travel vision and education

The Educational Benefits of Travel

• Posted March 19, 2021
• By Gianna Cacciatore
• Entrepreneurship
• Global Education
• Informal and Out-of-School Learning

Master’s student Yasmine El Baggari has been to all 50 states. And she hasn’t just “been” to them in a casual, check-off-the-box way. She has been to them, for extended trips, staying in the homes of more than 250 families, riding countless Greyhound buses, and fostering thousands of genuine connections across cultures.

Originally from Morocco, El Baggari decided that she wanted to travel the United States by bus when she was 17, starting from Kansas where she was living while taking part in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange — a state-department exchange program that seeks to dismantle stereotypes about Morocco, Africa, and the Middle East in the United States. “I told myself, if I can break down stereotypes in Kansas, I can do it in all 50 states,’’ says El Baggari. She continued her travels across the U.S. through college and beyond, visiting her final state — Alaska — in 2019.

Her commitment to the interpersonal and cross-cultural benefits of travel only grew from there, with additional visits to 50 countries. Six years ago, El Baggari founded Voyaj , an international exchange company that seeks to break down cultural stereotypes and foster a sense of global interconnectedness through travel experiences. Voyaj connects people of all ages with others in their destination country who share their interests and values, “in order to have a deeper cultural experience through their lens,” El Baggari explains.

The program, currently being piloted with select communities, has facilitated journeys for its clients to more than 40 countries, including France, Morocco, and the United States. Hosts open their homes to travelers, who then open their hearts and minds to embrace new cultures. The Voyaj process is planned to work through the Voyaj website, where travelers will be able to sign-up, arrange homestays, and share stories about their journeys.

El Baggari’s work at Voyaj, which is currently a venture at the Harvard iLab , is grounded in the belief that when humans from different backgrounds form authentic connections, our increased global understanding can help lead to a more peaceful world. Learning more about how the human mind works while at the Ed School has given her insight into the factors at play when two strangers sit down and form a deep bond, despite their different social contexts — factors she learned anecdotally from her travel experiences. This developmental knowledge, El Baggari believes, will help her understand cross-cultural connections, even when stereotypes, walls, and borders stand in the way.

“It is so important to realize that we aren’t really that different, and that we can embrace any perceived or real differences and identify our commonalities,” she explains.  

When COVID-19 restricted travel, Voyaj created remote opportunities for connection, facilitating online experiences for people around the globe. While these gatherings lack the allure of an international, in-person experience, they have addressed some of the social ills exacerbated by the pandemic like loneliness and isolation. “That’s one of the positive sides of COVID: More communities are looking to connect and to do so more deeply,” says El Baggari. “Because of the isolation, people are eager to meet. These virtual experiences have proven meaningful.”

El Baggari expects the evolution of Voyaj to continue — even as she concurrently focuses on her ultimate travel goal: becoming an astronaut through Space For Humanity’s sponsored citizen astronaut mission. With the support of her global team, she is running pilots for the upcoming Voyaj app, as well working to form partnerships with other exchange and travel organizations in the United States, New Zealand, Morocco, and elsewhere.

El Baggari believes that travel is about more than place. It is about people: the people you see, the people you meet, and the people who change you along the way. “I believe we have the opportunity to learn at every moment from every encounter,” says El Baggari. “We’re here, and alive! We’ve got to connect, to open and share our cultures, and realize who we truly are.”

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6 essential ways travel promotes learning and education

Is travel the purest form of education? A trip abroad expands your worldview, connects you to your global community, and empowers you to be your most authentic, forward-thinking self.

Nov 10, 2023

A few years back, I left my comfortable home and job in the United States for a year of international travel, country-hopping, and experiential learning.

I have always considered myself a lifetime student, and enjoy the experience of learning in a classroom and investing my time in school. Some of my greatest mentors have been school teachers and college professors, and many people from my formal student years have played major roles in shaping my character and supporting me on my path toward becoming my truest and most authentic self.

After many years of school and classroom-based learning in a top American college of education, I was surprised to discover the seemingly infinite ways that travel as a form of education is a game-changer . From volunteer projects in Central America and the Middle East to learning new languages by living in communities of native speakers, the educational impact of my experiences abroad has been unparalleled. 

So much has happened since my initial take-off — now a few years back — and aside from the countless ideas, projects, ventures and experiences, I have truly learned to live and inhabit my senses in so many new and exciting ways.  Life has never been better, or more interesting.

As someone who never thought of travel beyond vacations and short trips organized by travel agents to now living location-independent and making the world my classroom , this is why I believe in the power of travel; as education and opportunity, and a greater means to community and empowerment.

1. It broadens your horizons through cultural immersion

Nothing compares to the experience of being fully immersed in a country and its culture. 

International travel should be about more than tourism and site-seeing. A trip abroad is an opportunity to witness and participate in life in another country; to connect with local people and learn about the ways in which they experience the world. Thus, when you travel, the world becomes about more than you or your country of origin. 

When I travel to a new country or place, I like to give myself time to truly dive into the layers that constitute history, language, belief systems, and everyday life. There is much to be learned by venturing outside the classroom.

2. It motivates you to participate on a local level

Whether visiting the great pyramids and astounding temple complexes of Egypt, strolling the streets of Paris, or adventuring in the Brazilian Amazon, a trip abroad asks you to participate . When you experience distant people and cultures firsthand, you'll naturally feel more inclined to engage.

Whether it's by practicing the local language  or simply observing your surroundings, travel leads to a more open and global-minded viewpoint where you understand how people and places are interconnected. Immersing yourself in different cultures will help you adopt a sense of empathy for others who live differently than you. 

As you learn about other political, economic, and social structures, you'll become more motivated to participate on a local level.  Opportunities for participation are boundless and range from volunteer efforts  and work exchanges  to language groups and  eco programs  and home-stays with host families. Participating in a country's daily rhythms is an educational experience rich in hands-on and active learning, and demands that you step out of your comfort zone  and  lead with curiosity and an open mind .

3. It challenges you to grow

Traveling will make you more adaptable. Leaving your comfort zone helps you become more independent, responsible and confident. You'll become better at thinking on your feet, and you'll be a better problem solver, planner, negotiator, and more. My time spent volunteering, working and living in other countries has allowed me to discover strengths, skills, and passions  that otherwise may have remained hidden. 

While traveling tends to be seen for its glamorous side, the reality is often far from. Life on the road has its own challenges and quickly breaks down the superfluous and extravagant to the essential — patience, an open mind, tolerance, resilience.

Beyond the discovery of new places and breathtaking sights and monuments is the discovery of self, of the layers and fabric you are made of, and what it means to be true to yourself and live well.

3. It helps you connect better with others

Regardless if you are in your own country or abroad, it's easy to connect when we focus on the things we share. Every country has something to offer and teach you. 

One of my guiding intentions as an international full-time traveler is to give every country a chance.  More often than not, this means being a witness to the positivity of misunderstood and negatively perceived places, and finding a way to learn and connect with people in spite of dissimilar beliefs or attitudes .  

Differences exist in lifestyle and etiquettes across cultures, and part of the experience of traveling is finding the commonalities and being humble enough to acknowledge and appreciate the differences as much as the similarities.

Connecting with people in different places around the globe provides you with a whole new perspective and insight about a culture or way of life that previously may have seemed too foreign or alien to understand. It's humbling and eye-opening to see how others live.

Nothing beats the feeling of breaking a preconceived stereotype or seeing past the influence and bias of media and connecting with a country and its people in real time. When you travel abroad, you gain a better understanding of people and their actions. It is inspiring to listen to the stories of people around the world, and this human connection can help you become a more compassionate and empathetic person. 

Over time, these cross-cultural experiences pull you out of your cultural bubble and help you empathize and connect with people from backgrounds different than your own.

4. It promotes a deeper sense of understanding

Travel not only teaches you about the world as it is today, but also about the history behind the current complexities of social, political, and economic structures.

Everyone studies history in school, but traveling brings history to life. In addition to seeing some of the world's greatest monuments and museums, you also feel the energy of the people and countries you visit. 

What was once a standard school history lesson becomes an ongoing process of experiential learning ; you become absorbed by the play of life happening in front of and all around you, and begin to understand the underlying reasons and forces behind why societies and cultures are shaped in a particular way and differ from one another. 

The more you travel and engage, your understanding of history grows, and your understanding of the world broadens . Ultimately, this understanding extends inward as well; you learn about yourself and your true potential and become better equipped to be proactive about your goals and dreams. 

You feel that you belong to many places, and your sense of "home" expands.

