View details and the complete itinerary here

DELEGATION TO LATIN AMERICA
October 14 – 19, 2015
Take advantage of Study California’s expansive network and broad appeal
to benefit from this unique outreach trip to countries of significant
importance and yield.
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STUDY CALIFORNIA DELEGATION TO LATIN AMERICA
OCTOBER 14-19, 2015
Study California in collaboration with the US Commercial Services of the
Department of Commerce and EducationUSA of the Department of State
present yet another impactful, innovative and cost-efficient recruitment
tour. With careful review of market potential and desires of our members,
we have made Costa Rica and Colombia the main stops of our 2015 Latin
America tour. As Study California with its expansive network and broad
appeal, our program has attracted key partners, influencers and college
bound students in these Latin American countries, setting us apart from
other tours in the region and promising to generate high and long lasting
yield.
To maximize each member school’s exposure and cost-efficiency, we have
aligned our schedule with fairs already planned in the region for members
to opt-in, if they choose. Included in this trip is an historical and strategic
stop to Cuba to be led by the board, optional and open for any members of
Study California. All in all, this unique and competitive program will
become another successful recruitment tour on the heels of the Study
California Delegation to China.
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Brief Summary of Activities
Date
Saturday, October 10
Sunday, October 11
Location
Mexico City, Mexico*
Monday, October 12
Tuesday, October 13
Havana, Cuba*
Tuesday, October 13
Wednesday, October 14
San Jose, Costa Rica
Thursday, October 15
Friday, October 16
Saturday, October 17
Sunday, October 18
Monday, October 19
*Denotes Optional Activities
Medellin, Colombia
Bogota, Colombia
Activities
(1) ASF Fairs*
Monday: (1) Arrival/Networking
Dinner.
Tuesday: (1) Meetings with Univ. of
Havana & Education Ministry, (2)
Visit with two international schools
and students, (3) Visit to local high
school and students, (4) Depart to
Costa Rica.
Tuesday: (1) Arrival (Late Evening).
Wednesday: (1) Official Study
California Delegation to Latin
America begins, (2) One on one
meeting with high school and
university counselors and students,
(3) Briefing lunch with delegates and
Embassy staff, (4) Networking dinner
with high school counselors.
Thursday: (1) Arrival, (2)
Networking dinner.
Friday: (1) Meetings with
recruitment Agencies*, (2) Meeting
with high school counselors, students,
and parents, (3) Briefing lunch for
delegates and EducationUSA staff, (4)
Meeting with EducationUSA
Medellin, (5) Education Workshop,
(6) Networking and mini-fair.
Saturday: (1) Cultural day, (2) travel
to Bogota.
Sunday: (1) Cultural Day
Monday: (1) Meetings with
Recruitment Agencies*, (2) Meeting
with high school counselors, students,
and parents, (3) Briefing lunch for
delegates and EducationUSA,
Fulbright, Colfuturo, and Embassy
USA staff, (4) Presentations, (5)
EducationUSA fair*.
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Itinerary Details:
Friday, October 9th – Mexico City, Mexico (OPTIONAL)
* Arrival at Mexico City International Airport (Ground transportation on your own to hotel).
* Networking Dinner (Place TBD) –No Host Dinner
Saturday, October 10th – Mexico City, Mexico (OPTIONAL):
Program Payable to ASF
* American School Foundation Fair (ASF) – Mexico City (Separate registration and payment
required directly with American School Foundation). If interested, please contact Rachel Dillon,
College Counselor at collegefair@asf.edu.mx or visit
https://sites.google.com/site/mexicocollegefairtour/home/american-school-foundationmexico-city / for more information. Participation fee for this fair is $250 to ASF and deadline is
September 25, 2015)
Sunday, October 11th – Mexico City, Mexico (OPTIONAL)
Program Payable to ASF
* American School Foundation Fair (ASF) – Has High School visit/Fair planned for Sunday to
Escuela Tomas Alva Edison (Separate registration and payment required directly with American
School Foundation). If interested, please contact Rachel Dillon, College Counselor at
collegefair@asf.edu.mx or visit:
https://sites.google.com/site/mexicocollegefairtour/home/escuela-tomas-alva-edison for more
information.
