell phone provider to inquire what the fees associated with its use are) it will only serve as an alarm clock (speaking of which, I highly suggest packing some sort of a travel alarm clock even if you are planning on staying in hotels with alarm clocks provided… you never know when you will need it!) [-- Update 11/16/07 -- You will not want to plan on using your phone as an alarm clock because depending on your cell phone provider or the country you are visiting (and their concentration of cell towers), the time update features on your phone might not work and charging your cell phone with international outlets might be an issue]. Using the phones that are provided or pay phones are a nightmare. Not all of them work properly and sometimes trying to figure out how to use them is completely impossible. I suggest keeping in touch with e-mail. If you are in a major city, there is usually an internet café on every other block (check out local libraries for free access) and even in some remote locations, you would be surprised with how available internet access is.
7) Weather – It is always good idea to look into what they typical weather is like before you pack! When traveling, wearing layers is always the best policy. Packing items that can be utilized, such as a long sleeved shirt that can be placed under the other shirts you are packing, with the wardrobe you are bringing will only make you feel prepared to face any situation. Three essentials for travel include a good pair of sturdy walking shoes, an outfit for weather cooler than you anticipate, and an outfit for weather warmer than you anticipate. You might also want to take into consideration what you can buy in way of souvenirs (sweatshirts, etc.) that can add to your clothing options while on vacation.
Advice from my mom: It's always better to pack light (when you are packing clothing) and add while you are traveling than to over-pack and have no room for your souvenirs. Also, always have a flashlight (like the paper thin, touch flashlights you can get at bookstores) in your purse, backpack, etc. because you never know when you are going to get stuck in an elevator.
The best way to get travel advice specific to the country or countries you are planning on traveling to is to talk to someone who has traveled there!
Want to share any of your travel expereinces or advice? Make sure to comment back to this blog.
Chelsea
Friday, October 12, 2007
Classic Europe brochures are here!
The Classic Europe, the Iowa Voyagers' annual trip to Europe, details have finally been pinned down and the brochures are here.
Dates: May 23 - June 8, 2008
Costs: 11-day package $1768 + airfare
6-day optional add on is an additional $890
Itinerary: Days 1 - 4 London
Days 4 - 7 Paris
Days 7 - 10 Rome
Days 11 - 12 Sorrento, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii
Days 13-15 the Greek Isle of Poros
Days 16 - 17 Athens
Look for future blogs with detailed accounts from past travelers!
To get your very own full-colored brochure, e-mail me at hillman@uifoundation.org.
Also, be sure to visit us on the web for more info about the Classic Europe trip: http://www.iowalum.com/voyagers/search/specificTrip.cfm?tripID=247.
For more info you can contact us at:
Iowa Voyagers
100 Levitt Center
Iowa City, IA 52242
800/469-2586
diane-baker@uiowa.edu
Chelsea
Dates: May 23 - June 8, 2008
Costs: 11-day package $1768 + airfare
6-day optional add on is an additional $890
Itinerary: Days 1 - 4 London
Days 4 - 7 Paris
Days 7 - 10 Rome
Days 11 - 12 Sorrento, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii
Days 13-15 the Greek Isle of Poros
Days 16 - 17 Athens
Look for future blogs with detailed accounts from past travelers!
To get your very own full-colored brochure, e-mail me at hillman@uifoundation.org.
Also, be sure to visit us on the web for more info about the Classic Europe trip: http://www.iowalum.com/voyagers/search/specificTrip.cfm?tripID=247.
For more info you can contact us at:
Iowa Voyagers
100 Levitt Center
Iowa City, IA 52242
800/469-2586
diane-baker@uiowa.edu
Chelsea
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Volun"tourism"
Volunteering + Tourism = Voluntourism. Sounds like a great idea right? This is a notion that's been getting a lot of attention in the Tourism industry the past few years. Not only do people want to travel to exotic locations, but they also want to contribute to the local life and do some good while they are there. There are a ton of fascinating articles about this movement and especially about how different age groups are responding to the concept. At the Iowa Voyagers we've seen the need for volunteer vacations rise the past few years by the requests that we receive for such trips, especially by the student population.
For the past few years we have offered a service trip to Romania that has two options a) work with babies and toddlers in a failure-to-thrive clinic (which is much like an orphanage) or b) teach conversational English skills to middle school students. We offer our trip through a company called, Global Volunteers (http://www.globalvolunteers.com/), who have a great trip put together!
If you would like more information on our Romania trip, which departs May 31, 2008, please feel free to send me an e-mail or come check us out at the Volunteer Fair tomorrow!
Or you can visit us on the web at http://www.iowalum.com/voyagers/Search/specificTrip.cfm?tripID=248 for more info on the Romania trip!
Also, look for future "guest" blogs from the previous scholarship winners on their experiences and for more on the history of our Voluntoursim program!
Chelsea
Or you can visit us on the web at http://www.iowalum.com/voyagers/Search/specificTrip.cfm?tripID=248 for more info on the Romania trip!
Also, look for future "guest" blogs from the previous scholarship winners on their experiences and for more on the history of our Voluntoursim program!
Chelsea
Friday, August 31, 2007
Welcome to the Iowa Voyagers' Blog!
Hello, my name is Chelsea and I am the Student Assistant to the Travel Director for the Iowa Voyagers. This blog will mostly concentrate on my area of expertise, the Student and Young Alumni Travel Program.
A Little About Us:
The Iowa Voyagers, one of the oldest alumni travel programs in the Big 10, is a service of the University of Iowa Alumni Association and has provided wonderful life-enhancing, mind-expanding travel experiences since 1961. Now more than ever, travel is an important way to learn about our “shrinking” world, spread goodwill, and connect with our fellow global citizens. A great way to round out your education is to seek unique travel opportunities with the Iowa Voyagers!
Our Student and Young Alumni Program has been operating for over 5 years! We offer a variety of travel opportunities, including a trip to Europe, a service trip to Romania, and many adventure style trips.
We hope you enjoy our blog!
Chelsea
A Little About Us:
The Iowa Voyagers, one of the oldest alumni travel programs in the Big 10, is a service of the University of Iowa Alumni Association and has provided wonderful life-enhancing, mind-expanding travel experiences since 1961. Now more than ever, travel is an important way to learn about our “shrinking” world, spread goodwill, and connect with our fellow global citizens. A great way to round out your education is to seek unique travel opportunities with the Iowa Voyagers!
Our Student and Young Alumni Program has been operating for over 5 years! We offer a variety of travel opportunities, including a trip to Europe, a service trip to Romania, and many adventure style trips.
We hope you enjoy our blog!
Chelsea
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