5. It builds community

From cultural immersion to participation to discovery to connection to understanding, travel builds and strengthens community . Whether you go somewhere as part of a university exchange program via student travel or join a volunteer effort, whether you travel solo or go on a weekend trip and end up bonding with a local over shared cuisine or an activity, your idea of community grows. 

I used to think of my community as exclusive to my home, or the place I physically inhabit, but my understanding has evolved to include my global community, the people and efforts that exist beyond my own borders. Community is greater than something physical, something tangible; it is created, sustained, and amplified by connection, participation, and understanding. 

Traveling — if done with the right intention — can lead to a deeper understanding of global dynamics and power structures, and a heightened  sense of responsibility to the greater community .

Seeing yourself as part of the global community is essential to remembering that we are all connected, we are all in so many ways more similar than we are different. The mark of a global citizen is acceptance, tolerance and appreciation, and above all, an awareness of the ways in which countries and people are interconnected and part of an emerging powerful and dynamic world community.

6. It leads to empowerment

The more you travel and expand your worldview, the more you are empowered to embody your authentic self and take action that supports sustainable global development and a collaborative world community . 

You become more independent, and cultivate a propensity for self-study and self-improvement . The skills gained through travel experiences are more than worth the effort, and have an impact that reaches beyond life and community as you once knew it .

No matter how many years you study in formal school or your number of university degrees, travel has so much to offer you . 

You gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of history, and you rethink everything you once knew about how to study and understand the world today. By putting yourself in unfamiliar territory, you learn how to adapt to new environments, and in the process, discover more about yourself. 

Travel has the capacity to change your life . My travel experiences have been integral in shaping who I am — a brave, forward-thinking world citizen.  When I began my journey, leaving home for my first long trip meant letting go of everything I spent my entire life trying to gain. And while I closed the door on my perceived stability and comfort, I opened another to so many incredible opportunities, all of which would have been impossible to foresee. 

The world seems fragile and scary during these complicated times of hatred, radicalization, and conflict. Nonetheless, there is so much to learn from adventuring beyond the familiar places where we feel safe and stable . Don't hesitate to let experience be your teacher.

So, to anyone who is dreaming of traveling, I dare you to go for it. It will never seem like the "right" time or the "right" amount of savings, it will never be simple, or easy.

But, if you are dreaming of taking that leap of faith, as terrifying as it may seem: take it. You won't regret it.

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Janaína Colomba

Janaina Colomba is a writer, traveler, and creative inspired by the beauty and wisdom of people and places. Her personal mission is to bridge cultural gaps and ignite community and understanding. Janaina is currently based in Cairo, Egypt and can be found on Instagram.

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Everyone, everywhere, deserves to get an education

Our focus is to educate teachers and students around the world. We do this by focusing on how to better educational systems around the world. The four branches of this organization include: (1) teachers teaching teachers around the world; (2) assisting students in gaining education remotely, no matter their location; (3) students gaining education through travel; and (4) humanitarian assistance for educational systems that need additional help.

Why I Started Education Through Travel

Every person deserves to have their views of the world expanded to have greater understanding of the cultures and societies around them. This is, at its core, what Education Through Travel is striving to do. My whole life has been leading up to this and I am excited to see what can come from educating through travel.

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Our Mission

• Teachers teaching other teachers
• Students having access to education, no matter their location
• Students gaining education through travel
• Humanitarian assistance for educational systems that need additional help

Support Education Through Travel

Resources for teachers, resources for students, why education is important, why education is important generally.

Education matters. Learning is important for all people, whether they are 1 or 100. There are many around the world that do not have access to the education that is necessary to understand how governments, societies, economies, ecosystems, and relationships work across the world. This basic knowledge of these various systems is essential to contributing and thriving in the world today.

Educated people help lift the countries in which they live. According to one study “[e]ducation stimulates economic growth and improves people’s lives through many channels, namely: by increasing the efficiency of the labor force and thus increasing an individual’s earning potential, by fostering democracy and thus creating better conditions for good governance, by improving health and reducing fertility, by enhancing equality, and so on.” Education can positively influence individuals, but it can also positively influence communities, societies, and the world.

There is no denying that education is important generally, but there is also no denying that primary education, or elementary school education, is exceptionally important. Primary education has a higher rate of giving back to the country, especially in developing countries. One study found that “the rates of return to education are higher for primary education, than for further education, and that primary education contributes more to economic growth in less developed countries than in developed countries.”

Education, for children in particular, creates a ripple effect in communities. Education should be provided by teachers who care and who are educated to the level they are teaching at. Every person, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, and the country they live in, is entitled to a robust education. Education matters.

Teachers Teaching Teachers

There are amazing teachers around the world, but there are some disparities depending on the country in which the teacher teaches. There are disparities around pay, levels of education, students in the classroom, amount of deference shown to the teacher, and the level of education/training a teacher has.

Pay of Teachers Around the World

Pay of teachers in the United States has been a topic of debate for decades. There are many that believe teachers should be paid more. Some countries around the world have stepped up to show how much teachers mean to the communities by paying them well. Teachers in countries such as Luxembourg, Switzerland, Korea, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria are some of the highest paid in the world. It is not surprising that countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Korea, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands rank in the top countries based on education rankings .

Teachers are not all paid equally around the world. With regard to developed countries, the lowest paid teachers are in Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. Other countries that rank among the lowest paid teachers are Chile, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Teachers in developing countries are paid even less than teachers in developed countries comparatively but are paid well when compared to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in which they teach. The pay of the teacher also depends on if they work in the private or public sector.

Teachers may not have the incentive to put their heart, soul, and training into full practice if they are not compensated fully. An excellent teacher makes a difference in the lives of their students. The quality of a teacher can make or break the education of a classroom full of students and can have lasting effects on the community and world at large (as will be further discussed below).

Classroom Sizes

There is a great deal of debate as to whether the number of children in a classroom affects the student’s ability to learn. Malcolm Gladwell points out in his book David and Goliath that there have been studies that indicate that there is a “sweet spot” for the number of students in a classroom. Various developed countries have long held that smaller classroom sizes are best for the students because the teachers can give more individualized attention.

Whether a classroom size matters or not, developed countries that put high attention on education often have smaller classroom sizes, while countries that do not put as high a premium on education have larger classroom sizes . With regard to more developed countries Brazil and Chile are among the largest class sizes of thirty-two and twenty-seven, respectively. The lowest classroom sizes are in Norway and Portugal, nine and eight, respectively. In under-developed countries, such as Ethopia, have over sixty students per teacher. (teacher shortage) As will be discussed further below, with a less than 55% qualified teacher rate in Ethiopia, the number of students per qualified teacher in Ethiopia is over 120.

Deference Shown to Teachers

Teachers are not given the respect they deserve in many countries. As discussed, education can shape the lives of individuals and can color communities and countries in long-lasting ways. Proper education is extremely important, and teachers should be given the at least level of deference needed to help support proper education.

There are certain collectivist countries like China and Malaysia that usually show the greatest respect to their teachers. Israel and Brazil rank the lowest for respect towards teachers. Countries that tend to be more individualist, like the United States and United Kingdom, rank in the middle of developed countries for respect for teachers .

Teacher Absenteeism and Lack of Teacher Involvement

While, in America and most developed countries, it is almost inconceivable to think that teachers would just not show up for class absent an emergency, there is an issue in some countries of teachers being absent from the classroom, and even the school. Countries like Mozambique, Uganda, and Tanzania have a problem with teacher absenteeism. In 2017, a study showed that in Mozambique teachers were absent from the school 45% of the time and absent from the classroom 56% of the time and in Uganda teachers were absent from the school 28% of the time and from the classroom 57% of the time.

For these countries the same study showed a low percentage of time spent on teaching. This could be due to the fact that the teachers are often absent from the classrooms, but the percentages show a greater amount of time not spent teaching than the amount of days the teachers were absent from the classroom. For Mozambique the average percentage of time spent on teaching is 39.46%, for Uganda 42.03%, and for Tanzania 55.21%. These students are not gaining what they could from the teachers if the teachers were present and teaching.

This essentially means that students do not even have a teacher in the classroom over half of the time, and teachers are not teaching for a percentage of the time they are in the classroom. There is room to teach classroom techniques and other pedagogical techniques to these teachers so that students may receive the best education possible.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The differences between countries and their treatment, respect, and pay of teachers are apparent from the statistics above. This is the information that is needed to show the foundation and starting point of where the world sits with our educators. We can do better as a global society.

