By on October 24th, 2013
International Homestay for UCLA Students is Rich in Opportunities
International students who travel to study abroad at UCLA will find many rich opportunities in the area around the University of California at Los Angeles. A homestay for UCLA students will provide new, refreshing experiences. Visit local eateries or the nearby Santa Monica mountains. Right in UCLA’s Westwood area, international homestay students will find the weekly Farmers’ Market. There’s also a choice of movie theaters and entertainment, grocery stores and supermarkets, diverse restaurants and coffee shops, a number of sports terrains and more. Of course, besides education, Los Angeles offers exciting nearby places to visit. You must see Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica’s Promenade and Pier at the beach. The neighborhood has ample bus line service throughout the local community, and beyond, for those who do not have their own car.
Enjoy the Culture at UCLA
The area surrounding UCLA and Westwood is rich in culture. The campus itself has theatrical, orchestral/musical and other live performances at Royce Hall and other venues. The famous Geffen Playhouse hosts stage plays with even more famous A-list Hollywood stars, right on campus! International homestay students can also enjoy foreign films and private movie screenings at the James Bridges Theater in the Melnitz arts building. The Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars offers local tours, UCLA orientation, visa assistance, intramural sports teams, and culture/conversation cafés. A number of museums dot the area. These include the renowned Hammer Museum, and even an outdoor statue garden. UCLA has attractions for every international homestay student’s interest.
Visit the Area Around UCLA
BruinBus can take you around campus and Westwood. The Big Blue Bus can take you off-campus to the surrounding areas, or straight to the beach and its amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. The new Muscle Beach is right at hand, and the original one in Venice, just a bit further down the coast. It’s a fun walk or bike ride along the beach. Enjoy shopping at Santa Monica’s Promenade or want to visit the famous Rodeo Drive of Beverly Hills. Local city and Los Angeles Metro bus transportation can get you there. The Culver City bus line can even come pick you up at the UCLA campus a. It will take you to other Westside locales, or straight to visit Sony Studios (and Culver Studios, where “Gone with The Wind” was filmed)! In the other direction, Hollywood is just a simple bus ride away. You’ve come this far, go see what’s nearby!
Special Tips for International Students
There are some best-kept secrets that international homestay students should know about as soon as they arrive. The E3 Farmers’ Market (Ecology, Economy, Equity) takes place in Bruin Plaza three times per quarter on Wednesdays, for fresh fruits, vegetables and more. The Monday Night Concert Series and Coffeehouse Stage occur at the Kerckhoff Hall Venue. A fitness Passport can be purchase at UCLA Recreation for gym use, weight training, art, dance (break or ballet), martial arts, group exercise, and yoga meetings and classes. Or, you can try track running and boot camp workouts. Or learn diving, sailing and rock climbing. Plus, you can get their discounted Galaxy soccer and LA Kings hockey tickets! Some of the grocers you will want to check out include Whole Foods (for everything organic) and the famous Trader Joe’s. Westwood Village also includes over 150 restaurants from brew houses and trattorias to noodle houses and Asian fusion. Just ask us about more of our UCLA secrets, too!
No matter what your extra-curricular interests as an international student, a study-abroad homestay at UCLA will enrich your life beyond the classroom.