Rants From The Dull

Belgium Academic Programs

2012-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, among many other multilateral organizations, Belgium offers you a chance to immerse yourself in the history, culture, and epicenter of today’s global community.

Quick Facts

Language
French and Dutch. Two years of French language study is required for French-speaking Belgium. No previous language study is required for Dutch-speaking Belgium.

Host Family Placement
In rural areas with French Belgians and in suburban areas with Dutch Belgians.

School
September through June. The school day may last from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.

Trips
For year students, a cultural trip is included in the program tuition.

Pastimes
Sports clubs, theater, cinema, and other cultural events.

Living in Belgium, you will experience the richness and diversity of European life, from finding that most people speak several languages to discovering the artistic, architectural, and cultural richness of the country. Through your YFU experience, you will surely gain a new insight of how nations and cultures are coming together.

Belgians have developed a generous hospitality and a great appreciation for culture. With a population of 10 million, Belgium is the second most dense country in Europe. Almost every Belgian family owns their own home. Many Belgians consider their homes a very private retreat, so an invitation to visit represents a great honor.

As much as they are justly proud of their cultural achievements, Belgians appreciate their cuisine, which they have borrowed and adapted from both visiting and neighboring cultures. This appreciation for fine food will probably make meals in your host family a time for conversation, relaxation, and sharing. Belgians love bike riding. During your year in Belgium, you should plan on riding a bike just about everywhere—and possibly on the back of one!

Academic Programs

The Dutch Belgian school system offers a strong foreign language program. Almost everyone in Dutch-speaking Belgium, otherwise known as Flanders, speaks at least two foreign languages: English and French. Educational systems in both Flanders and Wallonia, French-speaking Belgium, are divided between a state system and a private, mostly Catholic system, both of which are free.

Most YFU students will be enrolled in General Secondary Education. You will probably spend weekday evenings doing homework. Belgian schools do not offer extracurricular activities, but you may participate in sports and other activities through private or community clubs.

All YFU year students in Belgium will participate in a YFU cultural activity included in the program tuition. In addition to tuition, students are responsible for the costs of other school or YFU trips that are optional, change of travel fees, visa fees, medical insurance, textbook costs, transportation to school (around 50-100 Euro), language tutoring if needed, additional immunizations that may be needed to attend school, a staying permit upon arrival, and personal spending money (150 Euro per month is recommended).

Dutch-Belgium Special Year Programs

Dutch-speaking Belgium offers four specialized year programs in Art, Fashion, Sports, and Tourism. For each of these programs, students will attend a traditional high school and take courses in their chosen specialization. Students are advised to apply early if interested in these special programs, as spaces are very limited. These programs also require an additional application, which will be sent to students after they send in the standard YFU application.

Art Intensive arts instruction in a variety of subjects is combined with a broad general education. Depending on the school, students have around 20 hours per week of arts instruction in subjects such as architectural art, interior design, artistic education, visual arts, spacial design, industrial art, audio-visual education, applied visual arts, free visual arts, perception techniques, art history, and art initiation. General subjects may include Dutch, French, English, and social studies. Requires a minimum of one year of art education and a portfolio. Estimated additional costs of a minimum 250 Euro will be paid directly to the Belgian school.

Fashion If you love to sew and design clothes or have aspirations of working in the fashion industry, this program offers the opportunity to learn about the creative and commercial aspects of the fashion business. Depending on the school, students have 16-22 hours per week of practical courses such as design and drawing, retail, fashion presentation, trend studies, fashion development, fashion and tailor-made, clothes for men, patterns design, internships and projects, management, ready-made clothing, retouch (touch up), material research, social and communication skills, costume and art history, and marketing and distribution. General subjects may include Dutch, French, English, and social studies. Requires a minimum of two years of fashion education (inside or outside of school) and a portfolio. Estimated additional costs of a minimum 125-350 Euro will be paid directly to the Belgian school.

Sports Designed for the athletic student who wants to combine a general education in math and sciences with sports coursework. Depending on the school, students have around 10 hours per week in courses such as physiology, movement research, anatomy, sports theory, athletics, gymnastics, rhythm and dance, swimming, basketball, soccer, handball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, tennis, and fitness. General subjects may include Dutch, French, English, and sciences. Requires a minimum of two years of intensive sports practice. Estimated additional costs of a minimum 150-450 Euro will be paid directly to the Belgian school.