The world is deficient in the number of teachers necessary to teach the number of children around the world. According to one study , the world will need almost 69 million more teachers by 2030. Most countries will achieve the number of teachers they need, but there are many that will not. Countries such as African Republic, Mozambique, Uganda, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Myanmar are not on track to have the number of teachers needed by 2030.

There is much work that needs to be done to educate the world properly. The benefits of a good teacher are immeasurable. Teachers that are properly trained, educated, and desire to teach can make monumental differences in students’ lives. This is something that seems intuitive, but the statistics back up this idea.

Research by Raj Chetty, John Friedman, and Jonah Rockoff supports the idea that teachers are incredibly important in how student perform. A high-quality teacher can improve the results of students and the presence of a low-quality teacher can negatively impact the results of students. This study concludes that it is apparent through the data that the dispersion in teacher effects is substantial. These results imply that higher-quality teachers can raise a student’s test score significantly.

The old adage that “children are our future” is absolutely true, but the teacher that teach those children are an important part of how the children are taught to become the future. A good teacher, that has the ability to give their attention to all of their students, is paid well enough to not have to worry about their ability to support themselves and their families, and is given the respect they deserve, will change the world. One student at a time.

Students Learning Through Travel

Travel can help individuals expand their world view, help individuals learn beyond their normal situations, and help individuals gain experiences over theories. When students, especially teenaged students, have the ability to go learn outside of their normal day-to-day lives, they can gain an appreciation for people, cultures, and situations other than their own. This leads to greater compassion and understanding.

Expanding World Views

Traveling is an excellent form of education. Traveling to a foreign country and to different parts of one’s own country helps individuals understand various cultures and the common ground that unites different types of people. When students who are kept in their own neighborhood or small town and do not have the opportunity to see any other types of cultures, people, or places will have a difficult time understanding others.

Looking to the cultural ideologies and art of various countries and sub-cultures there may be differences, but there are similarities as well. The love of nature, art, and ancestral respect are all similarities between many cultures.

By seeing the differences and similarities in and understanding various cultures, people can start to understand how they can best contribute to the world. This is especially true for teenagers because they are able to start young and help their worldview form around that knowledge. When people can contribute to the world based on a variety of experiences it makes the world a better place for all.

Learning Beyond Normal Day-To-Day Situations

When an individual is able to get out of their routine and discover something outside of themselves, there is an enormous space created to learn. The individual can learn compassion for the lives of others, learn about themselves, and gain transformative learning experiences to become a better world citizen.

When it is discovered that people are just people, no matter where they live or what they look like, prejudice will subside. Knowing how people interact will help the global community become closer and greater understanding between peoples.

In a study in 1938, one of the pioneers of the idea of learning through experience, “proposed that knowledge and skills that a person learns in one situation can help them to understand and react to subsequent experiences.” Experiential learning has been defined as “meaningful discovery” by Boydell in 1976. Experiential learning is “when learners uncover knowledge on their own, through perceptual experiences and insights, usually as the result of a personal experience.”

Travel can be used as a catalyst to experiential learning, or meaningful discovery, for everyone. These experiences can be combined with “ perception, cognition, and behavior to create learning .” A person can change for the better when these ingredients come together. People could even transform with these experiences. One study found that “the changing viewpoints in the traveling student to be akin to transformative learning.” When there is the ability for true, deep, and lasting change and learning a person can become a better version of themselves and change the world.

Experiences Over Theory

Students can learn about history, culture, and art from a textbook, but there is more that can be learned through experience. When a person is able to travel to the historic landmarks, explore the city’s cultures, and see the artistic marks on a city or country there is greater learning that happens beyond reading. Museums, buildings, and other sites can lead to deeper understanding of what happened in a city, how it happened, and how the society has been shaped by those events.

It has been suggested that what one learns about history through textbooks is deviated from reality. When able to talk with locals and walk through the streets of a city one can understand history in a greater and more accurate way. Having these experiences can help individuals, especially students, gain a different perspective.

Humanitarian Trips to Bolster Education

Humanitarian trips can be used to better the world and allow those who go on the trip to gain further knowledge about cultures. Humanitarian trips can also be considered a failure because there are no systems that are set up to make sure that the “help” that is given continues. When an organization plans a humanitarian trip there has to be more than a quick “band-aid.” There must be a way to instill long term change that will truly help the community and the culture where an organization chooses to go.

There are also certain standards an individual should look for when deciding to volunteer. Individuals should volunteer and help the global community in whatever way they feel passionate about but traveling can also help that person grow and gain something for themselves. As mentioned above, traveling can help a person to learn and immerse in culture, but there are greater benefits when that person can go and serve as well.

How an Organization Can Truly Help

A story is related by Miriam Adeney in “When the Elephant Dances, the Mouse May Die” that was told to her by an African friend:

“Elephant and Mouse were best friends. One day Elephant said, ‘Mouse, let’s have a party!’ Animals gathered from far and near. They ate. They drank. They sang. And they danced. And nobody celebrated more and danced harder than Elephant. After the party was over, Elephant exclaimed, ‘Mouse, did you ever go to a better party? What a blast!’ But Mouse did not answer. ‘Mouse, where are you?’ Elephant called. He looked around for his friend, and then shrank back in horror. There at Elephant’s feet lay Mouse. His little body was ground into the dirt. He had been smashed by the big feet of his exuberant friend, Elephant. ‘Sometimes, that is what it is like to do mission with you Americans,’ the African storyteller commented. ‘It is like dancing with an Elephant.’”

In the book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert reference this story. The authors point out people who go on humanitarian trips need to integrate into the cultures and systems of the communities they are helping. If volunteers come in as an independent organization or as an outsider, the work that is done will not be incorporated into the communities.

Humanitarian trips can be exceptionally helpful when there is true development with the community, rather than rehabilitation to “fix” something that appears wrong to an outsider’s perspective. These types of trips are typically one to two weeks in length. This amount of time will not do the work that needs to be done. These short-term trips must be part of a long-term development approach that is supported by local organizations that will help move the cause along, even when there is no one there volunteering from an organized nonprofit.

The authors of When Helping Hurts also point out that an organization will do the best on a humanitarian trip, especially over the long term, when the community has asked for help. Once the community has asked for help or reached out, then the people from the community should also determine what the volunteers on the trip will do. There should be a plan to not simply go into a community, “help” that community, and then leave. With resources and assistances from people in that community there will be longer lasting change and greater outcomes.

How Humanitarian Trips Benefit Volunteers

Those who volunteer can benefit from humanitarian trips as well. Before an individual volunteers they should ask questions and get information about the trip. One should research the organization thoroughly before deciding to go on a trip with that organization. A person should understand both their own motivation and the objective of the organization where they are looking to volunteer.

An individual should look for organization where the program promotes local self-sufficiency. If an organization is well-connected with the local organizations in the country or area they are supporting that is a good sign. Local presence of people who are willing to help the organization after the volunteers are gone will help to better ensure the success and value of the work. Local presence can also help a person with their experience because the help will be received well and will continue on.

One of the best things a person can do is to look for an organization that can use their expertise and experiences to better their organization and cause. If a person takes their experience and knowledge to help a cause, it can help communities, countries, and the world. Giving and gaining perspective is one of the purposes to these types of humanitarian trips.

Volunteer opportunities also give a person the opportunity to see the world and gain a view of something outside of their normal life. This is similar to how students can learn through travel. This is true of humanitarian volunteers as well. If a volunteer is able to provide service in a community the volunteer can also explore, gain experiences, and see the community or country through the eyes of a local. This is when a volunteer can become a traveler, not just a tourist.

Gaining a new perspective is one of the greatest positive impacts a humanitarian trip can have on an individual. There are so many things that people can get caught up in when they are busy in their own lives. Volunteering in another country can be life changing. There are people who have their vision of the world broadened and have a better understanding and appreciation for different cultures, peoples, and situations.

There are many other positive benefits from giving back and focusing on others. A person can reduce their stress level and can contribute to your overall sense of satisfaction with your life. Volunteering can help you gain an additional sense of purpose, keep you active, connect with people, and according to some studies can even help you live longer.

Education Through Travel is working to help people over all these areas. Our mission is to help people gain the education necessary to become better world citizens. This can apply to those who are teachers, being taught, students, volunteers, or those who are asking for assistance. Helping teachers teach teachers, students learn through travel and experience, and to build up communities through humanitarian trips are the three main initiatives of Education Through Travel. It is our greatest desire to move these causes forward in the correct way to help the most people.

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Educational Tours for Discovering the World

Find your trip and learn about all the fun you'll have with ACIS!