Or,
Cultural Day – On Your Own
Monday, October 12th – Havana, Cuba (OPTIONAL)
No Program Fee
*Flight: Mexico City, Mexico to Havana, Cuba
CUBANA AIRLINES: www.cubana.cu
8:45 AM Direct Flight from Mexico City Arriving 12:15 PM to Havana, Cuba
INTERJET: www.interjet.com
11:20 AM Direct Flight from Mexico City Arriving 3:00 PM to Havana, Cuba
15:35 PM Direct Flight from Mexico City Arriving 19:15 PM to Havana, Cuba
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AEROMEXICO: www.aeromexico.com.mx
Aeromexico flights from Mexico to Cuba
Aeromexico flies daily from Mexico City International Airport to Havana, Cuba
Aeromexico flight 451 Mexico City (MEX)–Havana (HAV), departing mid-morning, arriving
mid-afternoon
Where to buy tickets? Tickets from Mexico to Cuba are available on the AeroMexico Mexican
website, where they have an information page in English. The flight search is in Spanish;
however, they will soon offer the flight search in English. From the U.S. or Canada dial: 011 52
55 51 33 40 00. In Mexico, at Aeromexico city and airport ticket offices/from some online travel
agencies.
* Cuba (Evening Orientation/Networking Dinner) – Hosted by Study CA
Cuba hotel contact information to confirm registration and make
payment:
Hotel:
Melia Cohiba
Ave. Paseo entre 1ª y 3ª Vedado
Havana 10400
Cuba
Hotel Contact:
Please make reservations directly by calling or emailing and make reference to: Hotel Reservation for (Name
of the Person) Study California Delegation – U.S. Embassy Cuba.
Tel: (53) 7 8333636 |Fax: (53) 7 8344555
Email: melia.cohiba@melia.com
Website: http://www.melia.com/en/hotels/cuba/havana/melia-cohiba/index.html
Tuesday, October 13th – Havana, Cuba
No Program Fee
Cuba Program
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Joint meeting with University of Havana and Ministries of Education and Higher
Education to discuss trends, policies, strategies.
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Visit with two International schools in Havana. The visit may also take the form of a joint
meeting. The purpose of the visit to learn the schools’ operations, understand the
expectations, explore future recruitment possibilities. Students are expected to
participate in the meetings with the delegation.
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A visit to one local high school: One local school that is very competitive has been
identified. The students have high academic achievements, who are most likely to qualify
for university studies
The program in Cuba is designed, coordinated and facilitated by EducationUSA in Havana. This
is the first official delegation managed by the brand new EducationUSA office in Cuba. Due to
the newly establish diplomatic relations, we cannot provide detailed information including the
activities by the hour as approvals from the Cuban government is sought by the US embassy in
Cuba.
Late Evening Flight: Havana, Cuba to San Jose, Costa Rica
* Depart to Airport: Transportation to Airport Arranged by Study California
Flight Information from Havana, Cuba to San Jose, Costa Rica
From Havana, Cuba to Panama City, Panama:
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Departure: 6:24 PM La Havana, CU – HAV
Arrival: 8:00 PM
Panama City, Panama - PTY
Airline: Copa Airlines CM0437
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Operated by Copa Airlines
--------------Connecting Flight---------------From Panama City, Panama to San Jose, Costa Rica:
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Departure: 9:11 PM Panama City, Panama - PTY
Arrival: 9:39 PM
San Jose, Costa Rica - SJO
Airline: Copa Airlines CM0162 Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Operated by Copa Airlines
Flight Reservation Website: http://www.copaair.com/sites/gs/es/pages/homepage.aspx#reserve
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Arrival at Costa Rican International Airport (Late Evening)
Ground transportation arranged by Foreign Commercial Service and Hotel Hilton
Costa Rica hotel contact information to confirm registration and make
payment:
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Hotel:
DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari San Jose-Costa Rica
San Antonio de Belén, Ciudad Cariari
Tel. (506) 2239 0022 Ext. 8122 | Fax (506) 2239 0285
Hotel Contact:
Please send an email to Ana.Chaves@hilton.com and copy Yocelyn.Viquez@Hilton.com
Include in the information:
Subject of the email: Hotel Reservation for (Name of the Person) Study California Trade Mission
– U.S. Embassy Costa Rica
Wednesday, October 14th – San Jose, Costa Rica
Official Study California Delegation to Latin America begins
Breakfast on your own, at the Hotel Hilton (included in the Hotel Room)
7:45 – 12:00 PM
Location: Hotel Hilton by Double Tree (Salones Cocorí 1-2-3-4)
One-on-One Meetings with High School and University Counselors and
Group of Students.
 Group 1: 7:45 – 9:45 AM (150 students)
 Group 2: 10:00 -12:00 PM (150 students)
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Briefing Lunch for Education Trade Mission Participants and Embassy
Staff.