Tourism This program is designed for students who like to study languages and geography and who are interested in learning about the travel industry. Depending on the school, students have around 10 hours per week in courses such as public relations, reception, history, geography, animation/entertainment, movement recreation, art and culture, applied economics, tourist destinations, internships and projects, and languages. General subjects may include Dutch, French, English, and social studies. Requires a good knowledge of English, a strong motivation to learn different languages in school, and it is preferred that students have a basic knowledge of French and/or German. Estimated additional costs of a minimum 100-500 Euro will be paid directly to the Belgian school.

13th Year Abroad

The traditional Academic programs are also available as 13th Year Abroad options on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about other 13th Year Abroad Programs.

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Programs	Code	Departure	Return	Tuition
Year Dutch (Flanders) Dutch Special Program French (Wallonia)	0712 0020 1081 0015	late December early August early August early August	late December early July early July early July	$7495 $7495 $8495 $7695
13th Year Abroad Dutch (Flanders) French (Wallonia)	0712 0020 0015	late December early August early August	late December early July early July	$7495 $7495 $7695
Semester Dutch (Flanders) French (Wallonia)	0714 0633 0713 0634	late December early August late December early August	early July late December early July late December	$7395 $6995 $7595 $6995
13th Year Abroad Semester Dutch (Flanders) French (Wallonia)	0714 0633 0713 0634	late December early August late December early August	early July late December early July late December	$7395 $6995 $7595 $6995

Online Resources

To learn more about Belgium, we recommend:

* E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
* Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, Dutch and French language dictionaries, and many more country resources
* Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites
* Embassy of Belgium in Washington, DC web site
* Flanders Authority web site

"I had so much fun with my host parents and siblings. I felt well prepared for my trip, which made it easier."
- Leslie Johnson

Austria Academic Programs

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

Landlocked giant mountains, green valleys, and lakes in Central Europe make Austria the most forested country in Europe for you to spend a year or semester.

Quick Facts

Language
German. A basic knowledge of German is required.

Host Family Placement
Throughout Austria.

School
School begins and ends in summer.

Trips
Optional excursions or ski trips may be offered for an additional fee.

PastimesPastimes
Mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, cycling, and boating.

Slightly smaller than Maine, the famous Alps cover much of the west and south of Austria while flatlands dominate the east and northeast. If you love the outdoors, you will enjoy a Spaziergang (a long leisurely walk) - a favorite Austrian pastime. Mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, cycling, and boating are very popular activities with most families.

Enjoy the remarkable natural beauty of Austria and its rich music history which will accompany you with the world-known melodies of Mozart and Strauss. Vienna Imperial Orchestra will invite you to its unique atmosphere of classicism and amazing architecture in Vienna, the world’s music capital.

Travel to Austria and you will experience amazing landscapes, follow the scent of freshly brewed coffee, and listen to the wonderful concerts in Vienna!

Academic Programs

While attending a public secondary school, you will stay with a local host family and participate fully in the academic and cultural life of the school, while settling in as a member of the family. Schools in Vienna include Gymnasiums (AHS), Vocational Schools (HAK), and Technical Schools (VHS). In Austria every student needs to decide about their area of studies. You can pick a school emphasizing economics and study home economics and nutrition class, or an academic school for science where you will take ecology, geometrical drawing, or physics classes.

All academic program students to Austria will have an arrival orientation covering program issues, cultural introduction to life in Austria, living in a host family, culture shock, and problem solving. Individual and personal attention is assured during your stay in Austria.

You are required to have a knowledge of basic German or willingness to take an introductory German class after arrival in Austria at your own expense. The language spoken in Austria may vary considerably from standard German. While standard German is spoken during most of the time at school, you should expect the possibility that the community where you stay may speak dialects typical to that region.