Elevating educational travel from “good enough” to exceptional is what we do everyday.

Our mission.

Empowering educators to introduce their students to the world beyond the classroom and inspire the next generation of global citizens. Travel changes lives.

This entire trip honestly felt like a dream! We could not have asked for a better experience, and my kids learned and grew so much in nine days.” Katie F. Group Leader When I heard “Wow” many times during the trip, I knew that they were learning, feeling challenged, and having, as many of them said, the best experience of their life.” Mara K. Group Leader There are things in my career that make me feel like I’m doing the right thing, and this is one of them.” Jessica D. Group Leader 1 /

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This is a partnership. That means we’ll do everything we can before your educational tour departs and while you’re abroad to ensure your planning and traveling are a complete success.

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The best educational tours fit your unique vision and learning goals. So let’s start the conversation!

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GEEO Helps Teachers Travel!

We believe education is at the core of our society, and teachers with broader global perspectives offer more enriching experiences to those under their guidance in the classroom. Founded in 2007, Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has sent over 4,500 teachers around the world on adventurous and educational travel programs. GEEO’s programs range from 5 to 25 days in duration and are designed and discounted to be interesting and affordable for educators. Our programs are open to pre-K, K-12, and college-level educators, administrators, retired educators, and non-educator guests of all nationalities. Learn more about why teachers love to travel with GEEO .

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Travel Vision Board Ideas To Inspire Your Dreams

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With a new year comes new dreams, and I’m sure you’re as eagerly anticipating future adventures as I am. But why wait? You can start dreaming and planning right now, both for this year and beyond, with our travel vision board ideas.

A travel vision board is a creative tool used to visualize and manifest your dream vacations and travel experiences. It typically consists of a collage of images, words, and visuals that represent your desired destinations, experiences, and travel goals.

To create one, you’ll need to gather inspiring travel photos, maps, and brochures, and arrange them on a board or digitally. Add motivational quotes and personal touches, categorize your travel dreams and display it prominently to keep your wanderlust alive and inspire action towards your travel goals.

I like to make one every year to visualize my goals, both in travel & my life. So I have put together some easy tips to help you make your own.

Ready to dive into the step-by-step guide to designing your own vacation vision board? Let’s make sure your travel dreams come alive this year.

Table of Contents

How To Make A Travel Vision Board

A vision board uses the idea of the law of attraction, and the belief that what you focus on, you attract into your life.

Just remember “A dream without action is just a wish.” Without taking action, your vision won’t come to life magically. I like to think of this as the first step to making my dream vacation happen.

I love that this activity allows me to tap into my creativity, and keeps me inspired & motivated every day to work towards my goals. Plus there are great benefits:

• Keeps you focused on your goals
• Gets you excited about your plans
• Provides clarity around what is really important to you and your family
• Gives you a starting point to take action on your dreams
• It’s creative & fun

1. Gather Inspiration & Choose Your Focus

Decide what you want the focus of your vision board to be. It can be used for a single dream vacation, highlighting tours, attractions, foods, and experiences.

Alternatively, you can use a bigger one to plan for one or more years, detailing multiple trips.

I like to start with a destination I have in mind and look at travel blogs, magazines and social media for ideas and inspiration.

Write down all your ideas. There are no rules. They can be anything from a specific feeling, or mood, to activities like drinks served on the beach, to luxury accommodations with a kids club. Anything goes!

EXAMPLE : When planning my family beach vacation to Cuba I started with ideas like these:

• Playing in warm ocean waves with my daughter
• Sunset walks on the beach
• Mix of relaxing & fun active adventures
• Walk the Malacon
• Havana, Varadero
• Practice & learn more Spanish
• Eat at local paladars
• Old car tour

2. Decide The Format For Your Travel Vision Board

There are 3 main ways I like to make my vision boards; physical, digital and Pinterest boards.

There’s no wrong answer. You may even come up with another cool idea, like a slide show, video, sculpture, the sky’s the limit.

• Physical Vision Board : Uses a piece of poster board or paper, and cut out pieces of paper, words and quotes to glue onto it. You could also use a cork bord & pin pictures to it.
• Digital Vision Board: Uses your computer, or a program like Canva (what I use) to create a digital collage with pictures, words or quotes.
• Pinterest Board: Make a specific Pinterest board for your trip. Search for ideas, and save them to your board. You can make folders or just throw them all in.

When I’m feeling creative, a physical board is so satisfying. But Canva is super easy as they have plenty of digtal templates already you can use to just put your photos into.

The only downside to a digital copy is you’ll need to keep in on your phone / computer which may not be as regularly visible. Or you’ll need to find a way to print it out.

3. Gather Your Materials

Once you have your where and the format for your board, you’ll need to gather all your materials.

• Source your photos, quotes and words . You can find these in magazines, postcards, brochures or online with free photography sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, PicMonkey, or my favourite Canva. Google “travel quotes” or “family travel quotes” to get ideas for those. Check out our fave 150+ road trip quotes here .
• Grab physical materials & tools . For a physical board you’ll need poster board or paper, your pictures, quotes, scissors, glue or tape etc, depending on how you’re planning to make your board.
• Create a Pinterest Board . Name your board whatever you’re calling your trip (ex. Africa 2024, Summer Vacation, Rockies Road Trip etc.

4. Arrange Your Vision Board Content

Now comes the fun part where you dial up your creativity and arrange your content.

Invite some friends or family members to take part, and make a little party out of it. I’ve done this with friends on New Years to start the year off right. But you can do it anytime.

Some tips that have helped me to make trip collages more pleasing include:

• First start with a focal photo . Sometimes I use a picture of my family, sometimes it’s specific place, animal, quote or activity that is driving my travel desires. Arrange everything around it.
• Next choose your color scheme . Coolors is a great free tool to help you choose an overall, cohesive look. You can even upload one of your travel vision board photos and pick out colors from there to use.
• Mix up the size & positions of photos & words
• Mix up mediums . With a physical collage, use different types of paper (magazines, newspaper), paint, pencil crayons, cut out words or individual letters, different fonts, hand drawn pictures or stickers. Thrift stores or Dollar stores are great places to get cheap magazines, stickers, poster boards & other materials.

5. Display Your Board Where You’ll See It Everyday

Once you have your masterpiece, hang it somewhere you can see it everyday, to remind you of your focus for the year.

While this is easier when it’s a physical thing, you can always save it as your screensaver or background on your cell phone or computer.

6. Take Action

Without taking small actions every day or week to reach your travel goals, you may find yourself disappointed at the end of the year.

Maybe it’s learning how to save more money for travel & choosing one or two things to do.

Maybe it’s making a travel budget or finding ways to travel more affordably so the trip is more doable for you or your family.

Whatever your actions are, make sure they align with your travel & life goals.

Hey life happens. But do you want life to just happen to you, or do you want an amazing year accomplishing your travel goals?

My partner & I like to sit down every couple of weeks or so and review our budgets, goals, and actions to see if we are headed in the right direction. That way it’s easier to adjust if we get off course.

Final Thoughts: Travel Vision Board

Your beautiful travel vision board is your ticket to turning dreams into adventures.

Whether it’s a single destination or years of travel plans , this creative tool keeps your wanderlust alive.

With some inspiration, creativity, and a dash of motivation, I know you’ll be well on your way to making your dream vacations a reality. Start envisioning your journey today and let your travel dreams take flight!

Donna Garrison is the founder of Packed for Life, an ever curious traveler with a passion for making memories with her family. With a unique perspective on travelling on a budget gathered over 30 years, 20 countries and 5 continents she gives families the tools & resources they need to experience the joys of travelling more for less through practical solutions. She helps over 20,000 families a month plan & take the family travel, camping and road trip adventures of their dreams in Canada, the USA and around the world. Contact her at: Donna [at] packedforlife.com

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

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About UN Tourism

UN Tourism’s leadership vision acknowledges the most pressing challenges facing tourism and identifies the sector’s ability to overcome them and to drive wider positive change, including the opportunities responsible tourism offers for the advancement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN Tourism members have endorsed the Management Vision of the Secretary-General which seeks to position tourism as a policy priority, lead in knowledge creation, enhance the Organization’s capacity through building new and stronger partnerships , and offer better value for existing Members while also expanding membership.

To realize the Management Vision, UN Tourism’s work is based around five distinct pillars:

• making tourism smarter through celebrating innovation and leading the digital transformation of the sector;
• making tourism more competitive at every level through promoting investment and promoting entrepreneurship;
• creating more and better jobs and providing relevant training;
• building resilience and promoting safe and seamless travel; and
• harnessing tourism’s unique potential to protect cultural and natural heritage and to support communities both economically and socially.

