Xperitas Experience Archive

As we reflect upon a new year year of delivering our transformative language and cultural immersion programs, we'd like to share some of our staff's favorite holiday pastimes and food recipes with our Xperitas community. We hope you read, enjoy and share!

Embark on a virtual voyage into the enchanting realm of Xperitas Family Stays through our latest interview. Our French Program Manager, Virginie, engages in a heartfelt conversation with one of our family stay coordinators, unraveling the essence of this unique language immersion experience.

Our latest blog post explores the exciting return of the Xperitas Global Leadership Conference (GLC) 2023! Read about this gathering of language educators and international partners for 2024 program planning activities, keynote speaker Akash Patel and more. 

2022 Bob & Edie Green Scholarship winner, Madison M, discusses the effect of technology on her generation and the benefit  of making connections with people. 

2022 Bob & Edie Green Scholarship winner, Lily S, discusses the value of experiencing life and other cultures over the myriad distractions we are confronted with on a daily basis.

2021 Bob & Edie Green Scholarship Winner, Zoe P, contemplates travel of the imagination and why is studying world language and culture is so important to the progress of a healthy society.

Register to win prizes in the Xperitas 2022 Photo Contest! All 2022 participants are encouraged to submit their photos in this annual tradition. Deadline to enter, December 31, 2022.

See how to promote your Grounds for Change fundraiser using video to share a little bit of German coffee culture with friends and family.

The commitment that everyone involved in the organization has to help teachers and students have the richest possible experience is nothing short of remarkable.

Executive Director, Leslie Gale, discusses the human drive to survive and thrive despite difficult circumstances.

Recently, we profiled Xperitas Board member and retired French Teacher, Jane Ditewig. Jane was and is a much beloved teacher at R.A. Long High School in Longview Washington. This summer Jane heard from Brad Carnine, one of her students from more than 20 years ago. He said we could share his letter with you. We hope every teacher who reads this letter is reminded of what an important job you do and how you all are changing the lives of your students.

Xperitas publishes its 2023 Covid-19 protocols for travel for leaders, participants and parent review. Protocols ensure the safety of the individual traveler, the student group, host families and other individuals that travelers will come into contact with while abroad.  In addition, the protocol is in place so that the group completes the itinerary as designed without interruption, delay or cancellation.

At Xperitas, we aren’t in the business of sending students on “trips”.  Our mission is to transform lives through shared global experience and intercultural learning.   What does it take for travel abroad to be transformational?  It needs to be an experience that pushes students beyond their comfort zone, challenges them to confront their assumptions about the world and allows them to see themselves and others from a different perspective.

Board Member, Jan Ditewig, grew up in a small town in Washington and was always drawn to languages. When the family across the street hosted a French exchange student, she seemed exotic and fascinating to Jane. Read about her language immersion experiences and journey to becoming a language teacher.

On May 31,1972, language teachers Jim Phelan and Bob and Edeltraud Green formed the nonprofit corporation that today, 50 years later, is known as Xperitas. This organization has faced many situations that have interrupted international travel over the past five decades.

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, and is always there there to help with the nuances of Spanish language dialects spoken in this beautiful Latin American country.

Executive Director, Leslie Gale, discusses the “new normal” of a post-COVID language immersion experience. She provides important information on a still evolving international travel environment.

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 Program.

Executive Director, Leslie Gale, shares her perspective of world cuisine as part of the immersion experience and some of her favorite recipes from her time living abroad in Mexico.

The recent Xperitas special event with Rick Steves "Why We Travel," inspired participant educators to reflect on why they travel with students.

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 take it with me after high school, but I was very wrong.  Read Mercedes story.

Board Member, Carolyn Vanous, shares her story about traveling abroad as a student and her perspective of its value with future employers.

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.

Interview with Sylvia Martin, one of our Family Stay coordinators in Germany.