The Origin of Arabic Words in English

The Origin of Arabic Words in English Arabic Words and their Meanings  in English ChaptersEnglish Words from Arabic - A Short HistoryCommon Arabic Phrases Used Day-to-Day in EnglishArabic in English - Phrases that you Wouldn't Think Were Arabic!'I am naturally a stern and silent fellow; even forbidding. But there’s something about etymology and where words come from that overcomes my inbuilt taciturnity.'  ?  Mark Forsyth,  The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English LanguageAccording to the Linguistic Society, there are more than 6,900 distinct different languages around the world. The Arabic language is the 5th most spoken language worldwide, falling just behind English, Chinese, Hindi and Spanish. The language has such a strong linguistic presence globally that it seems only natural that it should have an influence over the lexicology of Western European languages, such as French  and English.In fact, the English language is composed of a multitude of words and phrases that have been loaned from the Arabic language. Our w hole alphabet, from A to Z, from algebra, alchemy and albatross right through to zenith and zero, English vocabulary is composed of hundreds of words of Arabic origin.Thus, it is interesting to have a closer look at some of the foundations of our dictionary, alphabet, lexicography and  phonetics by examining the different languages that have influenced them.On a personal note, I did not suspect the international origin of certain words that I use almost every day - that is the beauty of linguistics!Not only is becoming familiar with English versions of common words used in Arabic an intriguing endeavour, it is also a great way to learn Arabic and will even enable you to become a master multilingual speaker and Arabic translator!Why not learn arabic online?'seventh-leading supplier of loanwords to English'. This makes it a keen contender for having one of the strongest influences over the English language, outrun only by languages such as French, Spanish, Greek, Italian and Latin.But , we ask ourselves, how has this Semitic language of the Islamic world come to impregnate itself into the English language in such a long-lasting way? How have certain words derived their meaning from the phonetic Arabic pronunciations?Arabic Enters EuropeHundreds of years ago, the sheer global magnitude of the Arabic language as a result of the expansion of the Islamic civilisation during the seventh century meant that Arabic was able to easily infiltrate itself into other languages. The Arab world was able to extend out beyond the borders of Middle Eastern countries and develop a lexicon, phonetic system and etymology so distinctive that it is still present in English vocabulary today.Thus, the Arab culture was able to linguistically dominate the Occident right up until the thirteenth century in an enormous number of domains, which we will learn more about later on.After a period of a so-called linguistic explosion, Western countries, principally from the South, began to take the reins and Islamic Spain started to have a greater linguistic influence over the English language. This is why we still have so many words that are derived from Arabic terminology.What was then to follow was of course colonisation, world migration, other languages and trades, which were to bring with them a whole host of new terms with their origins in the Arabic language.Literature also played an important role in Arabic finding its way into the English language. Essentially, while Plato was translated and brought to us by Latin authors, the philosophy of Aristotle was largely imported by Arab thinkers and translators.So one way of learning Arabic is to learn which English words have Arabic roots, even if the phonetics may have changed slightly from the original.You may think you are a monolingual when in fact each one of us is bilingual and a walking talking Arabic - English dictionary!Do you know some of the most beautiful Arab cities?Common Arabic Phrases Used Day-to-Day in Engli shOne word, one origin - Arabic! (Source: Visual Hunt)English-Arabic DictionaryWe probably don't think about it nearly enough, but several lexical terms that are used day in and day out by English language speakers around the world are actually derived from the Arab world and Arabic script and conversation.This has been one way that Arab culture has been imported across to the West. Little by little, it has transformed itself into the vocabulary we all know and use today. This is just a simple question of etymology, morphemes and locution!An  English - Arabic dictionary is a tool that both helps to inform us of the origin of words and allows us to learn Arabic. The idea here is