Location: Salon (TBD), Hotel Hilton DoubleTree
1:30 – 7:00 PM
Location: Hotel Hilton by Double Tree (Salones Cocorí 1-2-3-4)
One-on-One Meetings with High School and University Counselors and
Group of Students.
Three High Schools per hour.
 Group 3: 1:30-3:30 PM (150 students)
 Group 4: 4:00-6:00 PM (150 students)
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Networking Dinner (TBD)
Thursday, October 15th- Medellin, Colombia
* Depart to Airport: Transportation to Airport Arranged by Foreign Commercial Service
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Flight Information from San Jose , Costa Rica to Medellin, Colombia
From San Jose to Bogota:
Thursday, 15 October, 2015
Departure: 10:20 AM San Jose, Costa Rica - Juan Santamaria, terminal M
Arrival: 1:35 PM
Bogota, Colombia – El Dorado International Airport, Terminal 1 El
Dorado
Airline: Avianca AV696
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A319
Operated by LINEAS AEREAS COSTARRICENSES-LACSA
--------------Connecting Flight---------------From Bogota to Medellin:
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Departure: 3:35 PM Bogota, Colombia – El Dorado International Airport, Terminal 1 El
Dorado
Arrival: 4:34 PM
Medellin, Colombia - Jose Maria Cordova International
Airline: Avianca AV9348
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320
Operated by AVIANCA
* Arrival at Medellin, Jose Maria Cordoba Airport
* Ground transportation to Hotel Arranged by Foreign Commercial Service &
EducationUSA
* Networking Dinner (Place TBD)
Hotel: Medellin
Hotel San Fernando Plaza
Address: Carrera 42A #1-15
Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Tel: 57 4 4445353
http://www.hotelsanfernandoplaza.com/
Contact for Reservations:
ANDREA HOYOS LÓPEZ
Tel: (57-4) 4445353 Ext: 317
Cell: 57-320 6966688
E-Mail: ventas4@hotelsanfernandoplaza.com
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Friday, October 16th – Medellin, Colombia
7:00 – 8:00 AM
Breakfast on your own, at the Hotel
8:00 – 9:30 AM
Meetings with Recruitment Agencies (* optional) Preparation by CS
* Delegates do not attend agency meeting will arrive venue at 9:30am
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Coffee Break / Delegates to set up table
(Each Delegate will have a table and placard)
9:45 – 12:00 PM
Meetings with High School Counselors, Students and Parents
* 6 Schools will be invited (Estimated 120 students)
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Briefing Lunch for Study California Delegates, EducationUSA Staff
12:00 - 12:10 PM
Opening remarks by: Study California representative
12:10 – 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Meetings with EducationUSA Medellin
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Education Workshop/Seminar
(Those invited to the Education Workshop/Seminar and mini fair are Parents, Students, and
High School Counselors)
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Delegation Member Presentations (UC, CSU, CCC, Private) (5 min. each)
Individual school presentations
3:00 – 3:10 PM
Coffee Break
3:10 – 4:00 PM
Group Presentations/Panel Discussion Session (25 min. each) – Panel
presentations with facilitation:
4:00 - 6:30 PM
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Topic One – What are the 4 California Higher Education Segments?
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Topic Two – From Application to Graduation, Life of an International
Student
Networking and Mini Fair (Each Delegate will have a table and placard).
300 students expected.
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Saturday, October 17th – Medellin, Colombia
* Morning on own
* Afternoon Depart to Airport: Transportation Arranged by FCS
* Flight from Medellin to Bogota, Colombia
From Medellin to Bogota:
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Departure: 2:50 PM Medellin, Colombia - Jose Maria Cordova International
Arrival: 3:47 PM
Bogota, Colombia – El Dorado International Airport, Terminal 1 El
Dorado
Airline: Avianca AV9309
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A321
Operated by AVIANCA
* Ground transportation to Hilton Hotel arranged by FCS
* Networking Dinner (Place TBD) FCS
Hotel: Bogota
HILTON BOGOTA
Carrera 7 No. 72-41
Tel: 57 1 600 6100 Ext 2110
Bogota I Colombia
www.hiltonbogota.com
Contact for Reservations:
Paola Fernanda López (I
Group coordinator)
paola.lopez@Hilton.com
571 6006100 ext 2116
Cell: 57 312 325 8684
Sunday, October 18th – Bogota, Colombia
Rest/Cultural Day (Optional for a fee)
• Tour Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
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Lunch at Andres Carne de Res (It doesn’t include the cost of lunch, but the
entertainment at the restaurant is free.)
