Language & Exploration: France

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Overland's Language and Exploration programs offer an unbeatable combination of native-speaker instuction, activities, excursions and travel. The key to preparing for these programs is to keep it simple; this information is designed to help you do just that. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Preparing for the Demands of L&E

Language learning and cultural understanding require dedication, patience and hard work. Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage. As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program. Then once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and all of its activities.

Luggage

On L&E programs we travel light—we cannot emphasize this enough.  Please bring just one travel backpack and one small day pack (*see specifications below*) for weekend excursions and day hikes. Experience has shown that this is the only way to go (there will be lots of walking). Dimensions of the travel backpack should not exceed 22"H x 14"W x 9"D if used as a carry-on, however it may be larger if you plan to check this luggage at the airport.  We recommend travel backpacks from REI, EMS and LL Bean. Use your day pack to carry essentials on the plane (but do not use this bag as additional luggage space). Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number. If you are checking your travel pack as luggage, ask the airline to bag it for you. This will help protect the pack.

• *Travel backpacks should store between 2500-4000 cubic in. We recommend the following kinds of backpacks from REI, though anything similar will work perfectly!
• www.rei.com/product/762485
• www.rei.com/product/747515
• www.rei.com/product/747520
• *Day packs—a regular shoulder strap backpack will work just fine, large enough to fit a rain coat, water and snacks—however it must be worn on both shoulders (satchels and one strap bags will not be appropriate for day hikes and weekend excursions).

Packing for Your Program

Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis. In many of the places we visit, it is culturally inappropriate for girls to wear short skirts, short shorts or spaghetti-strap tank tops; this clothing can bring unwanted and possibly unpleasant attention. Please pack accordingly.

*Keep in mind that the weather will be hot in Barcelona; however, it can be very cool in the Pyrenees.

Clothing

• Tennis Shoes or Sneakers. 2 pairs of comfortable shoes to wear around all day AND on day hikes.
• Sandals or Flip Flops. Casual sandals for the beach or dinners out
• Waterproof Raincoat.
• Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt. One only.
• Comfortable Shorts, Skirts or Pants. Four; one pair of shorts and one pair of pants must be suitable for day hikes, one should be suitable for a casual restaurant.
• Shirts. Five short-sleeve shirts or tank tops. One of the short-sleeve shirts should be synthetic. One long-sleeve shirt.
• One (and only one) casual/nice outfit. We will dine at a typical French restaurant once a week. Boys—one pair of khaki pants and one casual, nice shirt; Girls—one skirt or dress.
• Underwear. Seven pairs.
• Socks. Five pairs.
• Pajamas. One pair.
• Bathing Suit. Boys must bring and wear a speedo in France; it's just the way it is!

Gear & Miscellaneous

• Valid Passport. Also bring a photocopy of the inside front cover of your passport and leave another at home.
• Student ID. Current school identification (if you have one).
• French-English Dictionary. Small travel size.
• Toiletries. All travel size.
• Beach Towel. Medium size.
• Water Bottle. Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.
• Hat. Optional, with visor (e.g., baseball hat).
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen (SPF 30+) & Chapstick (with SPF protection).
  
• Camera & Film. Optional.
• Spiral Notebook & Pen. For class and immersion activities.
• Journal. Optional.

Note: Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).
We do not permit personal electronics on our programs (for example, cellphones and iPods). We do, however, allow students who fly to their program to carry a cell phone while traveling; on arrival, Overland's leaders will collect all cell phones and personal electronics for the duration of the program and return them for flights home. Perhaps, a better option would be to bring a pre-paid phone card so that the leaders do not have to carry cell phones for the duration of the program.