to take certain words and understand their dialectal variations, derogatory and colloquial definitions, phonetics, etymology and quite simply,  their fundamental meanings.Example of English Words from ArabicA short and very simple example that we can all remember is as follows: If I order you a coffee without sugar and also a carafe of orange juice, how many of the words in the sentence I use will be derived from Arabic? Four! It's as simple as that!So, let us have a look at the terms allow us to gain a better understanding of the etymology of our lexicography and the roots of particular words.Café or Coffee - this drink - the English noun for which is now so famous in the UK -originated in Yemen in the 15th century and got its name thanks to its Arabic counterpart  qahwa. The word  qahwa evolved to  kahve as it reached Turkey and then again to caoua in Algeria before moving on to becoming café in France and finally, transforming into the coffee that we know and love today. In Arab speaking countries, the word signified a grain of roasted coffee and the associated hot drink that would have been prepared at the time. This linguistic origin  also refers to the drink that was discovered in Europe in the seventeenth century thanks to Venitian merchants. Those who enjoy history may also be interested to know that the first coffee house was introduced to the UK in 1651. Another theory as to the origin of the word also suggests that there is a consensus among some geographers that it originates from a province in Ethiopia called  Kaffa.  Thus, it is called  K’hawah, which means invigorating in Arabic.Sugar or Sucrose -  at the end of the twelfth century, the Italian locution,  zucchero, began to be used. The term is itself actually derived from the Arabic equivalent,  sukkar, that comes from Sanskrit  (meaning grain).   For all the versions of the noun (for example, be it sugar or sucrose, or even the French, sucré), each nickname, each meaning, ultimately originates from the Arabic. It is the Arab world who began to refer to sugar through dialogue and speech in the way that we know it today in European languages. Pfeifer, a linguist specialising in Germanic languages, explains that Arabs and the Arabic speaking world brought the sugar cane culture to Andalucia, Egy pt and Sicily.Carafe  - originating from the Arabic word,  gharfa, which meant a form of ladle to hold water, not much is known about the history of this loanword. From gharfa of medieval Arabic, the word travelled to Sicily in the fourteenth century and later to Northern Italy where it morphed into  caraffa  and eventually to British shores where it became a carafe (a drinks vesicle usually made of glass).Orange - the first use of this noun dates back to the thirteenth century. Originally, the orange was a fruit from China that was introduced to the rest of the world by Portuguese sailors in the fifteenth century. In Arabic, the word Orange  actually means… ...Portugal! The evolution of the term into the English noun we now use has been quite an incredible etymological adventure. For several centuries, the term Orange travelled many linguistic paths and took on multiple definitions before it eventually began to refer to the fruit and finally, the colour it refers to in modern Eng lish. In short, after having given us words like  arancia  in Italian,  naranjaen in Spanish, or even  laranja  in Portuguese, the term Orange that we now use in English has been given its name from the Arabic equivalent and refers to oranges that are sweet rather than bitter.Thus, it is safe to say that the Arabic language has an etymological richness that always keeps one guessing!If you're not much one for guessing games, you could take Arabic courses London or elsewhere in the UK!When Arabic and English find themselves interconnected! (Source: Visual Hunt)Unexpected EtymologyNot to mention the phrases in the list above (we can also recall  aubergine, gazelle or even  hazard as being English words translated from Arabic), we can say with some confidence that the Arabic language is an inexhaustible source of morphemes, colloquial language and lexical meanings that covers a large number of areas:Clothes: jumper, cotton, mohair, satin, gilet, etc,Games: hazard, chess, checkmate, rac ket, etc,Music:  lute, guitar, tanbur, tabla etc,Mathematics:  zero, algebra, etc.It is quite clear that among the multitude of words whose origin or etymology is rooted in Arab culture and the Arabic speaking world, there are some words whose roots are rather more  unexpected and surprising than others.Part of what makes up the richness of literary Arabic and Arabic from the dictionary is that it has such a diverse etymology and rare phonetic system, which has resulted in some