Wikivoyage:Tourist office/Archives/2013/May

Going to college in US from the UK
OK, before you go and throttle me for putting this in the wrong place, I have no clue where to put it, OK, but i presume here would be the best place.

so, onto the subject I'm requesting help on. As a student in the United Kingdom, I am having to undertake GCSEs, but I would like to go to the US to get a college degree and also work/live in the US (mainly the state of Florida). as such, I am panicking a little about what sort of grades I'd need in my GCSEs and if I'd need to redo all of my secondary (High School) education. as a kid brought up in a poor neighborhood by a poor family, I don't have much cash, but I am looking into possibly using a international exchange program to go to the US. My preferred College/Uni degree is in Games development (using Unity and Blender) and/or computing science. any hand in the right direction will be a huge thanks.

Asked by: Kingemocut (talk) 11:59, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

P.S. please could you contact me at kingemocut@yahoo.co.uk, or at | My Wikia Talk page as it would help a million. thanks again.

P.P.S. The GCSE grades i currently have, and are expecting are listed below;

Predicted Grades (unfinished)
English: C

Maths: C

Science Core: D - Currently re-sitting and getting B's (the first year's science course)

Science Additional: C (the second year's course (you get a second GCSE from what I've been told))

RS: C

Graphics: B

P. E.: N/A - Forced to do 1 hours worth of exercise, despite running approx 1.5 miles a day (I split the days so I run around 5 miles one day, rest the next day, then 3 more the day after)

PSHE: (i honestly don't have a clue if there's even an exam in Physical, social, health education, XD)

Functional Skills: Pass (functional skills would get overwritten by my ICT, apparently)

Finished GCSE grades
ICT: B

Drama: C (on the paper, I got a B as a lighting technician)

My hobbies
Programming websites in HTML 5.0 and CSS 3.0,

Programming in JavaScript (ECMAScript),

Finding loopholes within my school's IT system (yeah, I can, and have, got into the staff forms section using a small (and I mean small) amount of processes.),

Reprogramming already made websites to incorporate a much better layout,

programming using wiki markup for a fair amount of wikia's (including the HTML & CSS wiki),

Programming in C# within Unity 3D for games development,

Cross country running,

helping people on the [community.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page community wikia]

Answers

 * OK, first of all, not to be mean about it, but what you want is a college degree, not a collage degree, and when you fill out your application form and write your essay for colleges, make very sure to proofread such that you avoid any spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes. Second, you need to investigate each college's requirements because there is no unitary entrance requirement that covers all colleges in Florida, let alone the entire US. In general, if your grades are poor, you may be likeliest to get into a community college, and it would also help you to know that public colleges are quite a lot less expensive than private collages in the US, although fees for out-of-state students are always a lot more than for in-state students (and being a foreigner, you would not only be out of state but also ineligible for forms of financial aid that are restricted to US citizens). I can't advise you about international exchange programs, though I would guess you would have to already be in a British university to get into one. Good luck! Ikan Kekek (talk) 12:11, 3 May 2013 (UTC)


