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Things are really opening up in Cuba and it’s very exciting . There are more and more possibilities every day . It’s a bit tricky but if you work with locals and follow the rules, then big things are possible .
This trip would not have been possible even last year , so the Xtreme Team is pumped to be starting at the right time .
Joining this trip you can genuinely be a pioneer and give something back to Cubans in need. We aim to set small groups of 3 -6 to kick this programme off.
The club will be delighted , as regular groups from Xtreme Gap could really make a difference to the training standards by providing them with quality gear though an official donation from our company and through your own generousity.
It’s going to be great fun for the students getting involved at this early stage , they will be pioneering a new era in Cuba..
Many of the kids in the boxing club have has little or no contact with outsiders due to strict government rules and over protecting of tourists and the revolutions ideology. Now there’s a fresh new energy in the air and Cuba is really coming alive and you can be a part of it.
Important: as a requirement of this program you are expected to bring boxing training gear with you and donate it to the club. This is an essential part of the experience and will help the club Continue to train young Cubans giving you the opportunity to leave something there for the benefit of all.
This 4 week boxing programme is unique to Xtreme. Living in Havana you can train with professional ex boxing champions. Whilst undertaking a crash Spanish course and experiencing the real Cuba. Miles away from the walled off boutique resorts tailoring just to tourists, you will be mixing with the locals who live and breathe boxing with a passion.
Amazing for your fitness, boxing is a sport that not only has incredible physical fitness benefits that is mentally stimulating as well. Let’s just say bar football boxing is the sport of choice in Cuba. Read more about Cuban boxing legends.
This program is suitable if you have never box before, male or female.
To get the most out of this programme you need to be able to communicate with the trainers effectively. So we include Spanish lessons in the mornings and do Boxing in the afternoon.
The Spanish you will be given 60 hours of Spanish lessons month.Don’t worry though, it’s not like school – the lessons are informal and delivered by local teachers!
The lessons are tailored to your level as well, with a test at the beginning of the program used to established what you need to be taught. You’ll be in small classes too, with about 6-8 pupils being the maximum.
You won’t just be learning the language in Havana though – you’ll be learning the culture and traditions as well, and what is more Cuban than throwing your hair back and taking to the dance floor? You will also be learning Spanish by practising at the boxing gym as well, and there’s nothing like proper cultural immersion to help develop those language skills.
Hidden around the corner from our ‘Casa’ this is the oldest boxing club in Havana and has trained and formed numerous Olympic champions.
Cuba has an incredible Olympic boxing pedigree, having won 32 gold medals in the sport. Boxing is the country’s second favourite sport surpassed only by Cuba’s well-documented passion for baseball.
Here the niños begin their training very young, many of them have no shoes or even enough food, but they keep going to the gym every day.
Throughout your time in Havana, you’ll also get the chance to head out on a number of excursions, Whilst these are not included in the price they are available to you the low-cost once your in Havana. These are a great way of taking in the different aspects of the history, culture and politics of this island. All tours are curated by a scholar from the University of Havana, meaning that you’ll only get the very best information. Once you head home, we hope that these excursions allow you to answer one simple question, a question that has baffled many people before you: what, exactly, is Cuba?
While in Cuba, you will be staying with real Cuban families, understanding what it is like to live in this country on a day to day basis. As already mentioned, you’ll stay in a casa particular while in Havana, and some of the main features of these are:
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This 4 week programme is without doubt one of our most ambitious ever, and will see you begin your journey in the world famous capital city, Havana. You won’t be staying in a hotel though, but in a casa particular, charming guesthouses run by local people and which are one of the only examples of legal capitalism in the country.
This accommodation will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture, as you share breakfast and lunch with the owners, as well as fellow travellers. You can even practice your Spanish on them, and they’ll certainly do their best to help you understand the country as a whole.
Havana
Much of the time in Havana will be spent learning Spanish, and you will be given 4 x 45 minute lessons every weekday. Don’t worry though, it’s not like school – the lessons are informal and delivered by local teachers! The lessons are tailored to your level as well, with a test at the beginning of the program used to established what you need to be taught. You’ll be in small classes too, with about 6-8 pupils being the maximum.