As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UN Tourism promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. 

UN Tourism encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism , to maximize tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development worldwide.

UN Tourism generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world. 

UN Tourism’s membership includes 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

Basic Documents

Our management.

The management team works towards a comprehensive vision for development of the tourism sector. This includes positioning tourism as a policy priority, establishing thought leadership in knowledge and policy creation, increasing resources and strengthening UN Tourism’s capacity through meaningful partnerships.

Governing Bodies

 The bodies of the World Tourism Organization are the:

• General Assembly
• Regional Commissions
• Executive Council
• Secretariat

Member States

An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers

Working With the Private Sector

Bringing together over 500 companies, educational and research institutions, destinations and NGOs, the UN Tourism Affiliate Members provides a space for members to engage in dialogue, share information and take further action.

UN Tourism Liaison Office in Geneva

As part of the UN Tourism Geneva Liaison Office (GVLO) scope of work to represent UN Tourism to the UN System and Diplomatic Missions in Geneva and in building strategic partnerships for increased capacity, GVLO has participated in numerous United Nations System led activities.

UN Tourism Tourism Ambassadors

UN Tourism’s Ambassadors for Sustainable Tourism are drawn from the worlds of sport, entertainment, business, gastronomy and more.

Education tours & travel

Vision: Elevate Your Educational Travel Experience to New Heights!

Our Packages

One day tour spots.

“Discover the World in a Day: Unforgettable Adventures with Vision Tour and Travel.”

Weekend Picnics spots

“Elevate Your Weekends: Unforgettable Picnic Adventures with Vision Tour and Travel.”

Education & Entertainment picnic spots

“Fun Learning, Endless Thrills: Unforgettable Education & Entertainment Picnics”

The vision Tours & Travels

We offer conducted tours specifically designed for children under your tutelage. Our trips have a special focus, including industrial visits, cultural experiences, treks, and other events to make the trip extraordinary. We can also customize itineraries to suit your preferences and offer trips by road, rail, air, and sea with accommodation options ranging from low-budget dormitories to deluxe five-star hotels. Our top priority is the well-being and safety of the children in our care, and we provide decent accommodation and wholesome meals. Please select a tour program from our enclosed options, and we will provide you with a detailed itinerary and cost. We look forward to serving you and assure you of our best efforts at all times

Activity Profile

• OFIT packages/Bus and Taxi booking
• Adventure Trekking camps around Pune.
• More than 30 destinations for weekends tours.
• We arrange hotels and rail booking all over India.
• Trekking in different parts of Sahyadri and Himalaya.
• We offer more than 50 destinations in one day tours.
• We are official Trip Organisers for more than 100 Schools.
• Customs tailor package tours for unlimited destinations in India.
• Industrial Visits to all important destination in India, with prior permissions.

Testimonial

"vision educational tour and travel provided an exceptional experience for our students. the carefully curated itinerary combined educational activities and sightseeing, making learning fun and engaging. the knowledgeable guides and well-planned tours left a lasting impression on our students. we highly recommend vision for their commitment to providing enriching and memorable educational trips.".

– Ramya Singh –

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Mission, vision & values.

Mission Statement

To advance the right of all persons with disabilities and older adults to equal access to public transportation and community participation by providing:  support, information, training and education to promote quality Travel Instruction. Vision Statement and Values

The Association of Travel Instruction (ATI) is the leading national organization providing support, information, education and advocacy for the profession of Travel Instruction. We believe no person should be denied the opportunity to fully participate in their community as a result of an inability to use public transportation. ATI supports the development of Travel Trainers and Instructors in their professional role of teaching individuals who need assistance on how to use public transit. Our members’ mission is to serve our travel training participants. We advocate on a national, regional and local level for the right and opportunity of all people to move about without denial or harm and with purpose on public conveyances available to all citizens. ATI, its instructors, trainers, members and supporters value and are committed to:

Teaching Excellence - the gold standard of quality instruction, professional development and business sharing and networking to further the lives of people with disabilities and older adults.

Independence - so that people with varying ability levels can be active and participating members of their community and society

Respect and Integrity - our organization is guided by honest, transparent, responsible and accountable actions and deeds that served our travel training participants, ATI members, sponsors and supporters’ interests

Diversity and Inclusion - we respect, attract and support a diverse body of travel training participants, instructors, members and leadership.

Renowned  Speakers

Enjoy cutting-edge COPE approved education! We strategically arrange the agenda so you get the best education possible with plenty of time to enjoy the destination.

Destination  Education

We work very hard to bring our groups to incredible destinations and maximize the experience.

Luxurious Accommodations  

All accommodations are booked through Tropical CE at our discounted group rates. Space is usually limited so register now.

Tropical CE. Your leader in destination education. always bringing you COPE approved lectures. 

Tropical CE educational programs are administered under the auspices of the Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word. The University reviews and endorses all course materials, speakers, and presentations. For OD’s with licenses in Texas and/or Florida , Tropical CE will also submit attendance hours to both Texas Boards of Optometry and CE Broker.

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Saving you money on your airfare. We offer discount codes via United Airlines for most all of our events.

Group  Activities

We offer a variety of group activities that are tailored for everyone in your family. Activities range from Jeep Safari, Snorkeling, Kite Boarding, Sailing and more!

World Cuisine

Get your fill! We offer dinner experiences you wont want to miss. It is a great opportunity to net work and enjoy some of the local venues.

2023 begins Tropical CE’s 26th season of bringing you the finest optometric continuing education available combined with the most relaxing, enjoyable vacation experience you can have. We take great pride in being the leader in destination education. We have served over 3000 optometrists from all around the world! Our attendees come together for a time of education, camaraderie, fun and relaxation.

Take the vacation you deserve while bringing your clinical skills up-to-date and fulfill your need for quality continuing education.

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We travel a lot, and our son attends local classrooms along the way. We noticed primary schools in Europe let kids be kids.

• My husband and I homeschool our son, which allows us to travel. 
• In addition to his homeschooling curriculum, he has attended schools in different countries. 
• We've noticed differences — and similarities — between the schools he attended in Europe and the US.

My son has been homeschooled, essentially, his whole academic life. Because of this, we're able to travel multiple times each month without worrying about him missing school. I am a writer and my husband is a film and TV composer as well as an investor, which also makes this possible.

Not only can we take my son's work with us, but he has also been able to experience schooling in various countries by joining classrooms and homeschool groups throughout our travels. His curriculum is based in the United States, but integrating local schools helps him learn different languages, culture, and of course, make friends.

Because we have spent extended periods of time in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Italy, we have been able to experience how a few schools in these places approach education more intimately. While we've experienced some similarities across the schools he's attended, like classroom size and curriculum structure, we also noticed distinct differences in approach.

School was low-stress in the Netherlands

Where we lived in the Netherlands, children as young as four years old often happily walked themselves to school. The school my son attended in the Netherlands was run like a well-oiled machine, yet they still maintained a playful and innocent atmosphere.

The school administrators were strict about timeliness — I often witnessed that if students arrived even one minute late, they were considered late, with no exceptions. However, discipline for kids was simply a stern talking-to from teachers. Teachers told us that if children had issues with each other, they were expected to sort it amongst themselves, while the adults observed from a distance.

Friends who had kids at other schools in the Netherlands confirmed that this focus on independent conflict resolution with minimal adult intervention was common. Play was the central focus of the day for children until they were about seven years old. The primary focus during those early years was on children learning to coexist with one another rather than academics.

Learning to swim was also a significant focus in the early years in the Netherlands and considered more critical than learning to read by many locals we spoke with. Once compulsory, now only some schools integrate swim classes into the curriculum. Given the numerous canals everywhere, this emphasis is understandable.

Related stories

Children at my son's school spent a large portion of their day outdoors, regardless of the weather, which parents said was typical. The Dutch often say, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." At school, my son assisted in preparing daily vegan meals, and occasionally brought home crafts to do.

Friends who had older kids in the Netherlands told me that the homework increased once they hit middle school, where there was more of an emphasis on academics. I truly appreciated this low-stress setting we encountered during our son's primary school years.

We saw more emphasis on collaboration than individual performance in Portugal

In Portugal, there was an emphasis on projects that children completed together to enhance their collaboration skills, and praise was often based on the collaboration itself rather than individual performance.

We noticed that children rarely had packed schedules filled with extracurricular activities like in the US, and often stayed up very late at night with their families, based on our own observations and talking to Portuguese parents.