 * The acceptable grades will vary by college/university AND program. Most colleges/universities will look at a range of factors including not only grades, but extracurricular activities (sports, clubs/organizations you were involved with, volunteer work), grade trends (up/down as you progressed through secondary school), and some demographic data (like race, gender, and nationality...to promote "diversity"). Games development is a field that most likely will only be offered by private, for-profit colleges/universities. However, you can find computer science degrees offered at just about every public university. In Florida, there are two systems of public (government-supported) higher education: there are 11 "universities" which offer the typical bachelor's, masters, and doctoral/professional degrees and where professors/students are involved in research and there are 28 "state colleges"/"community colleges" which primarily offer short-term programs (2-year "Associates degrees", continuing education for employers, & <6 months "certificates") as well as general education courses for students to take and then transfer to a university. "Community colleges" do not offer any bachelor's degrees (4 years), while "state colleges" offer a very limited number of bachelor's degrees in rather mundane fields like business administration, nursing, and computer sciences. The downside to state/community colleges is that they do not provide housing or the traditional university social atmosphere...most students commute from home. However, state/community colleges are less expensive and as a foreign student, they will be your cheapest option. However, costs are going to be high. While the U.S. may not be quite as expensive as Europe, there will still be a lot of costs you will need to bear...housing, food, transportation (public transportation isn't too great in most of the U.S., while a car+car insurance/maintenance/fuel is also expensive), health insurance (colleges/universities usually offer affordable plans), and of course tuition fees and books. The cost of living in Florida is much lower than many parts of the U.S. (the northeast, California, Oregon, Washington, & Hawaii are very expensive). With a student visa, you are only allowed to work a limited number of hours per week (I think it's around 20). In Florida, jobs that someone working part-time as a young adult can expect to get (like retail clerk) only pay around $8-10/hour. Like the previous comment said, nearly all student aid is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. I would recommend studying in the U.K. for a 2-3 years and then try to apply to U.S. universities as a transfer student (courses you complete in the U.K. should be accepted by the U.S. school and credited towards your degree) or coming to the U.S. on a study abroad program for a semester. AHeneen (talk) 14:44, 3 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Without specific reference to the concerns of the original poster, I would demur somewhat on this description of state public schools. There are a bunch of great state universities like the Big Ten schools (Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, etc.) that have diverse offerings. Florida State and University of Florida are also a well-respected, large universities. Also, which 4-year state colleges have no dormitories? I'm struggling to think of any examples. They don't "provide" housing - the student has to pay for it, but that's no different from the situation at private colleges. I think you're conflating community colleges (which generally do not have dormitories and, as you said, offer only Associates degrees, not Bachelors) with 4-year state universities, and if so, that's a mistake. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:28, 3 May 2013 (UTC)
 * No. The OP said he was looking "mainly in Florida". In Florida, the legislature allowed community colleges to start offering some Bachelors degrees around 2005 or so and community colleges that offer Bachelors degrees are allowed to change their name from "Such-and-Such Community College" to "Such-and-such State College" or "Such-and-such College". However, there is a big distinction between a "[State] College" (equivalent to "Community College" elsewhere in the U.S.; lacks on-campus housing; and offers only continuing education courses, associates degrees, and a handful of bachelors degrees) and "Universities" (which conduct research, offer all levels of degrees, and have on-campus housing and social life/atmosphere). The description I gave are correct, although they don't hold true for most other states. Also, the distinction between "College" & "University" only applies to public (government-sponsored) schools, not private institutions. AHeneen (talk) 06:06, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I see. Just an aside, then: As you probably know, the distinction between "state college" and "state university" in states like New York is that each separate branch of the State University of New York system (such as State University of New York at Purchase) is a college. Ikan Kekek (talk) 06:28, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Have a look at Changing_Places, a hilarious-but-partly-serious novel about US and UK universities. You might consider Canada; universities there are generally much cheaper than the US and the visa rules are different. Pashley (talk) 14:58, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

It seems like the OP is really putting his/her heart into this, my admiration! As a Floridian by necessity I can attest that a lot of the "community colleges" have started to make the transition to BA and BS granting "State Colleges" but the ones I know of most of the kids still live with their folks locally. What is particular about OP's question though is he is looking for a good program with gaming/computers, first Florida has a few decent programs with this at such schools as UCF (Orlando) Florida Tech (Melbourne) and the gaining some good press Fullsail (Private College in Orlando) but if your grades are pretty good and your confident of scholarships I would recommend something more like CalTech, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Chicago, or even MIT. If you wish to get a world class education in the bleeding edge of computer technology those schools and those like them are the place, Florida has some very respectable Medical, Art, Law and even Engineering undergrad programs but if you plan on really excelling in technology check out the schools listed above and those that are their peers. UCF, Fullsail even Florida and FSU will give you a very respectable education in gaming/computers but if you have the talent why not shoot for a top 50 computer school, and those are in the NE and West Coast, not Florida.Marketdiamond (talk) 07:26, 6 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I know M.I.T (massachusetts institute of technology) would be in a dream world, but I acknowledge I'd never be able to get there, even more so because I know just reaching cambridge would be a huge challenge. that's why M.I.T. was off the list. To be honest, I don't mind too much where I work when I'm older, I just wanna work with computers (even working as an IT tech in a high school would be good enough) but I'm purposely working towards what I enjoy the most within the computing industry. I'm looking at going to Jacksonville Uni, but even if i can't get there, i've still got my local college just in case. Also, It's because of housing and stuff why i'm aiming for Jacksonville, because after the mail we just got today, it looks even less likely that I'll even be able to stay in my own house. (the british government right now are so far up their own backsides. first making Plymouth airport close (possibly from our local council, but I'm unsure of that), and then having the train lines cut out in exeter, it's as if they don't want anyone to become successful,yet they're cutting off all the benefits for those trying to become rich...). Kingemocut (talk) 09:54, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

Little notes
Thanks so much for all the help and support, and sorry for any spelling mistakes located in the question. I would have added me GCSE grades, but doing so is awkward when you haven't even finished all of the courses, though I have finished a 2 of my GCSEs already, and have literally just finished all my coursework for my GCSE Graphic Design. the grades I have for the two courses I've finished are now outlined before the answers, just to make it a little easier for anyone else who wants to help me, and also would give a rough outline for other people in the uk if they also want to do the same sort of thing.