words being indispensable, either for the simple reading of a historical dictionary or for learning of Arabic vocabulary online.One way of learning a language is by discovering certain words of the same origin or with similar pronunciations and going from there!The existence   of a locution, or a morpheme (defined as 'a meaningful morphological unit of a language that cannot be further divided (e.g.  in,  come,  -ing, forming'), can sometimes be more surprising than simply being a bit of terminology that is p art of the English language and has the same origin as Arabic words.So get out your reading glasses and your travel dictionary as we take a closer look!Are you looking to get a tattoo in Arabic?Arabic in English - Phrases that you Wouldn't Think Were Arabic!Arabic, a language which has given many words to the English language. Now dogs can learn the origin of English words too! (Source: Visual Hunt)Jumper - this noun, which now is such an important part of our everyday clothing vocabulary was actually loaned from the Italian term  giubba, which was itself adapted from the Arabic word  jubba or  giubba. The literal meaning of the word is a kind of men's gown or robe or a kind of undergarment like a vest. From its previously usage making reference as a masculine garment, it has since changed meaning under English hands to become a unisex item that keeps us all warm in the winter months!Spinach - a plant that we know of today as something with which to make delicious soups and become a s strong as Popeye actually has a long and quite fascinating history. The ancient Greeks and Romans were unaware of its existence and it wasn't until Arabs migrating to Spain in medieval times brought the leafy vegetable over for trading that the Arabic term  isfanakh  began to circulate around Europe. Slowly but surely, the term eventually transformed into the word spinach in English after the vegetable was introduced to England in the 1400s.Magazine - the origins of magazine are still fairly recognisable when looking at its Arabic counterpart  makhazin. It is actually more the word's meaning that has changed rather than its phonetics. It initially referred to a storeroom in English, originating from the Arabic verb to store  khazan.  Magazines in England were actually places where military items such as gunpowder and bullets were stored, the French term for shop magasin has perhaps retained more of the original meaning than the English. Around the seventeenth century, the term sta rted to refer to information on goods and topics relating to the army and the navy until it finally evolved to mean our favourite copy of Cosmo, Bliss, Men's Health or even National Geographic!Safari - adventures around the Australian outback or through grasslands in Kenya are probably what spring to mind when you see this word, which makes its foreign roots perhaps not that surprising. However, the word actually originally comes from Arabic rather than from any indigenous African or Australian languages as we might have thought! Whilst the term  did probably reach us through the Swahili version  safari  meaning journey, it ultimately came from the Arabic noun safar that also signifies a journey.Well, it is safe to say that learning the Arabic origins of English words also makes for quite a journey in itself! The terms above are just four examples among many of common Arabic words used in English.It is true that whilst learning the Arabic  language and learning the English language may seem like polar opposite activities nowadays, the English dictionary is a testament to the fact that several English morphemes and phrases come from the same root as those of many Arabic terms. This is probably not really enough vocabulary to turn us into fluent Arabic speakers or foreign language experts but at least it gives non-native Arabic speakers something to get their teeth into and start the learning process!Learning Arabic from English words in this way can pave the way for making your very own dialectal and etymological dictionary, which takes into account the literal sense of words that can be found in any phonetic English dictionary. Apart from the abovementioned terms, we can also easily see that many many terms we use all the time like  chemistry,  massage  and fanfare, all come from Arabic.Find an Arabic teacher here.To summarise, there are so many words in the English language that we use daily and that we would never really have expected to have foreign roots l et alone the same linguistic roots as Arabic words.All this talk of Arabic is enough to make me want to take some Arabic classes!That is the beauty of language and the captivating power of etymology!Discover the best Arab architecture.See the most beautiful Arabian cities.

