When my son was a freshman, he really wanted to have some summer
experience that was not traditional camp, academics or roaming
across the country. He had never been away from home  for more than 3
weeks nor had he been overseas by himself. The Experiment
in International Living filled the exact niche that my son was looking
for. Athough their overseas experiences involve travel,  it is not
travel for travel's sake. The Experiment is a unique program as no more
than fifteen children make up a core group.  The students
come from all over the world. My son's group included children from
Turkey and Israel. They always have an individual homestay
with a family in their country for a week. They travel for about two
weeks and usually are based in a city for a week. My son wanted
to use video as part of his summer. His UK Film program,  involved
(among many things), being professionally instructed at
Nottingham Film Studios, traveling to Bradford where the group
interviewed the Mayor and went to school with the students there,
and learning what it was like to live in the Midlands. He spoke to
students from many economic backgrounds and made a  45 minute
group documentary of their 4 week experience. Although it seems like a
cliche ( and their literature has testimonies to this), my son
breezed through the airport a changed teenager. He was more confident
and his eyes were opened to how other folks live who may
not have the comfortable existence he knew. It truly was a "life
changing experience." I would recommend it to any Stuyvesant parent,
particularly a Freshman or Sophomore.  

--Barbara Gsovski