Your study abroad adventure may take you thousands of miles away from home, but the right gadgets can make staying in touch with friends – not to mention capturing every moment of your international adventures – seem like a walk in the park. But just what does an ocean-hopping co-ed take when striking out on her or his own to explore the big world? Well, I'm glad you asked because we've done a little virtual shopping for you!

Here are our Top 5 Must Haves for Study Abroad:

1. Digital Camera. So what if you look like a tourist snapping pictures of every monument, sidewalk, and piece of interesting looking food? These are lifelong memories you're creating – aren't they worth sharing, too?

2. Flip Video Camcorder. Some experiences are better recorded live. Try explaining to your friends what it's like when a group of people spontaneously break into a Tai Chi routine in the middle of the sidewalk in Shanghai, or just how many steps are really in the 463 steps to the top of Dumo in Florence. Photos can be doctored. Video is proof of life – and living!

3. Laptop. Of course, laptops make homework and research papers much easier – even overseas. No more waiting for your turn at the computer lab. Just prop up a couple pillows, kick back and catch up with your friends on Facebook before you cram for that term paper.

4. E-Reader. Nothing goes better with sidewalk cafes than "Eat, Pray, Love." Download your favorite books to your new e-Reader and leave room in your suitcase for more essentials, like that great scarf you found or souvenirs for Mom.

5. iTouch. The wheels on the bus go round and round … Okay, we're not 5 years old anymore. How about you pack a new iTouch for those hours-long bus tours to nearby cities. Download a little Frank Sinatra ("Come Fly with Me") to get you in the travelin' mood.

A little short on cash this summer? If you're looking to study abroad in Spring 2011, CEA is offering a $500 Best Buy^® gift card to the first 100 students who apply beginning July 12th! Check out the details today.

A group of our study abroad students in Aix-en-Provence are heading to Nimes July 15th for some music, fun and exploration! Located in Southern France, Nimes offers Roman ruins - including the Roman Arena(also known as the Arena of Nimes)- dating back to 70 AD.

Every summer, the arena hosts a concert series with popular musical acts. This year's lineup includes:

Gossip

Vampire Weekend

Editors

Yuksek

If you're a student, send us some photos from your excursion! We'd love to share them with everyone.

This semester our Spring and Fall Semester students get to experience the exciting City of Port Elizabeth during the Famous World Cup tour! The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be hosting the next match on July 2nd. The City’s adrenaline is spinning with “World Cup Fever”……Who do you think will win??

A group of students just returned from studying Spanish language and culture in Granada! During the week they stayed in homestays, providing them with the perfect opportunity to practice their Spanish skills with local families. On the weekends they went on exursions to Alhambra, Seville and Cordoba, and Morocco. Check out the pictures the students brought back from Morocco!

Hey, beautiful Seville - ready for your closeup? With beautiful people Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz conducting a TV interview on a hotel terrace for their new movie, "Knight and Day," we sure hope so.

But never fear! The opening scene highlights a pretty spectacular skyline, complete with spindles and jutting rooftops - the ideal backdrop for a chiseled hero, a gutsy damsel and, oh hey, how about study abroad?



(C'mon, Tom! You didn't think we were going to give you a free plug here, did you?)

Seville is just one of 24 cities in which CEA Global Education offers a variety of study abroad programs. Our CEA Global Campus in Seville gives students the ideal location to exercise a little Spanish, a bit of flamenco and a lot of hands-on learning.

Inspired to see more of Seville? Learn more.

Murray Fraser, our program director in Sydney, sent us these pics from Australia this week.

Our Spring 2010 students have just returned home from Paris and it looks like they had a wonderful sendoff thanks to our friends in Paris. The CEA staff in Paris organized a brunch cruise and sent us a few photos highlighting the event.

We hope you enjoy!