You won’t just be learning the language in Havana though – you’ll be learning the culture and traditions as well, and what is more Cuban than throwing your hair back and taking to the dance floor? Cubans love to dance, and you’ll get a couple of dance lessons each week to learn the basics of dances such as the cha cha cha, rumba and, of course, salsa. Okay, you won’t be an expert when you leave, but you’ll impress everyone when you get back home! You might even impress some of the locals with your moves when you head to one of the many different vibrant music venues throughout the city in the evening!
Throughout your time in Havana, you’ll also get the chance to head out on a number of excursions, taking in the different aspects of the history, culture and politics of this island. All tours are curated by a scholar from the University of Havana, meaning that you’ll only get the very best information. Once you head home, we hope that these excursions allow you to answer one simple question, a question that has baffled many people before you: what, exactly, is Cuba?
You will also return to Havana for two weeks after volunteering, and will continue learning Spanish and exploring – even after a total of a month, you’ll still only have scratched the surface of this city and will be itching to come back once the trip is finished!
Once your two weeks in Havana has been completed, you’ll move onto beach side settings – the time when many people say that they get to see the “real Cuba”.
The setting is Punta Perdiz, just outside the seaside town of Playa Giron 200km directly southeast from Havana.
Playa Giron is world renowned because of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April 1961 that led to the first US military defeat in Latin America.
It is in the heart of the Zapata Swamp, the largest wetlands of the Caribbean islands and one of many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cuba.
There is an abundance of plant, bird and other wildlife, many of them endemic to the area. During your time here you will explore the area with our expert guides to find out more about this unique habitat and its history.
You will visit Laguna del Tesoro (‘Treasure Lake’), Hatiguanico River basin, Montemar Great National Park, Playa Giron Museum, a crocodile farm and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean!
Despite misconceptions about Cuban way of life, Cubans do enjoy ‘holidays’. All over Cuba are to be found ‘Campismos’ – state concessions/hostels run for the benefit of Cuban holidaymakers.
Foreign tourists are not usually permitted to stay at these properties – in much the same way as Cuban’s are not permitted to stay in holiday resorts operated for visiting tourists.
We have negotiated a special status for our volunteer students and you will be living in Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’.
While there you will be engaged in several conservation and eco-tourism based volunteer initiatives. In conjunction with the local International Dive School and Cuban Red Cross you will be involved in beach and reef conservations efforts while onshore you will spearhead a renovation project to rejuvenate the local basketball court and other sporting and recreational based facilities.
In week 5 & 6 it’s back our familiar surroundings in old Havana. But this time we will apply skills developed working as a team in Punta Perdiz to another important community based volunteer project – the legendary boxing gymnasium ‘Rafael Trejo Gimnasio’.
Hidden around the corner from our ‘Casa’ this is the oldest boxing club in Havana and has trained and formed numerous Olympic champions.
Cuba has an incredible Olympic boxing pedigree, having won 32 gold medals in the sport. Boxing is the country’s second favourite sport surpassed only by Cuba’s well-documented passion for baseball.
Here the niños begin their training very young, many of them have no shoes or even enough food, but they keep going to the gym every day.
Our role here is multifaceted and on going – we will improve the infrastructure of the property, for example animating the exterior and interiors walls, as well as donating equipment.
Spanish lessons will resume during these final two weeks in Havana while at the weekend we will take another trip to a nearby beach to top up the tan before returning home!
While in Cuba, you will be staying with real Cuban families, understanding what it is like to live in this country on a day to day basis. As already mentioned, you’ll stay in a casa particular while in Havana, and some of the main features of these are:
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This 2 week program is without doubt one of our most ambitious ever, and will see you begin your journey in the world famous capital city, Havana. You won’t be staying in a hotel though, but in a casa particular, charming guesthouses run by local people and which are one of the only examples of legal capitalism in the country.
This accommodation will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture, as you share breakfast and lunch with the owners, as well as fellow travellers. You can even practice your Spanish on them, and they’ll certainly do their best to help you understand the country as a whole.