Also, I'm aiming for the Jacksonville area in particular, so any help with jacksonville college/uni would be a HUGE boost. Kingemocut (talk) 19:58, 3 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Like I said above, you may be better off studying in the U.K. and then transferring to a U.S. university because of costs. I honestly don't know how your grades compare with the (U.S.) system that I am used to. For a list of public schools in Florida see: universities & Colleges (differences between the two are explained above). There is one university in the Jacksonville area—the University of North Florida (Wikipedia). They offer 4 computer science degreesTuition (which doesn't include books, housing, and some other costs/fees) is $689.80 per credit hour. The average 4-year degree (a "Bachelors degree") is around 120 credit hours...or 30 credit hours per year (2 semesters)...that's $20,694/year! There is one public college in Jacksonville...Florida State College at Jacksonville (Wikipedia). Tuition is just $9,583/year. You could earn an "Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree" then transfer to a public university to complete your Bachelors degree. In Florida, some colleges have an agreement with a public university where you are guaranteed admission to that university if you earn an A.A...a certain minimum Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) may be necessary for some programs like Engineering or Nursing. For example, in the Orlando area, students who graduate from Valencia College with an A.A. degree are guaranteed admission into a Bachelors degree program at the University of Central Florida.
 * Grades are important, but (practically) all U.S. universities/colleges require scores from a college entrance examination...either the SAT or ACT. I can't find a list of international locations where the SAT is offered, but their international registration website is here. The College Board (which produces/administers the SAT and also offers college search services/info) has information about studying in the U.S. for foreign students. The ACT is offered at nine locations in the U.K. While I can answer more, you really should take some time to look at the websites of colleges you may be interested in and look for programs you may be interested in studying.
 * can i quickly ask, is the US SAT test you outlined the same as the UK SATs (these are taken in year 6/6th grade in the uk), because if they are, then i don't have a clue where i can locate them, and any help would be gladly appreciated :). also,i don't know how useful this may be, but I'm gifted enough that I can get high grades without tuition, so could it be possible to 'take out' the tuition fees?
 * Kingemocut (talk) 12:56, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * The US S.A.T.s are very different from UK SATs - they take the form of standardised (largely) multiple choice exams in Maths, Reading and Writing. If you go to the College Board website above, you can find a list of test centres in the United Kingdom and sign up to do it. :) --Nick (talk) 13:08, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * if you mean here then i'm highly unlikely to be able to do the corse... >.<. stupid plymouth trying to be 'city of culture' but having hardly no external culture from the us/most of asia... >.> Kingemocut (talk) 13:40, 5 May 2013 (UTC)
 * No, I mean here, however, if you haven't yet done your GCSEs, you shouldn't have to worry about those tests for a few years. --Nick (talk) 13:48, 5 May 2013 (UTC)


 * oh, ok. well, i've narrowed the collages i'd like to go to down to 2, and they are florida state college Jacksonville and Jacksonville University. Also, some people may say this is just coincidence, but almost everyone in so part of my family got high up in their current, or got high grades in tests, as far back as my great great great... (i don't know how far back it is) grandfather, William Tyndale, so i guess that it could be that my family always has a few rich people their :P. my granda was a captain in the merchant navy too :D


 * Kingemocut (talk) 14:22, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

Equaluit, Nunavut, head office for Marisse River Project
Asked by: 208.101.109.52 23:26, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

Comment
What's the question? Ikan Kekek (talk) 23:40, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

You may get more hits if you spell Iqaluit correctly. --74.252.5.226 15:39, 10 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Do you mean the Mary River Project, a large iron mine development near Iqaluit? Web search turns up much info on that. Here is the Wikipedia page. Pashley (talk) 17:05, 10 May 2013 (UTC)

Meeting people on holiday with a friend
What's the best way to meet people when you're on holiday with a friend?