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Programs : Year
Code : 1055
Departure : August
Return : July
Tuition : $7995

Online Resources

To learn more about Austria, we recommend:

* E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
* Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, German language dictionaries, and many more country resources
* Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites
* Embassy of Austria in Washington, DC web site

I won't be no casanova with Anna Kournikova

2012-01-04T12:23:00.001-08:00

The summer is coming, though I wouldn't know it looking out of the window. It's pissing it down! And this is supposed to be the south of France! But let's get in the mood anyway with some lovely summer cheese. This is the video of Romanian group Morandi's "Oh La La" which was supposed to be released thru Apollo/Europa last summer but they couldn't get anyone to playlist this video because A - it's crap and B - it's too "raunchy".

The original edit was even ruder, and all the models were so bloody ugly they had to cover them in veils. That version of the video got scrapped because of religious connotations or something. I dunno whatever, apparantely they might be trying again with it this summer but if they don't it will be a shame, because it sounds like a monster in waiting.

Here's another record that ought to have been a massive UK hit last summer, "Cha Cha" by Chelo. Kind of a mix between Chico and Lou Bega.

One that was massive in Germany in summer 2004 but we sadly managed to escape was the extremely infectious Spanish-language "Veo Veo" by Hot Banditoz... Sonia Y Selena were nearly selected to represent Spain at Eurovision in 2001 with "Yo Quiero Bailar" but it was a massive hit anyway.

And this from Italy's Paola E Chiara, "Vamos A Bailar (Esta Vida Nueva)". Hopefully these will bring some sunshine in to your otherwise dreary day.

But nothing's coming out right

2007-05-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

If SAW were the popmasters of the 80s, Denniz PoP and Max Martin at Cheiron in Sweden were the pop geniuses of the 90s. They were of course most successful with American artists like Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and Britney Spears but they also worked with a British girlgroup called Solid HarmoniE, or SHE for short. Rebecca, Melissa, Elisa and Mariama formed in 1996 and had a string of minor hits in the UK. They only appeared on Top Of The Pops once, with "I Wanna Love You" (#20, August 1998).

Ultimately they only released the one popgem of an album, and Mariama left to join Honeyz (before being rather cruelly booted out a year later!). But during the early part of this decade, did you notice just how many pop acts were being launched, only to be dropped before even the release of their very first single?

At the height of the pop boom at the turn of the century, record companies appeared to be signing pop artists left, right and centre, spunking tens of thousands of pounds promoting them, but in the end deciding that instead of trying to make at least some of that money back by actually releasing the damn record, they decided at the last minute to cancel the release completely. Here are two great pop tracks you might remember never actually made it to the shelves - Allsortz with an awesome version of the Spanish classic "La Bamba", and a young girl by the name of Ashley, whose Jessica Simpson "I Think I'm In Love With You" rip-off "Fallin' For You" also never saw the light of day.

That's all for today... hopefully I will continue to update once or twice a week so please add "us" to your bookmarks. Don't forget that I am taking requests of TOTP performances - if there's anything you want to see, don't hesistate to ask. And if you would kindly give me a link on your own website or blog, I'll be happy to reciprocate. See you soon!

P.S. I once read in Smash Hits that Jo O'Meara used to be in Solid HarmoniE. Was it true or did they get mixed up with another band?

I'm a white man, I'm a white man, everybody do the ragga dance mana

2007-01-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever, like me, wondered why classic euro has been erased from pop history? As far as Dave Pearce is concerned, there were no dance records released between The Prodigy's "Out Of Space" and JX's "Son Of A Gun". Why have I not seen or heard Maxx's "Get-A-Way" anywhere since it was released? Boris Köhler from Germany teamed up with O-Jay of (MC Sar &) The Real McCoy "fame" to produce one of the very best records of the eurodance era.

With a Snow-Informer-style ragamuffin rap from Boris (using the stage name Gary B) and a powerful vocal from Alice Montana (but was replaced with O-Jay's more glamourous girlfriend in the video), the track zoomed to #4 in May 1994. It's about time some awful AATW scouse-house band raped it methinks. Frisco, are you listening?

Subsequent releases were performed by a THIRD girl called Linda Meek who you can see on the TOTP video above. They had two more top 40 hits - the very similar-sounding "No More (I Can't Stand It)" (#8, August 1994)... don't know why they decided to perform that in a boxing ring.... and the almost hardcore "You Can Get It" (#21, October 1994) but after one album they were never heard from again. :(