<p>Thank you all for your good wishes and information for my daughter, and I’ll be happy to answer questions if I can. GeraldM, thank you for the reassurances. My daughter has lived in New England all her life so there are similarities; I think if she’d lived elsewhere in the US it would be more of an adjustment, but still not difficult. I’ve been to Europe a number of times and she will be fine, I know. Nevertheless, it’s always good to hear positive comments from you and Mini about Teddy Hall. I’m really looking forward to the excuse of another trip! :D</p>
<p>MWFN I haven’t gotten the details on what she will be studying yet, but I expect it will be a mix of history, religion and some kind of a community outreach program. </p>
<p>She’s been intrigued with the south of Spain since an Elderhostel trip with her grandparents in 6th grade. I’m so happy she’ll finally have a chance to immerse herself in the region.</p>
<p>Northernwoods, that’s so cool your daughter able to fulfill the dream she’s had for so long. I had no idea that kids could go on Elderhostel trips!</p>
<p>If you are unable to stay with your daughter when you visit, have her check with the college about vacant rooms that they let as a quasi B&B. Not sure about spring break but they do so in the summer. My daughter and I visited Oxford a few years ago when our friends were studying there and they were able to get us a very reasonable room. It was fabulous!</p>
<p>Proudmadre, thank you so much for the lodging information! It’s worth asking about when we make our plans.</p>
<p>Tomorrow night our daughter takes off for Oxford! I’m so excited for her–what a great adventure it will be! When I went to college back in the Dark Ages, hardly anyone seriously considered going abroad, so I’m thrilled she’s taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity.</p>
<p>Our daughter is off to England for some pre-program traveling before heading to Spain at the beginning of February. I’m so excited for her, it seems like a great program. It has been great having her home for much of January, we’ll miss her.</p>
<p>Northernwoods, where is your daughter traveling in England? And where in Spain will she be? Our daughter’s been at Oxford about 1-1/2 weeks and she’s already had some wonderful cultural experiences.</p>
<p>She’s visiting a friend from Smith in Brighton and also spending some time in London. She was contemplating some additional traveling, but I’m not sure what she has settled on. She’ll have a brief visit with another Smithie in Switzerland before she meets up with her Preshco cohort in Madrid. Their permanent home is in Cordoba.</p>
<p>In this day of instantaneous communication, it is strange not to be able to check in with her. The program gives them all a cell phone once they get to Spain.</p>
<p>Your daughter has lovely travel plans. What a great experience! One of my daughter’s housemates is interested in learning more about the Cordoba program for next year so any comments you can pass on would be helpful. If your daughter has a blog she’d be willing to share, I’d love to put the two of them in contact.</p>
<p>Yes, I know what you mean about the lack of instantaneous communication. Her cheap British cell phone does not support international calling or text messages; she may get an Ipod Touch so she can text. We use plain, “old-fashioned” email and Skype.</p>
<p>It turns out that our daughter’s cheap British phone DOES support international calls, after all, although they’re GBP 1.50/minute ($2.34/minute). So we have a means to reach her or vice versa in emergencies. That’s all I really wanted. We’re still going to get an iPodTouch for her. Skype is turning out wonderfully.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, if anyone wants to follow her admissions blog while she’s at Oxford, go to the admissions webpage and find Margaret (she’s had an admissions blog since last summer when she worked there). She’s providing occasional rich tidbits into her life there.</p>
<p>I always use MagicJack from India and Africa. Calls are free.</p>
<p>D landed in Madrid yesterday and is off on her grand adventure today. </p>
<p>There seem to be a lot of perks included in the PRESHCO program. They begin their semester with a 10 day tour of Spain. They’re off to Salamanca today and then will spend some time in Barcelona and Madrid before heading to Cordoba. </p>
<p>It sounds like there are lots of opportunities for cultural experiences, cooking and dancing classes, community service, language exchange with local students and even funding available for broadly defined cultural experiences. I’m suspecting that Spain is a relatively, less expensive place for students, so their tuition dollars help fund these additional opportunities. </p>
<p>D is not blogging, but I’ll try to send along an update or two during the semester, as she and I learn more about the program.</p>
<p>Northernwoods, your daughter’s program sounds like a blast!</p>
<p>Thanks, Mini, I’ll check out MagicJack.</p>