Monthly Archives: January 2023

The Republic of Angola – a former Portuguese colony that endured decades of civil strife during the Twentieth Century – has experienced a renaissance over the past 20 years. “Safe and welcoming, this friendly nation transports that laid-back, community-oriented lifestyle of southern Portugal to continental Africa – and travelers are once again discovering its charm,” the World Travel Guide noted (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/angola).

With 1,000 miles of Atlantic coastline, the southwest African nation beckons Phoenix area travelers with tropical beaches, virgin rainforests, vast plains, savannahs, wetlands, and hardwood forests.  The gleaming skyscrapers of the capital city, Luanda, provide a dramatic counterpoint to the traditional villages that dominate a sprawling country that is over four times the size of Arizona.  

Los estudiantes internacionales, ejecutivos de negocios y profesionales nuevos en Filadelfia y el área metropolitana circundante pueden inscribirse en un programa de inglés para mejorar sus habilidades en el idioma o prepararse para la educación o el trabajo en los Estados Unidos.

Los programas de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL, por sus siglas en inglés) o inglés para hablantes de otros idiomas (ESOL, por sus siglas en inglés) ayudan a los estudiantes a aprender o mejorar sus habilidades en inglés. Ya sea que necesite educación para principiantes, intermedios o avanzados, existen varios programas de ESL y ESOL para estudiar inglés en Filadelfia y sus alrededores. Las opciones incluyen aquellas que enseñan habilidades básicas para hablar y escuchar, otras que se enfocan en mejorar lo que ya ha aprendido y algunas que ayudan con las habilidades de preparación para exámenes.

Editor's Note: U.S. passports are currently taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service.  It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

More residents of Macon are obtaining U.S. passports as international travel grows in popularity across Georgia, increasing the importance of understanding how to obtain a passport locally.

The strong economy and expanding population combined to fuel higher demand for new passports in recent years.  Metro Atlanta and surrounding cities such as Macon, are the fourth-fastest growing region in the United States in the late 2010s, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Of Georgia’s 10.6 million residents in 2019, nearly 235,000 live in the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.  From 2013 to 2019, the number of Georgia passports issued by the U.S. State Department annually grew by more than 150% to reach 487,000.

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most Detroit area tourists, as well as Detroit business leaders seeking commercial opportunities overseas.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and several other North African countries, Algeria’s tropical and subtropical climates encompass fertile land in its northern region and the Sahara Desert to the south.  The second largest country in Africa, Algeria is the continent’s fourth largest tourist destination.  The country also offers numerous business opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas, power, infrastructure, IT, and defense sectors (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/algeria-market-opportunities).

International students, business executives, and professionals new to Philadelphia and the surrounding metropolitan area can enroll in an English program to improve their English skills or prepare for education or work in the United States. 

English as a Second Language (ESL) or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs help students learn or improve their English skills.  Whether you need beginner, intermediate, or advanced education, there are various ESL and ESOL programs to study English in and around Philadelphia.  Options include those that teach basic speaking and listening skills, others that focus on enhancing what you’ve already learned, and some that help with test preparation skills. 

The Republic of Guinea is not a common destination for residents of the Chicago area, but it does provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers and those seeking new commercial opportunities in international trade. “Tarnished by the Ebola crisis and long-term political instability, it is a country most people stay away from,” the World Travel Guide noted  (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/guinea/). “But for travelers who like being far, far from the beaten path, Guinea has many enticements.”

Singapore, the modern city-state located just off the Malaysian peninsula, draws leisure and business travelers from Miami and across the globe with its modern amenities and spectacular natural beauty.  The island nation offers travelers amazing beaches, state-of-the-art accommodations, exciting nightlife, and unique culinary experiences.   

Now known as the Republic of Singapore, the tropical archipelago was known for centuries for the marine trading post Temasek.  In the early 1800s, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles of Great Britain established a port of call in Singapore, eventually transforming the island into a major trading center and a British colony.  Occupied by Japan during the World War II, Singapore separated from Britain in 1959 and became a sovereign nation in 1965.  Today the “Switzerland of Asia” is a global financial and corporate center that ranks among the most prosperous nations around the globe.  Despite being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Singapore boasts clean modern streets, low crime rates, futuristic skyscrapers, and one of the world’s busiest ports.

The Republic of Mali -- a landlocked former French colony in West Africa -- is better known today for its continued civil strife than as a tourist destination.  The U.S., British, and other governments recommend citizens do not travel to Mali because the risks of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism remain high.  While civil unrest has closed some popular tourist destinations to the general public, many other attractions remain open for cautious, adventurous travelers from the Atlanta area.

Mali is one of the most remote countries in the world and one of the hottest.  Covering 480,000 square miles, the country stretches from the middle of the Sahara Desert in the north to the more heavily populated Sudanian Savanna to the south.  Drained by the Niger and Senegal rivers, the remote country offers travelers cultural treasures, desert sand dunes, rolling plains, tropical savannahs, and woodlands.  Mali’s largest metropolitan area, the capital city of Bamako, offers a more Westernized alternative to the traditional villages found across the country.  

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar is once again open for Tampa Bay area residents after reopening its borders following the pandemic.  Myanmar was largely closed to the outside world until the government began encouraging tourism in 1992.  The nation quickly became an appealing destination for tourists seeking cultural experiences, spiritual awakenings, unspoiled beaches, and spectacular natural beauty.  While the tourism infrastructure is more established in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, Myanmar today reflects the natural environments of those countries before decades of Western-style development made their mark.   

Formerly known as Burma, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar gains its independence from British rule in 1948.  After periods of democracy and military rule, a new civilian government took charge in 2011 that began actively encouraging visitors and building tourist infrastructure.  Millions of tourists followed as the decade progressed.  However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and another military coup d’état in early 2021 devastated tourism.  While political repression and instability continue, travelers have begun returning to Myanmar since the country reopened in mid-2022.

UPDATED April 26, 2023

Millions of tourists visit the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan each year, enjoying the Arab state’s many historic, cultural, religious and natural treasures.  The Jordanian tourism industry is the largest private-sector employer in the country, accounting for 14% of its economy and drawing more than six million visitors annually, including visitors from the Portland area. 

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located between the Red Sea, the Dead Sea, and the River Jordan at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe.  Modern-day Jordan has been inhabited by humans for several millennia.  The area had previously been part of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Roman, and Ottoman Empires before achieving independence from British rule in 1946.  The country of more than 10 million is predominantly Arab and the official language is Arabic -- the fifth-most spoken language in the world with more than 230 million.