While I adored the genuinely "crunchy" vibe of the schools my son attended and the kindness of the teachers, I believed our son would benefit from more structure and consistency in his routine . So, for a time, we supplemented even more than our usual load of schoolwork at home to provide more academic consistency during his short stint at a Portuguese school and eventually transitioned to only homeschooling again and met with a homeschool group for field trips.

Districts [ edit ]

Central Moscow districts [ edit ]

Outlying districts [ edit ], understand [ edit ].

Moscow is the financial and political centre of Russia and the countries formerly comprising the Soviet Union. It has a population of around 13 million and an area of 2,511 square kilometres (970 sq mi) after an expansion in 2012. One-tenth of all Russian citizens live in the Moscow metropolitan area. Moscow is the second most populous city in Europe, after Istanbul , and has the most populous metropolitan area in Europe, with some 21 million residents. Moscow is in the UTC+3 time zone; there is no daylight saving time.

Many years since the break up of the Soviet Union, the economy has improved, and the modern era has brought upon a wide variety of construction projects, modern architecture and newer transport systems replacing the derelict ones during Soviet times.

Geography [ edit ]

Moscow is a large metropolis on the Moskva River, which bends its way through the city. The historical center is on the northern bank of the river. The other major waterway is the Yauza River, which flows into the Moskva east of the Kremlin.

Much of Moscow's geography is defined by the 3 'Ring Roads' that circle the city at various distances from the centre, roughly following the outline of the walls that used to surround Moscow. With Red Square and the Kremlin forming the very centre, the innermost ring road is the Boulevard Ring ( Bulvarnoye Koltso ), built in the 1820s where the 16th century walls used to be. It runs from the Christ the Savior Cathedral in south-west central Moscow, to the mouth of the Yauza in south-east central Moscow.

The next ring road, the Garden Ring ( Sadovoe Koltso ), derives its name from the fact that landowners near the road in Tsarist times were obligated to maintain gardens to make the road attractive. In Soviet times, the road was widened, and there are now no gardens there.

The Third Ring Road, completed in 2004, is not much use for tourists but is a heavily used motorway which absorbs a bit of Moscow's traffic. It roughly follows the outline of Kamer-Kollezhsky val , the customs boundary of Moscow in the 18th – early 20th century. The outer edge of Moscow is largely defined by the Moscow Ring Road (widely known by its abbreviation: MKAD-Moskovskaya kolcevaya avto doroga), a motorway which is 108 km (67 mi) long and encircles the entire city (similar to London's M25 and Paris' Périphérique ).

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of Moscow features warm summers and long, cold winters.

Get in [ edit ]

See Russia#Get in for visa requirements to Russia.

By train [ edit ]

Moscow is a railway hub, with connections to all parts of Russia and far into Europe and Asia. Due to its hub status, Moscow's train stations are often crowded; trains are the usual form of intercity transport for most Russians. The stations have a reputation for being unsafe but paradoxically the threat of terrorism has improved things: security gates, policing and surveillance deter the casual thugs and villains. Guard your valuables and yourself as you would in any big city.

All long-distance trains are operated by Russian Railways and its subsidiaries, except for a few international trains with other operators. Tickets can be bought at stations or online . For domestic trains, you can show the ticket officer your online boarding pass; however, international trains require a printed ticket. There are usually ticket counters with English-speaking personnel - they may be marked as such, or the clerk may direct you to another counter if they can't cope with your English. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

From Europe [ edit ]

All trains from Europe halted since 2020

Train stations in Moscow [ edit ]

Moscow has 10 train stations, 9 of which are near metro stations close to the center of Moscow. Be sure to note the station from which your train is departing, which will be indicated on the ticket, or online . Three stations ( Leningradsky , Yaroslavsky , and Kazansky ) are on one huge square, informally known as the "Three Stations' Square". A running joke among Moscow taxi drivers since the Soviet times is to be able to pick up a fare from one of them to the other, taking the unwary tourist on an elaborate ride in circles. Be prepared for enormous queues trying to enter or exit the Metro at peak times, as people are getting off or on the commuter trains.

By car [ edit ]

Many entry points to Moscow over the Ring Road and into the city feature rotating roadblocks, where teams of traffic police may stop a vehicle, especially if it is not featuring Moscow plates. You may be stopped and questioned but you'll be allowed to proceed if you have all the proper documents.

Foreign cars, especially expensive cars, might attract unwelcome attention, and there is cumbersome paperwork involved to enter Russia by car.

By boat [ edit ]

There is no scheduled passenger service to Moscow by boat; however, cruise ships do provide service to the Northern River Terminal, on the Moscow Canal near the Khimki Reservoir. The pier is not convenient to the city and it can take over 2 hours to reach the city centre by car.

A system of navigable channels and locks connects the Moskva River with the Volga River, which is further connected to the Baltic Sea , White Sea, the Azov, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea. In the Soviet times this allowed the official propaganda to refer to Moscow as "a port on the five seas".

By bicycle [ edit ]

Moscow is the easternmost destination of the EuroVelo cycling routes . Eurovelo Route 2 , the Capitals Route, is a 5,500 km (3,400 mi) route starting in Galway , Ireland , passing through Dublin , London , Berlin , Warsaw and Minsk before terminating in Moscow.

By metro [ edit ]

The Metro is open from 05:30-01:00. Station entrances are closed at 01:00, and at this time the last trains depart from all of the termini stations. After 01:00, many locals will enter the train station using the exits, which are still open. Service on the ring line runs until 01:30, although entrances are closed at 01:00. The down escalators are also shut off at 01:00.

There is signage in the Metro stations in English and the Latin alphabet, but these signs are not everywhere. Each train carriage has a map in Latin script and there is one near the entrance to each station. Note the direction of the train before you alight. It is worth printing a map of the metro system in both Cyrillic and Latin letters to take with you.

All trains in the system have free WiFi onboard, but you will need to have a Russian phone number to get the authorization code to access the WiFi. Some of the older train cars are not climate controlled.

2 or 3 stations may be connected as transfer points but will each have a different name. There are 2 stations called Smolenskaya and 2 stations called Arbatskaya , but the station pairs are not connected to each other despite having the same name. Some of the stations are very deep underground, and transfer times between certain metro lines can take a lot of time. In the city centre, it can save time to go directly to the above-ground entrance of the line you want to take rather than to enter at a connecting station and transfer underground. On the escalators, stand on the right and walk on the left except for peak hours, when standing on the left side is also allowed.

Some of the train stations include beautiful architecture and it is worth taking a guided tour of the metro system. The most interesting stations in terms of decor are Komsomolskaya (ring line), Novoslobodskaya (ring line), Kievskaya (ring line), Kropotkinskaya (Line #1 - red), Kievskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Arbatskaya (Line #3 - dark blue), Ploschad' Revolyutsii (Line #3 - dark blue), Mayakovskaya (Line #2 - dark green). Also look at the architecture of the ground entrance building of Arbatskaya (Line #4 - light blue) and Krasnye Vorota (Line #1 - red). History buffs may appreciate that Metro Line #1 (red) has the oldest stations, opened in 1935.

The Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station on Line #1 (red) is unique in that it is on a bridge crossing the Moscow River. This bridge also carries auto traffic road on another level. There is a beautiful view through the transparent sides of the station. A great observing point around Moscow is located nearby on Vorobyovy hills, next to the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

There are a couple of unique trains operating through the system and you will be lucky if you get to ride them. Aquarelle (Watercolor) is a train that includes an art gallery. The train operates daily on Line #3 (dark blue). The Sokolniki Retro Train is a train modeled after the original 1930s trains and it occasionally is placed into service, usually around a major anniversary of the metro system.

The metro is relatively safe, although pickpockets are a problem, as they are in any environment where a lot of people are pressed together. Opportunistic petty crime, such as snatching someone's mobile phone and jumping out just as the doors are closing, is also commonplace. Take the usual precautions at night when gangs of inebriated teenagers may look for an excuse to beat someone up. There is no train guard or conductor, so the first car near the driver may be the safest. Every car is equipped with an intercom to the driver's cabin; they are beige boxes with a grill and a black button near doors, and mostly work, unless visibly vandalized.

By tram [ edit ]

There are several tram routes, although trams are not common in the city centre.

By monorail [ edit ]

Moscow Monorail is a 4.7 km (2.9 mi) monorail line with 6 stations. It is slower, less frequent, and has shorter operating hours when compared with the metro (every 30 min, 08:00-20:00). However, the view is picturesque. It is useful to get to the Ostankino Tower, or to get to the VDNKh exhibition centre from Metro Line #9 (silver). Interchanges between Moscow Metro and Monorail is free, no additional fee will be charged.