Havana
Much of the time in Havana will be spent learning Spanish, and you will be given 4 x 45 minute lessons every weekday. Don’t worry though, it’s not like school – the lessons are informal and delivered by local teachers! The lessons are tailored to your level as well, with a test at the beginning of the program used to established what you need to be taught. You’ll be in small classes too, with about 6-8 pupils being the maximum.
You won’t just be learning the language in Havana though – you’ll be learning the culture and traditions as well, and what is more Cuban than throwing your hair back and taking to the dance floor? Cubans love to dance, and you’ll get a couple of dance lessons each week to learn the basics of dances such as the cha cha cha, rumba and, of course, salsa. Okay, you won’t be an expert when you leave, but you’ll impress everyone when you get back home! You might even impress some of the locals with your moves when you head to one of the many different vibrant music venues throughout the city in the evening!
Throughout your time in Havana, you’ll also get the chance to head out on a number of excursions, taking in the different aspects of the history, culture and politics of this island. All tours are curated by a scholar from the University of Havana, meaning that you’ll only get the very best information. Once you head home, we hope that these excursions allow you to answer one simple question, a question that has baffled many people before you: what, exactly, is Cuba?
You will also return to Havana for two weeks after volunteering, and will continue learning Spanish and exploring – even after a total of a month, you’ll still only have scratched the surface of this city and will be itching to come back once the trip is finished!
While in Cuba, you will be staying with real Cuban families, understanding what it is like to live in this country on a day to day basis. As already mentioned, you’ll stay in a casa particular while in Havana, and some of the main features of these are:
The post 2 Week Spanish & Salsa Cuba! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year UK.
]]>The post Xtreme Cuba Experience appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year UK.
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This 4 week program is without doubt one of our most ambitious ever, and will see you begin your journey in the world famous capital city, Havana. You won’t be staying in a hotel though, but in a casa particular, charming guesthouses run by local people and which are one of the only examples of legal capitalism in the country.
This accommodation will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture, as you share breakfast and lunch with the owners, as well as fellow travellers. You can even practice your Spanish on them, and they’ll certainly do their best to help you understand the country as a whole.
Havana
Much of the time in Havana will be spent learning Spanish, and you will be given 4 x 45 minute lessons every weekday. Don’t worry though, it’s not like school – the lessons are informal and delivered by local teachers! The lessons are tailored to your level as well, with a test at the beginning of the program used to established what you need to be taught. You’ll be in small classes too, with about 6-8 pupils being the maximum.
You won’t just be learning the language in Havana though – you’ll be learning the culture and traditions as well, and what is more Cuban than throwing your hair back and taking to the dance floor? Cubans love to dance, and you’ll get a couple of dance lessons each week to learn the basics of dances such as the cha cha cha, rumba and, of course, salsa. Okay, you won’t be an expert when you leave, but you’ll impress everyone when you get back home! You might even impress some of the locals with your moves when you head to one of the many different vibrant music venues throughout the city in the evening!
Throughout your time in Havana, you’ll also get the chance to head out on a number of excursions, taking in the different aspects of the history, culture and politics of this island. All tours are curated by a scholar from the University of Havana, meaning that you’ll only get the very best information. Once you head home, we hope that these excursions allow you to answer one simple question, a question that has baffled many people before you: what, exactly, is Cuba?
You will also return to Havana for two weeks after volunteering, and will continue learning Spanish and exploring – even after a total of a month, you’ll still only have scratched the surface of this city and will be itching to come back once the trip is finished!
Once your two weeks in Havana has been completed, you’ll move onto beach side settings – the time when many people say that they get to see the “real Cuba”.
The setting is Punta Perdiz, just outside the seaside town of Playa Giron 200km directly southeast from Havana.
Playa Giron is world renowned because of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April 1961 that led to the first US military defeat in Latin America.
It is in the heart of the Zapata Swamp, the largest wetlands of the Caribbean islands and one of many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cuba.
There is an abundance of plant, bird and other wildlife, many of them endemic to the area. During your time here you will explore the area with our expert guides to find out more about this unique habitat and its history.
You will visit Laguna del Tesoro (‘Treasure Lake’), Hatiguanico River basin, Montemar Great National Park, Playa Giron Museum, a crocodile farm and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean!