Asked by: Clover345 (talk) 17:24, 4 May 2013 (UTC)


 * A: It really depends just where you're on holiday, but bars, nightclubs, pubs, beaches and other public spaces are all good starting points. Happy travels! --Nick (talk) 18:25, 4 May 2013 (UTC)


 * A: To add to what Nick said, just be open to talking to people anywhere - on the train, in the street, at museums, in cafes, wherever. Ikan Kekek (talk) 23:04, 4 May 2013 (UTC)


 * A: There are some very straightforward ways of ensuring interaction with locals too, if you aren't a master of small talk: take a class, do an afternoon of volunteer work, use Couchsurfing, sign up for speed dating, etc. --Peter Talk 19:09, 5 May 2013 (UTC)


 * A: Instead of opting for isolationist hotel rooms, try staying in a hostel dorm. The poor quality sleep you'll get will be made up for by the interesting people you will meet! JamesA  >talk 13:21, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

bus service between El Calafate-Argentina and Torres del paine np Chile
Is there a bus service from El Calafate that goes to the entrance of Torres del Paine NP entrance?

Asked by: 121.223.71.111 11:12, 7 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Look at the "get in" section of Torres del Paine National Park. Pashley (talk) 23:18, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

from Kristiansand to Lillesand
Can you tell me the best way to get from the pier in Krinstiansand to Lillesand and back again? Is it possible to go via the Blindleia Passage? Or would taxis be available? We will be there only for one day on 12 September, 2013. My thanks, in advance!

Asked by: Deedeejohnson (talk) 22:09, 8 May 2013 (UTC)

From JFK to Tarrytown
An acquaintance of mine will travel during the summer, from Hungary to the U.S., will land at JFK and from there will have to get to Tarrytown. This is the plan I provided with her, as the shortest, easiest, cheapest way to get to Tarrytown from JFK. What I would like, is somebody who is familiar with the area, checking it, if it's viable or not.

1. Get on the NYC Airporter headed for Penn Station.

2. Get off at Grand Central (approx. 70 minutes ride). The bus will stop at the intersection of 41th Street and Park avenue.

3. Walk to Grand Central Terminal. Map: http://i39.tinypic.com/aotmvd.jpg 4. Get on the Hudson line, headed for Croton Harmon. 5. Get off at Tarrytown (the 13th stop).

I compiled this with the help of a website, and it suggested that the sum of fare prices will be around 25 bucks. Is this correct?

Thanks!

Asked by: 46.107.26.54 14:22, 10 May 2013 (UTC)

Europa Park
Which airport - Zurich or Frankfurt is easier for travelling to Europa Park, Rust by train?

Asked by: 176.27.208.85 20:52, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * There does not seem to be much in it. According to the website of Europapark the closest train station is Ringsheim. www.bahn.de thinks its 2-2.30h from Frankfurt Airport to RIngsheim and 2.45h from Zurich Airport to RIngsheim.86.152.120.82 23:08, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Wikipedia Australian Telephone Area Code Error
Hi I was reading about your area codes on the page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Australia#South-east_region_.2803.29

i found it VERy interesting that the eastern region, BAIRNSDALE, now has phone numbers that are 03 41. Wow. I live in Bairnsdale and I can tell you that our phone numbers ALL start with 03 51. the next digit for our area is either 52 or 53 therefore our phone numbers are (03) 5152 xxxx or (03) 5153 xxxx. You need to remove the supposed "41" for our region phone number. Whoever has given you this information obviously knows that (03) 41 does not and wont exist for this area of the state. the codes are not positioned like that. I work for the telco business in this area so I am a professional in the telecommunications business

Asked by: 121.214.109.103 17:59, 16 May 2013 (UTC)


 * As this is an enquiry concerning a particular Wikipedia page, I've copied your comments to that page's talk area, here. --Nick (talk) 18:38, 16 May 2013 (UTC)

Mexico-- How safe for Americans to leisure travel
Asked by: 98.237.211.203 22:24, 18 May 2013 (UTC)

Reply
Which part of Mexico are you thinking of? It's a large and varied country, and no more uniform in safety than the US. Ikan Kekek (talk) 22:35, 18 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Exactly. If you are planning to beach it up in the Yucatan, you'll be perfectly fine. If you're more in the mood for nighttime strolls around Ciudad Juarez, you may find trouble. Mexico City is a more peculiar place, with a serious kidnapping problem that necessitates extra precautions, but shouldn't deter people from visiting altogether. --Peter Talk 07:14, 19 May 2013 (UTC)