By hop-on-hop-off bus [ edit ]

The hop-on-hop-off bus is a convenient way for tourists to see the major sights quickly and efficiently. The buses feature English-speaking guides to answer any questions. A 1 day pass costs $24 for adults and $15 for children.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

Moscow has many attractions, but many of them are not friendly to a non-Russian-speaker. English-language newspapers like The Moscow Times , Element [dead link] , Moscow News and others can help to navigate towards English-language friendly attractions and services.

Circuses [ edit ]

Theatres [ edit ].

• Bolshoi Theatre , one of the oldest and best known ballet and opera companies in the world.

Learn [ edit ]

Moscow remains the educational center of Russia and the former USSR. There are 222 institutes of higher education, including 60 state universities & 90 colleges. Some of these offer a wide-spectrum of programs, but most are centered around a specific field. This is a hold-over from the days of the USSR, when Sovietwide there were only a handful of wide-spectrum "universities" and a large number of narrow-specialization "institutes" (mostly in Moscow & St.Petersburg). Moscow offers some of the best business/management, science, & arts schools in the world. Moscow is also a popular destination for foreign students to learn Russian.

Work [ edit ]

You will need a work visa which is not an easy process. The visa needs to be arranged well in advance of traveling. It is possible to work in Moscow, you just need to find a good company to support you. The main obstacle for many foreigners will be a mandatory Russian language exam required to obtain a work permit.

Shopping malls [ edit ]

Large shopping malls are common near metro stations.

Tipping [ edit ]

For information on tipping in restaurants, see Russia#Eat .

Ethnic food [ edit ]

Authentic ethnic food from countries of the nearby Caucasus ( Azerbaijan , Georgia , Armenia ) is common in Moscow. Japanese food, including sushi, rolls, tempura, and steakhouses are very popular in Moscow. Other Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese are becoming increasingly more common.

Budget [ edit ]

Street food [ edit ].

Free-standing kiosks serving sausages, meat pies, or kebobs are plentiful, although the origins of the meat served is questionable and the food has been known to occasionally make people sick.

Muscovites are also fond of their ice cream, consumed in any weather, even in the dead of winter, cheap and usually of superior quality; kiosks can be found all over the center and near all Metro stations.

Foodcourts 2.0 [ edit ]

This term is used in articles by local food critics: since 2016, several special food courts were opened with independent and small food chains, for those people who get bored of McDonald's-like food. They offer a wider choice of cuisines.

Clubs [ edit ]

Nightlife in Moscow is bustling, intense and exciting. It starts quite late; it's common for the headliners to start at 02:00-02:00. Most noticeable are areas near Solyanka street and Krasniy Oktyabr' place. At summer time a lot of clubs opening open-air terraces called "verandas". Most of clubs in Moscow are very picky of who they let in, so make sure you have a positive attitude and dress up if you are going to a fancy club.

Gazgolder [dead link] (not far from Kremlin) is among the best.

Cafes [ edit ]

Moscow has several café chains with great coffee including Coffeemania and Coffee Bean [dead link] . Moscow also has a good selection of tea saloons. High-quality infusion teas such as Newby, are widely available in cafes, both in packets and loose.

Asking to add boiling water to the tea you ordered earlier is a practice that some cafes don't welcome, but normally it's acceptable.

Sleep [ edit ]

Stay safe [ edit ].

Moscow enjoys a relatively low crime rate.

Drunk people are the most likely sources of problems. In the past years, lots of policemen were corrupt, and it was best to avoid them. Nowadays Moscow has a Tourist Police force, whose officers are able to speak foreign languages and help tourists. Police officers are equipped with body-cameras.

It is preferable to avoid some parts of the outer districts of Moscow, especially in the south. Some of those areas are notorious for gopniks (drunkards notorious for muggings and starting fights with strangers, and will do so seemingly unprovoked), who normally hang out in sparse residential areas and in industrial zones. The same problems can be witnessed in the surrounding regions and in other Russian cities as well.

While traveling in Moscow, as in the rest of Russia, you should always have your passport with you. If you look non-white, your papers may get checked more often than otherwise. The police may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow. Always remember that if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper at a time of check-in, so don't worry in this case. The police are usually looking for migrants from Central Asia and unless you fit this profile, you are unlikely to be questioned.

Women should take caution walking alone late at night since they may receive unwanted attention from drunk men. Women should also stay clear of large companies of men in front of bars, restaurants, etc. It is best to walk with a friend if possible.

Streets can become very slippery in winter. Wear shoes or, even better, boots with decent grip to prevent twisted ankles. Ice patches can be hard to spot. A waterproof raincoat is also sensible.

Traffic is poorly handled, and vehicle accident rates are very high.

If you need help with translation, ask students or pupils: younger people are more likely to be able to help you than the older generations.

Connect [ edit ]

For information on using telephones and buying SIM cards in Russia, see Russia#Connect .

Mobile Internet is quite affordable in Russia, but you have to buy Russian SIM-card first.

Wireless Internet [ edit ]

Moscow Metro has Wi-Fi in all trains. It is ad-supported.

Mosgortrans has Wi-Fi spots on every bus, trolleybus and tram. Also sometimes you can find Wi-Fi spot on a public transport stop.

Beeline Wi-Fi [dead link] operates the largest network of both paid and free Wi-Fi access points. If there is a charge, you can pay online via credit card.

There is a large network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the city centre; check your device in the middle of a busy area and you may find one.

Many cafes and restaurants offer Wi-Fi - ask for password. Most bookstores offer free Wi-Fi, including "Dom Knigi" on New Arbat Street or "Respublika" bookstore on Tverskaya near Mayakovskaya Metro Station.

Some establishments that offer free Wi-Fi may require you to verify an authorization code sent to a Russian phone number before gaining access, but for the most part, foreign numbers also work as of 2016.

Cope [ edit ]

Embassies [ edit ].

Moscow is one of the global diplomatic capitals, competing with Berlin , Brussels , Beijing , Paris , London , Tokyo and Washington D.C. . Most of the world's countries have their embassies in the city.

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Spencer Foundation Announces Inaugural Vision Grant Awards

Na'ilah suad nasir.

One year ago, we launched an ambitious new grant program to support research to transform education systems in these critical and contentious times. Our Vision Grants Program aims to support the field to step out of silos and partner with scholars from other disciplines and methods; to engage meaningfully with policymakers, educators, families and communities; to foreground equity as both a goal and a critical component of the research process; and to create plans for how to drive equitable change in our education systems.  

Hundreds of teams responded—brilliantly and creatively—with applications to our Vision Grants Program, $75,000 research planning grants to bring together a team to develop ambitious, large-scale research projects focused on transforming educational systems toward greater equity.  Scholars forged new partnerships; grappled with disciplinary and methodological divides; identified partners outside of the academy to complement and strengthen the teams’ scholarly expertise; and imagined myriad ways that research could impact systems and contribute to more equitable, enriching, and humane learning spaces.  

Our awarded Vision Grant teams exhibit an exciting range of expertise, methodological approaches, and topical foci. Each includes partnerships that push methodological and disciplinary boundaries and extend beyond the academy—from national non-profits to community-based organizations; from early childhood programs to Tribal Colleges and Universities; from local politicians to state-level agencies.  

Each team put forth compelling visions for the change they hope to see in the world: Robust mental health supports in schools, humane housing policies to improve educational equity for families and children; community-led, equitable AI (Artificial Intelligence) practices in schools; and climate education rooted in justice and informed by Black and Indigenous ecological knowledge, to name a few. Each of the awarded teams can apply for a $3.5 million Transformative Research Grant.  

We learned a tremendous amount from this first round of Vision Grant funding.  We learned that scholars want their work to matter and are eager to push against the institutional constraints and traditional incentive structures of the academy. From the multitude of topics scholars proposed, we gained a new appreciation for the sheer breadth of possibilities for systems change in the service of equity.   We learned that scholars want to do this work collectively, learning from one another about how to marshal evidence to effect systems change. Finally, we learned that transformative work takes time, resources, and support—and the process to develop it isn’t linear or straightforward. 

This work is, in a word, challenging—Many applicants struggled especially to step out of their disciplinary silos. Our social networks tend to reproduce themselves, and partnering in new ways requires a leap of faith, as well as putting in place systems and structures to facilitate functional, equitable partnerships.  

