UPDATE: DEADLINE EXTENSION FOR THE 2010 CULTURAL MISHAPS STORY CONTEST!

The rumors are true! There is still time to submit your funny stories to us for a chance to win some fabulous prizes! The deadline has officially been extended to MONDAY, MAY 17th at which point the stories will be rounded up, judged, and winners will be chosen. Details as follows:

We've all had that "stranger in a strange land" feeling while traveling. Maybe you used exactly the wrong vocabulary word in Paris and told your waiter, "Thank you; nice butt," instead of "Thank you very much." Maybe after several days in Spain and several attempts at ordering a veggie salad you realized that every single one of them features tuna fish as a standard ingredient, ugh. Maybe those white Capri pants you bought in Florence aren’t quite what the guys in Minnesota are wearing this Spring. We're sure you have a story. Share it with us, and you could win one of several prizes including Apple products, your choice of gift cards, and Abbey Road alumni gear! Please send your story (maximum 500 words) to INFO@GOABBEYROAD.COM no later than MONDAY, MAY 17th to be considered. We look forward to laughing WITH you (not at you). Winning stories will be published on Abbey Road’s website and here on the blog in conjunction with our upcoming redesigned website launch!

SAME AMAZING BLOG, FAB NEW LOOK!

In the words of the very wise Jack Donaghy (the character played by Alec Baldwin on NBC's 30 Rock), "Sometimes you have to change things that are perfectly good just to make them your own." So, before you have a nervous breakdown or panic attack, worried sick that the incredible Abbey Road blog has suddenly taken a drastic turn in light of its brand new look, rest assured that it is the same wonderful blog but we just felt like it was time to shake things up a bit. Think of it like facial reconstructive surgery: the outer shell may look shockingly different but underneath the skin is the same fabulous person. Worry not, friends! We're shaking up the Twitter page too but rolling with the same scheme as this here blog. Solidarity is the name of the game. Anywho, just wanted to explain the new look and assure you that the content of the Abbey Road blog will continue being nothing short of amazing and will, in fact, only get better! I hope all you Abbey Roaders are doing just swell! Summer is almost here!

FINAL WEEKEND TO SUBMIT YOUR FUNNY STORIES

This coming Monday (the 19th) is the final deadline to submit your wacky/awkward/embarrassing/downright silly stories to by judged by GIGGLEMETER (see: previous post, below), officially bringing to a close the 2010 Abbey Road Cultural Mishaps Story Contest. Winners will receive positively drool-worthy prizes. How could you possibly want to miss out on an opportunity to win some sweet gadgetry and/or gift cards simply for telling us about a funny thing that happened on the way to the market? So while you're fondly reminiscing about your absolutely amazing summer experience with Abbey Road this weekend, why not jot it down and get rewarded for your efforts? Have a wonderful weekend Abbey Roaders! Hooray for Spring!

LESS THAN A WEEK REMAINING IN THE 2010 CULTURAL MISHAPS STORY CONTEST!

This coming Monday, April 19th is the final day to submit your funny stories from your abroad experience with Abbey Road! The submissions will be judged by a panel of Abbey Road staff, herein referred to as GIGGLEMETER. Those stories which GIGGLEMETER determines to be the most comical shall win fabulous prizes as a reward for sharing their knee slapping/gut busting/rib tickling/shoe stomping/funny-bone rattling stories. There's less than a week left to submit your stories so share the wealth! We know you've got 'em! See the previous post for more info!

ABBEY ROAD SUMMER TRAVEL PROGRAMS SEND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE MOST POPULAR INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS!

According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, French, Spanish and Italian were the most popular languages to study in 2010 among high school students.
Abbey Road sends students to all three countries.
There are three programs in France: one in Nice, one in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, and one in Aix-en-Provence. In addition, the Western Civilization program visits Paris.
“I choose Abbey Road because of the different options the program offered,” said Mackenzie Selzer, who went to Nice in 2009. “Many programs were more about touring than actually living in France. With Abbey Road, I got to take a photography class, immerse myself with locals, see France and Italy, and learn to take care of myself.”
Selzer’s mother Deb Grimes agreed.
“I can’t say enough about Abbey Road; it was the best experience of Mac’s life,” said Grimes. “It gave her so much confidence, such a positive, positive experience. We want brochures and for our friends and French teachers.”
“Julie had a blast,” said Jane Weil of her daughter’s experience in Saint-Laurent-du-Var in 2009. “She made great friends. She loved the trips, the days at the beach, feeling as if she was an ordinary French girl soaking up the sun. She loved the cultural exposure.”
In Spain, Abbey Road’s program is in Cádiz.
Jillien Schenkel sent her daughter Emily on the Cádiz trip in 2009.
“She not only improved her writing, reading and comprehension of Spanish, but she was also able to immerse herself in the culture of Spain,” said Schenkel. “For this, we thank you!”
Abbey Road also has a program in Florence, Italy, and the Western Civilization program visits Florence and Rome.
“Being in Florence, with a helpful, caring staff and meeting new people has been the best experience in my life so far,” said Emily Kissenberth of her 2009 Abbey Road experience.