Guitar Lessons the Real Recipe for Success

Guitar Lessons the Real Recipe for Success Suzy S. When your child is taking guitar lessons, youll quickly learn that the students success depends on everyones commitment including parents and teacher. Continue reading as Glendora, CA guitar teacher Lance K. explains this recipe for success I have always lived by the motto that music should be fun. Part of that fun, however, is becoming proficient on guitar. The best way to achieve the results you desire is through hard work, and hard work requires commitment. Commitment is something that is required from everyone student, parent, teacher when signing up for music lessons. Moms and Dads! The amount of time, money and effort to have a child learn to play the guitar can be substantial. But rest assured the rewards will be worth it when your child performs for the first time. Music students! It’s not always easy to sit down and practice guitar after school when your friends are out having fun. Someday, however, your friends will be very impressed by your talent and will wish they had spent more time practicing their instrument. As a guitar teacher it is my job to always be prepared, and make your lessons fun and informative. My commitment to you comes in the form of individualized lessons that are customized to your needs, as every student is different and learns at a different pace. I know I need to be flexible, understanding and ready to adapt. Much like a recipe in cooking, music lessons need a recipe for success. The recipe in music requires a solid commitment from all three parties: student, parents and teacher. If one ingredient is missing, success will be difficult to achieve. But given the right combination of ingredients, the results can be spectacular! Music is a universal language that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. Here are some handy tips for parents of music students: Do a. Be aware of the personal value and growth inherent in each musical experience. b. Let experiences evolve naturally out of the lesson environment c. Be flexible d. Make sure to ask questions and understand the material your son or daughter is working on e. Be sure to get involved be an active participant in the learning process f. Keep a regular line of communication open between yourself and the instructor Dont a. Dictate experiences to your son or daughter b. Stick rigidly to a course of action that is not working c. Become frustrated when your son or daughter isn’t progressing at the pace you might expect d. Pressure them to succeed beyond their capabilities “There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses â€" only results.” Ken Blanchard Lance K. teaches bass guitar, guitar, piano, singing, Flamenco guitar, music recording, music theory, and songwriting lessons to students in Glendora, CA. Lance holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with an emphasis in guitar, and his specialties include classical, flamenco, rock, blues and jazz styles. Learn more about Lance, or search for a teacher near you! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by chris friese

English Phrasal Verb of the Day To Hook Up

English Phrasal Verb of the Day To Hook Up Its easy for us native English speaker to forget how complicated and confusing English phrasal verbs (verbs comprised of 2 or more words) are. While they come naturally to us, indeed they are often part of informal speech, they are widely considered to be one of the most challenging aspects of English.Consider the phrasal verb to hook up. If you are just starting to learn English, the following sentence may seem very confusing:We hooked our new computer up to the network. The word up seems to have no place in this sentence, it isnt clear that it goes with the word hooked, and theres no reason that the two words should add up to mean connect. And then theres the fact that hooked up only means connect in this context.Hooked up can be used to ask someone to put you in contact with someone:I asked Jim to hook me up with the girl we met at the club last night. Or it can mean to do you a favor:Jim hooked me up with two tickets to the U2 concert. I can mean to meet with people:Did you hook up with your friends last night? And, as if this phrasal verb couldnt get anymore confusing, it can mean to have sex with someone:Did you hook up with the girl you met at the club last night? Note that in the other usages of hook up, the phrasal verb is usually separated by a noun or pronoun, as in: Hook me up, or Hook Jim up. In this final two usages, it is not separated. The construction of these last two usages are very similar, and you should really have a good handle on how theyre used before trying it out. Or just use it, and be prepared for some humorous misunderstandings.In the end, proper usage of the English phrasal verb hook up is all about context. I recommend testing it out with close friends, or with a native English tutor, before trying it out in the real world. Also, you should note that it is an informal way of speaking, and therefore generally meant to be used with people you are familiar with.Want to learn more phrasal verbs? Check out our Phrasal Verb of the Day.

