Staff Spotlight: Alex Jones

It's really hard to pick a top moment but I think that my first visit to Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast of Colombia is definitely one of the best! Tayrona has some of the world's most beautiful beaches- white sand edges with palm trees and jungle. There are no hotels in Tayrona, and you'll probably end up renting a hammock to sleep in, but they're surprisingly comfortable. If you're feeling energetic, them you can walk from the beach through the jungle-covered hills to the pre-historic ruins at Pueblito and I remember how magical and peaceful they are!

Sometimes students overlook Bogota when considering where to visit in Colombia, and can often be put off by tales of colder weather and heavy rain! But the city has so much to offer, and the weather isn't that bad! It has fantastic museums, many of which are free to visit - the Gold Museum is a great starting place for visitors to learn about Colombia and its beautiful exhibitions are world-class. Bogota pioneered the Ciclovia, where huge parts of the city are closed to traffic every Sunday morning, and cyclists, runners, rollerbladers and walkers share the streets with fruit sellers and bike mechanics. You can travel for miles and its a fantastic way to explore the city, especially if you hire a bike. Bogota has great nightlife- whether you are interested in sampling local cuisine or salsa dancing. And it's a really friendly city - I'd definitely recommend a visit!

Many of our students who enrol on Spanish courses with Red Tree Study follow their time as a student with travel around Colombia, and it is always great to hear how much enjoyment they have gained from putting their new language skills into practice as they explore the country. From the point of view of our Film Internship Program, we were delighted to hear that one of our Film Interns had been given a paid role with one of the participating Film companies in their US office once after they had completed the program, and has continued to use and develop the production skills she learnt with us in Colombia back home!

At Red Tree Study, we focus on programs in Colombia, which means that our local knowledge is excellent. We make sure that our team has visited every school or company that we work with, so that we give accurate and informed advice to our customers. We believe in a friendly approach, and keep in touch with our students throughout their time in Colombia so that they can get the most out of their time in this beautiful country. All of our team members have spent time living and working overseas, so we know the small things that make study abroad experiences even better. We are passionate about Colombia and are sure that anyone who enrols with Red Tree Study will be too!

It's so important to listen to the needs and expectations of our students, and make sure that they have all the information that they need to make an informed decision about their study abroad options. Studying overseas is a significant investment of time and money, and its crucial to make sure that people are being given the best range of options. We also make sure that we are easily available to help with any questions or guidance before departure, as well as once they are in Colombia, so that they can really enjoy their time abroad.