Restaurants in Munich
As I have said earlier, I am going to Munich this week. I shall probably eat at a restaurant at least once every day. Can someone recommend good restaurants there? My hotel is near Theresienwiese and the event I shall be spending most of my time at is near Freimann. I have already been told about "Augustiner Bräustuben", and I intend to eat there as soon as I get to Munich. I also have previous experience of "Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl", the Hofbräuhaus, and the "Aumeister Restaurant" near the Englischer Garten. But I don't want to eat at the same restaurants every day. I particularly enjoy Bavarian/Austrian cuisine, especially bratwurst and schnitzels. Apart from that, I also like Asian food, such as Chinese cuisine and sushi, and pizzas. I am also fond of hamburgers, but I prefer to eat hamburgers made by speciality restaurants, not by McDonald's or something which I can find in pretty much every country. Asked by: JIP (talk) 18:51, 20 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I'm not that familiar with Munich, but as nobody else has replied... Hofbräuhaus is a historical and indeed quite good (even if touristy) restaurant with live music and everything, but who wouldn't want try out other restaurants as well? I suggest you take a look at the "Eat" sections in the Center, Maxvorstadt and Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt. Like in many other countries pubs also serve local food (and in Munich it means Bavarian). For a fast meal in the afternoon: bratwurst, bockwurst, weisswurst and other sausages can also be enjoyed as fast food from street stalls (served with potato salad, sauerkraut, a bretzel or a bun). Lastly I have a warning for you: on Marienplatz there is a Bavarian restaurant by the name "Donisl" where the food was horrid two years ago (what's worse: I went there because the restaurant was recommended here on Wikivoyage :. Hopefully someone with better knowledge of the city notices your question. Ypsilon (talk) 09:42, 21 May 2013 (UTC)


 * There is a official website of the City of Munich for English speaking tourists. 79.239.30.15 12:53, 21 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I found at least "Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl" and "Nam Nam" to be interesting restaurants near the city centre. I have already visited "Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl", but it was the best bratwurst I have ever eaten, so I might go there again. "Nam Nam" is only a couple of U-Bahn stations away from my hotel, so I could visit there to try some Thai food. At least the prices don't seem very expensive. JIP (talk) 19:47, 21 May 2013 (UTC)

Spanish ( Madrid ) Company
My granddaughter has been offered a place with a Madrid (Spain) firm called Pueblo Ingles for Teens where she will accompany Spanish teenagers to allow them to practice their English language. Do you have any information regarding the legitimacy and safety of this firm?

Asked by: 90.204.119.209 13:59, 24 May 2013 (UTC) Mr. J.Friar


 * See if there is anything helpful at Teaching English. Pashley (talk) 14:44, 24 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I found two reviews and a travel blog from a participant:
 * Dooyoo: Pueblo Ingles - A parents' perspective
 * Travelblog: "I say Anglo, you say Spaniard..." Pueblo Ingles 2011
 * Wiki answers: here.


 * There are several reviews/overviews of the program online, and some positive reviews in the comment sections of some articles, so it doesn't seem like a shady/illegitimate company:


 * Matador Network: Pueblo Inglés: Best volunteer experience in Spain?
 * Vagablogging: Pueblo Inglés
 * Yahoo! Voices: Teenagers Get Free Room and Board for Volunteer Work in Spain
 * Omniglot blog: Pueblo Inglés
 * AHeneen (talk) 03:22, 27 May 2013 (UTC)

Western US distance
The distance from Sisseton SD to Mont Rose Colorado??

Asked by: 98.159.177.109 18:22, 24 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Google Maps suggests 37.5 miles, ~45 minutes without traffic. But I suppose you didn't mention how you are traveling... If walking, you'll need to stay off the highway, so 34.5 miles, 11 hours and 15 minutes ;)  --Peter Talk 22:22, 24 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Did you mean Montrose, Colorado? If so, the distance from Google Maps is 1,027 miles, or nearly 17 hours by car. (325 hours on foot and 90 hours by bike.) Reschultzed (talk) 16:12, 6 June 2013 (UTC)

Distance from...
Distance from Bophutatswana to Wells, Nevada? Thanks. --86.184.235.230 19:27, 26 May 2013 (UTC)

Answer
Bophutatswana no longer exists. See Bophuthatswana. What else do you want to know? The straight-line distance, as a bird with very powerful wings and a desire for a long transcontinental and transoceanic flight might fly, if not affected by wind currents? Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:22, 26 May 2013 (UTC)


 * From the largest city of Bophuthatswana, Mmabatho, the straight line distance to Wells, NV is about 16027 kilometers or 9959 miles according to Google Earth. To make the trip, travel to Johannesburg from where there are direct flights to at least Atlanta and New York from where you can take a domestic flight to Salt Lake City, Utah which seems to be the closest major airport to Wells, Nevada - some 300 km or 200 miles away. From that last part you'll probably need to rent a car, as there doesn't seem to be any Greyhound bus service to Wells. Ypsilon (talk) 09:57, 28 May 2013 (UTC)