Despite misconceptions about Cuban way of life, Cubans do enjoy ‘holidays’. All over Cuba are to be found ‘Campismos’ – state concessions/hostels run for the benefit of Cuban holidaymakers.
Foreign tourists are not usually permitted to stay at these properties – in much the same way as Cuban’s are not permitted to stay in holiday resorts operated for visiting tourists.
We have negotiated a special status for our volunteer students and you will be living in Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’.
While there you will be engaged in several conservation and eco-tourism based volunteer initiatives. In conjunction with the local International Dive School and Cuban Red Cross you will be involved in beach and reef conservations efforts while onshore you will spearhead a renovation project to rejuvenate the local basketball court and other sporting and recreational based facilities.
While in Cuba, you will be staying with real Cuban families, understanding what it is like to live in this country on a day to day basis. As already mentioned, you’ll stay in a casa particular while in Havana, and some of the main features of these are:
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How would you like to get a diploma, spend four weeks travelling somewhere exotic with the possibility to get paid for your efforts at the end of it. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn’t.
Not only can you do all that, you will get mentored by one of the top journalists in the country Beci Wood who spent 10 years at the biggest newspaper in the UK. Get assistance publishing your piece and sending out through news channels with the aim of it being picked up as newsworthy. This will give you an amazing exposure and a genuine opportunity to try out and launch a new career in journalism.
On this program you can either undertake the diploma only and use it to boost your qualifications whilst you undertake any of our gap year programs, or you can involve yourself On our Xtreme journalism assignments. Set in 2 locations where you can study and learn more about journalism.
For the assignments, you can choose either Thailand, or Mexico and you have four weeks to complete the course and we throw in some adventure activities along the way. What they are depends on the time of year, we do not keep it set so we can react to any newsworthy stories or events.
The course involves quite a bit of coursework, so where better to undertake some investigative journalism, or get inspired than abroad by paradise beaches.
You have full backup and support of our UK-based tutors, who have considerable experience in the industry. You can actually study anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection and a laptop.
Once you have completed the course and have written your final piece we will assist you in sending this out to our media houses who may or may not pick up on the story. If you do get published you will receive 60 percent of your royalty fees which could be enough to cover the cost of the entire course.
What you report on is up to you, but you will have the full back up and support and guidance of professional journalists (including the head mentor on the programme – Beci Wood with 10 years experience on staff at the UK´s biggest newspaper).
Not only is journalism and exciting career, it’s something you can take with you to your next stage after travelling, whether that be a part-time job at University, or something you do on the side or launch phone into as a career.
So whether you want to do something genuinely rewarding while you travel, or want to have something that not only looks amazing – really is amazing on your CV then the Xtreme reporter as you.
On the Thailand option we have a completely unique and very exciting work experience attachment to this program. You will work in a genuine media Company that produces monthly magazines all over Asia. Working from their offices in Phuket, you will put your newfound skills to use: tasked With writing articles and uncovering stories as a reporter. You will go out develop and write stories and make a valued contribution to the magazine and online websites. Working under the CEO and his media team this is a genuinely unique opportunity to gain work experience and do a really fun job which will build your resume and give you an insight into an exciting industry as you travel.
The company is called think media and is American run running various different franchises of popular magazines, what’s on guides and delivers local news and features in and around Phuket.
The work experience option can either last two weeks or four weeks, depending on your preference and includes all accommodation.
In Mexico you will stay in Playa del Carmen, a short walk from the beach at our base the Bendito Rancho. This is based on a dormitory (shared accommodation).
In Thailand you will stay in Phuket where you will also be involved in a work experience module with think media. You will stay on a bungalow either your own or shared with one other person the same sex. The bungalow is located close to the officers.
Journalism needs specialists. People with knowledge and passion for their subject. We provide a range of courses in specialist subjects ranging from health to the environment through to investigative and travel journalism.
Journalism courses currently available:
Yes our courses are accredited by third party organisations
Our diploma is widely recognised in the UK and overseas. It is a vocational award, equivalent to an NVQ level 1 or 2.
The Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC) and the ABCC validate it.
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