Similarly, many teams found it challenging to articulate how future research might lead to systems change. To be sure, it’s a tricky balance between over- and under-specifying the change you hope to see in the world, especially when meaningful change feels so far from where our systems are now. Still, successful teams somehow were able to dream in ways that allow for visionary ambitions, while also leaving space to follow where the research eventually takes them. 

When you peruse the full list of awards from our first round of Vision Grants, you will get a full picture of the breadth and depth of the projects this program supported this year. We hope you will be inspired to apply to our next round of Vision Grant funding; but even more, we hope these projects will inspire you to think about the kinds of collective new visions research can spark and the power we all have together to create change, build new systems that value the full humanity of all students and families, and to make a new world.  

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JEE Mains 2024 Session 2 Result: How to Check and Download JEE Main Final Result at jeemain.nta.ac.in

Jee mains session 2 final result 2024: to access their results, students need to provide their application number, password, and security pin..

NTA JEE Mains 2024 Session 2 Final Result: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the results of the April session of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main today (April 24). Candidates who appeared in the examinations can view their results on the official website – jeemain.nta.ac.in.

Earlier, the NTA had released the final answer key on Monday. After the results, the cut-off for JEE Advanced, as well as the list of all India rank holders and state-wise toppers, will also be disclosed soon.

The JEE Main examination was conducted in two sessions this year, in January and April, respectively. For candidates who appeared in both sessions, the final merit list will be based on their best score in JEE Main. To access their results, students need to provide their application number, password, and security pin.

How to Check JEE Mains 2024 Result at jeemain.nta.ac.in

For immediate updates on the JEE Main 2024 results, individuals can visit jeemain.nta.ac.in. The process to check scores entails visiting the official website, selecting the “result” link, entering the application number and date of birth, and then accessing the scorecard displayed on the screen.

Steps to Download NTA JEE Mains 2024 Session 2 Result

To download the JEE Main 2024 results, follow these steps:

• Go to jeemain.nta.ac.in for live updates
• Click on the “result” link provided on the official website
• Input your application number and date of birth
• View the displayed scorecard on the screen
• Confirm the information
• Download the result for future use

Earlier, the results were scheduled to release last night, but they were delayed due to technical issues, an NTA official informed.

Cut-off increased

In the current year, the cut-off for JEE (Advanced) among general category candidates stands at 93.23, marking an increase from 90.77 in 2023, 88.4 in 2022, and 87.9 in 2021. Previously, in 2020 and 2019, the qualifying scores for general candidates were 90.3 and 89.7, respectively.

• UR-ALL (General category): 93.2362181
• UR-PH (General category – Physically Handicapped): 0.00187
• EWS-ALL (Economically Weaker Section – All): 81.3266412
• OBC-ALL (Other Backward Classes – All): 79.6757881
• SC-ALL (Scheduled Caste – All): 60.0923182
• ST-ALL (Scheduled Tribe – All): 46.697584

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Telford woman has vision set on world travel after eye operation

A Telford woman has her eyes set on world travel after an operation gave her a new appreciation for her sight.

Amy Liston says her solo world travel adventure has been boosted by a procedure to give her perfect vision – after over 30 years in glasses.

Amy, 46, previously worked as a construction manager for Network Rail. Having taken voluntary redundancy, she has been spurred on to plan the trip of a lifetime.

Her hobbies from paddleboarding to trips in her campervan, however, had exposed one issue she wanted to resolve before her six-month trip – her poor eyesight.

Amy said: “I have worn glasses since I was 13 and did not get on with contact lenses. My sight just got worse over the years so I was dependent on glasses all day long.

"But with my hobbies, glasses constantly get in the way or completely fall off and I lose them in the water when paddleboarding. I have lost countless pairs of glasses and expensive prescription sunglasses

“I gave contacts a go but they were so uncomfortable for me and as I have astigmatism in both eyes it was really hard to put them in correctly.

"After just a couple of hours, I would have to take them out again. Also, I have hay fever, so that was not a good combination as I kept rubbing my eyes.

“The thought of being able to travel without all this hassle, to just wear regular sunglasses and not having to ask myself all day long where I have put my glasses really appealed.”

Amy visited eye specialists at Optegra Eye Hospital Birmingham and was offered lens replacement surgery that would rid her of any glasses.

"My eyes healed really quickly and as soon as I took the eye shields off I could see so well. It is going to make all the difference to my travels – things like paddleboarding are so much more enjoyable.

"But even daily activities are easier like being able to read food packaging and the conditioner bottle in the shower. The only downside for me is I can see some wrinkles now!

“I am so glad I have invested in this now and I felt the sooner the better really. No more need to spend all that money on spectacles and prescription sunglasses, but mainly I can enjoy my vision and my travels with no hassle!”

Amy’s trip will kick off in Miami, and then she goes on to Costa Rica, Thailand, Bali and Fiji.

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EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a media conference at the conclusion of an EU Summit in Brussels, Friday, March 22, 2024. European Union leaders on Friday discussed plans to boost investment and the economy. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission proposed Thursday to start negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.'s departure from the EU four years ago.

According to the EU, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following a referendum in 2016 has damaged mobility between the two areas.

“This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges,” the Commission said.

When the U.K. was still a member of the economic and political bloc, its nationals had the right to live and work freely in the EU, with reciprocity for EU nationals in the U.K. Under the agreement proposed by the EU’s executive arm, EU and UK citizens between 18 and 30 years old would be eligible to stay up to four years in the destination country.

The deal would also allow equal treatment of EU and UK students in the field of university tuition fees. Most EU students must now pay international tuition fees if they want to study in the U.K. The Commission says these vary between 11,400 and 38,000 pounds ($14,200-$47,300) per year and are a strong deterrent for EU students who generally don’t have to pay as much within the bloc.

The Commission’s recommendation will be discussed by EU member countries who must give the green light before the executive arm can start negotiations with the UK.

“We have successful Youth Mobility Schemes with 13 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and remain open to agreeing them with our international partners, including EU member states,” the British government said in a statement.

The U.K. has its own Youth Mobility Scheme, which it has offered to some EU member states. The Commission believes the British plan is less ambitious than its own proposal.

“Our agreements provide a valuable route for cultural exchanges providing partner countries are also willing to offer the same opportunities for young British people,” the British government added.

Follow AP’s coverage of Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/brexit

Meta working on travel mode for using Quest headsets during flights after Vision Pro launches with feature

Today I learned two things. First, apparently Meta Quest headsets don’t work on planes? I guess Apple knew to prioritize that feature for Vision Pro. And second, support is reportedly on the way. Add this to the list of ways competition from Vision Pro is making Meta Quest 3 a better product.

For April, Meta released software update v64 that makes Quest 3 passthrough more like Vision Pro, users say. Motion blur is more noticeable, but still clarity is increased. Meta has also added support for viewing spatial videos captured from iPhone 15 Pro.

Now Meta may be planning to introduce flight support as soon as v65 next month. Per @Lunayian on X ( via Nicholas Sutrich ), several code strings reference travel mode for use on a plane.

Early NUX render to introduce "Flight Mode" I found in Meta Quest OS v65 pic.twitter.com/oq2GzCiaZu — Luna (@Lunayian) April 18, 2024

Apple pushes watching movies and TV shows during flights as a key use case for Apple Vision Pro. It’s one of the first things you see at the top of Apple’s website currently.

Surely Meta has taken notice and prioritized travel mode as it positions Meta Quest 3 as a dramatically cheaper solution to Vision Pro with many of the same capabilities.

The most impactful change, however, would be around multitasking. Quest headsets are limited to three app windows at a time right now. Apple Vision Pro has plenty of other limitations, but there’s virtually no limit to how many windows can be placed around a room and used together.

• Zuckerberg says Meta Quest 3 is better than Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro is already making the Meta Quest 3 better
• Vision Pro latency by far the best on passthrough; lags behind Meta on angular motion
• Meta confirms spatial video playback coming to Quest one day before Vision Pro launch

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

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Senior Precision Optics Manufacturing Engineer - Apple Vision Pro

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Key Qualifications

• Capable of diamond turning of freeform optics and operating optical metrology including interferometers, auto-collimators, microscopes, etc.
• Familiar with MATLAB data processing to compensate optics form error
• Track record of managing diamond turning continuous improvement efforts

Description

Education & experience, additional requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications:
• - Experience managing domestic and international optics vendors
• - 8+ years of precision manufacturing experience in related fields
• - A degree in Physics, Optical Sciences or Industrial Engineering

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• At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $170,700.00 and $256,500.00, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits. Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program. Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.