Cost per person is US $109 (minimum 8 people) and includes transportation to both
venues and entrance fees/bilingual tour guide at the Salt Cathedral.
Monday, October 19th – Bogota, Colombia
7:00 – 8:00 AM Breakfast on your own. (Breakfast is included in the room rate)
8:00 – 9:30 AM Meetings with Recruitment Agencies (* optional) Preparation by CS
* Delegates do not attend agency meeting will arrive venue at 9:30am
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Coffee Break / Delegates to set up table
(Each Delegate will have a table and placard)
9:45 – 12:00 PM Meetings with High School Counselors, Students and Parents
6 Schools (Estimated 120 Students)
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Lunch with Education Trade Mission Delegates, Education USA Bogota,
Fulbright, Colfuturo and Embassy USA Staff.
 12:00 - 12:15 PM Opening remarks by: Study CA representative.
 12:15 – 1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Public Affair Section Bogota Briefing - (Participants: Study CA Delegates)
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Education Workshop/Seminar
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Delegation Member Presentations (UC, CSU, CCC, Private) (5 min. each)
Individual school presentations
3:00 – 3:10 PM
Coffee Break
3:10 – 4:00 PM
Group Presentations/Panel Discussion Session (30 min. each) – Panel
presentations with facilitation:

Topic One – What Are the 4 California Higher Education Segments?

Topic Two – From Application to Graduation, Life of an International
Student
Number of Students expected are 200
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* Those invited to the Education Workshop/Seminar are Parents, Students, and High School
Counselors.
4:00 PM
Official Study California Delegation to Latin America ends
Optional – EducationUSA Fair Bogota, Colombia (Separate registration and payment required
directly with EducationUSA. Special participation fee for Study CA delegates is $1,300. For
more information, please visit EducationUSAfair.org/university)
4:15 PM
Delegates interested in attending the EducationUSA Fair will depart to
Hotel JW Marriott. (Five minutes walking)
Tuesday, October 20th – Colombia, Bogota
* Depart to the United States
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Know Before You Go:
Traveling to Cuba
 Applying for a Cuban Visa
All visas must be processed through the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC. The instructions for submitting visa
applications are located at http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/sicw/EN/ConsularServices.aspx
Cuba Embassy United States:
2630 16 St. N W.
D.C.20009
Washington
United States
Phone: +1-202-7978518
+1-202-7978519
Fax:
+1-202-7978521
Email: secretaria@sicuw.org
traduccion@sicuw.org
Website URL: recepcion@sicuw.org
http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/sicw
 Cuban Currency and Exchange Rates
The major currency for foreigners in Cuba is the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC.) The official exchange rate is 1 U.S.
Dollar to 1 CUC. However, when converting from dollars, there is a 10% penalty and a 3% currency exchange fee, so
for every dollar exchanged, you will only receive 0.87 CUC at official exchange houses (Cadecas). Exchange facilities
are available at some hotels, though the exchange fee may be higher.
Note on credit cards: Despite recent announcements, U.S. credit cards are not compatible with Cuban credit card
systems. You are advised to bring sufficient cash for all your expenses.
 Cell Phones
Given limitations with internet availability, most communication in Cuba is via cell phones. American carrier cell and
data plans will not work in Cuba. Other foreign carriers may have roaming for calls and text messages, although data
networks are generally unavailable, and if available and functioning, roaming on foreign carriers can be very costly.
 Internet
Internet service is severely limited in Cuba and is generally available only at state-run internet centers and hotels
that cater to foreigners. Even in the suggested hotels, the speed and reliability is unpredictable and depends greatly
on hotel occupancy. Local SIM cards can be rented through the state-run telecom company, ETECSA. Foreigners
must provide a copy of their passport to rent a local SIM card, and handsets are sometimes available for purchase.
These function through pre-paid cards in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 CUC. Note that the cost to call the
United States on pre-paid phones is 2.70 CUC/minute. More information in Spanish can be found at
http://www.etecsa.cu/?page=telefonia_movil.
Useful Contacts
Public Affairs, U.S. Interests Section Havana: (53) 7 839 4100 or 7 839 4113
EducationUSA Adviser: Alidamig A. Márquez ext 4169
Deputy Public Affairs Officer: Mrs. Lydia Barraza ext. 4239
*Note* Cuba requires visitors to have non-US medical insurance. Cuba sells temporary insurance policies to travelers.
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