Share Your Immersion Experience!
The Xperitas community wants to know
Xperitas language immersion programs open minds, connect people and transform lives. Sharing those stories is important too! It is a powerful way to inspire others to travel outside of their comfort zone. Your perspective is valued by those who have not yet made a journey or used the language they have learned in an authentic setting. They want to know what you experienced in another country and how you felt being a “temporary local” within another culture.
The Global Citizens Blog features stories from Student Alumni, Teachers, Group Leaders, Parents and staff -- all of the diverse voices that make up our interconnected global experience. Additional content includes recipes, photos, short videos and more!
Have you traveled with us? Share your Xperitas immersion story.
Traveler Update with Message from the Executive Director
Hello Xperitas Teachers, Travelers, and Friends,
As summer draws to a close and teachers return to classes, many in person for the first time since March 2020, the Xperitas team is working with teachers on planning spring and summer travel...
The Importance of Documenting Student Biliteracy
We recently had the privilege of speaking with Ayumi Stockman, World Languages Education Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), to learn more about what she does at MDE and about the Minnesota Bilingual and Multilingual Seals...
Celebrating Anishinaabe traditions on World Environment Day
On this World Environment Day, we would like to highlight our partners in White Earth, Minnesota who are promoting self-reliance built on Anishinaabe traditions and healthy, holistic, and sustainable relationships with the land. As part of a...
Language and cultural immersion influence on eating
One of the many reasons I love working at Xperitas is that I know that the immersion experiences we create for students will have a positive and lasting impact on their...
Rick Steves Event | Educators Reflect on Immersion Travel
The recent Xperitas special event with Rick Steves "Why We Travel," inspired participant educators to reflect on why they travel with students.
Student perspective on the impact of French language Immersion
In 8th grade middle school, I had to pick a language to study, and being half Mexican, my mom wouldn’t let me take Spanish since I already used it in my everyday home life. So, my only other option was French. At that point, I never thought I’d...
The Value of Global Travel and Cultural Literacy
Carolyn Vanous is a member of the Xperitas Board and currently serves as the Board Treasurer. Carolyn is also the Manager of a team at 3M, a fortune 500 company with corporate operations in 70 countries and sales in 200. We asked Carolyn about...
Reflecting on 50 Years of Immersion Travel
Austrian-born Jewish philosopher Martin Buber (1887-1965) said, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” As Xperitas begins booking travel for our 2022 50th anniversary year, I reflect on the...
Get to know Xperitas Partners | Rocio Madrigal
Xperitas has long-standing relationships with its partners. We want you to get to know the amazing people that we work with. Meet Rocio Madrigal, a guide for us in Costa Rica. Rocio has a passion for sharing the culture and history of her country...
Traditional Recipes of the Nahua People of Mexico
High in the Sierra Norte region of the state of Puebla in Mexico lies the market town of Cuetzalan. Cobble-stoned streets, colorful handicrafts, and the aroma of street tacos abound. This pueblo mágico is known for the cultural influence of Nahua...
Participant Spotlight | Erica Besser
My name is Erica Besser and I attend Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. I will be a senior this upcoming year and start my first year in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program. I went on my trip in January of 2019 and had an amazing time....
Our Path Forward
It has been almost a year since COVID-19 changed everything for virtually everyone on the planet. It really is incredible how the human drive to survive and thrive despite...
Interview with Sylvia Martin, Family Stay Coordinator
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background
My name is Sylvia Martin and I am 47 years old. Together with my son and my boyfriend we live in a rather small town and enjoy the quiet atmosphere and the proximity to bigger cities and a...
Virtual Cross-Cultural Connections
On a July afternoon, a group of high school Juniors from Samueli Academy in California huddled around their laptops to meet Lisa Brunner, a member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation and a long-term community partner of Xperitas. Lisa has worked in...
Team Leader Spotlight: Siri Dusek
Program location & year(s): La Push, Washington, June 2019 and January 2020
Siri recently graduated from St. Catherine University with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy. Throughout college and graduate school,...