Making the Most of This School Year

Making the Most of This School Year A new school year has begun and you and your child want to get things off on the right foot. Whether last year was your childs best year yet or he or she faced some challenges, its always a good idea to take time at the start of the new year to reflect, set goals, and focus. How can you encourage your child to make this year a great one? Here are several tips for parents: Set the tone for positivity.A positive attitude will help children overcome hard times in school and life. Parents who embrace an optimistic mindset influence their children to do the same. The goal is to help children believe that every challenge or misstep is an opportunity to grow and become better. Talking about admirable role models who have overcome roadblocks to achieve big things reminds children that nobody has a completely smooth pathand they shouldnt be discouraged if their journey has bumps along the way. Explore what went right last year.The simple exercise of reflection is powerful, helping children look back on what they learned, where they were most successful, the experiences with teachers and other students that were most memorable and transformative, and more. Parents can take time as they and their children prepare to go back to school to talk about what went right last year, what they would like to change and whether there are any specific adjustments they want to make, such as their study routine. Talk about what is (and isnt) in their control.So much in life isnt in our control, and its an important reminder for children to focus on what is. To succeed in school, children must pay attention in class, give every subject their best effort and ask for help when they need it. When bad grades happen, parents should encourage their children to think about what they could have done to prepare more effectively for the assignment or test and make a plan to do better next time. Children who consistently take ownership of their school experienceand assume responsibility for itare more grounded and motivated. Commit to daily organization.Staying organized is a challenge for just about everyone. For children who struggle to keep on top of things, now is the time to revisit the homework routine and determine what needs changing. Parents should go over best practices for using the daily planner to keep track of homework and important dates as well as housekeeping items like a good process for filing school paperwork and keeping binders and backpacks tidy. Checklists around the house are useful tools to reinforce those daily to-dos. Set goals.Goal setting is such an important part of the kickoff to a new school year, encouraging a growth mindset and helping children get into the right frame of mind to give school their best effort this year. Over a few nights, parents should sit down with their children to talk about (and write down) academic and personal goals for the year. There is great value in including in this list some of the steps needed to achieve those goals and discussing how Mom and Dad can offer support. Even a little effort toward helping your child prepare for a new school year will make a big difference. Your child will feel calmer and more prepared, making for a smooth transition from summer break to school modeand a happier household overall. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help atwww.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visitwww.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

10 New Year`s Resolutions for College Students

10 New Year`s Resolutions for College Students Happy New Year to everyone! If youre a college student, this article will give you some ideas to help you make your New Years resolutions. We hope this year will be more productive, positive, successful and enjoyable for you. New year brings great hopes for change and growth. It presents the perfect time to set new goals. Check out this list of New Years resolutions for students and make your own variations: Stop procrastinating. Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines. Try to finish your papers at least one day in advance. Raise your activity levels, join the campus gym or a university sports club. Physical exercise is not just crucial for maintaining a healthy body, but is also good for your brain when done on a regular basis. Find a mentor. It can be your tutor, sports coach, teacher, or even an elderly neighbor. It’s a great chance to learn from someone who has more knowledge and experience. Make a study plan. Believe me it is much more effective way of learning. It will lead to better results, reduce the level of stress. And what is important, you will achieve more without feeling drained. Get at least 6 hours of sleep a night. If you get less than that, your body will feel the stress of fatigue. Having enough sleep keeps your body and mind exceptionally healthy. Reduce social media time. Instagram is having a major impact on our productivity. Switch it off when studying and you will fell the difference. Join more student clubs or organizations to expand your social circle. You’ll get to know like-minded people with similar interests and it can also look great on you resume. Live within your student budget. Dont use a credit card for things you want. Use it only for things you need. Challenge yourself a little to try something totally new at least once a month. Try to limit the number of TV shows and movies you watch. Try to read more instead. Reading is never a waste of time. No one can go back in time to change what has happened, we can only work on our present to make yourself a wonderful future! 10 New Year`s Resolutions for College Students Happy New Year to everyone! If youre a college student, this article will give you some ideas to help you make your New Years resolutions. We hope this year will be more productive, positive, successful and enjoyable for you. New year brings great hopes for change and growth. It presents the perfect time to set new goals. Check out this list of New Years resolutions for students and make your own variations: Stop procrastinating. Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines. Try to finish your papers at least one day in advance. Raise your activity levels, join the campus gym or a university sports club. Physical exercise is not just crucial for maintaining a healthy body, but is also good for your brain when done on a regular basis. Find a mentor. It can be your tutor, sports coach, teacher, or even an elderly neighbor. It’s a great chance to learn from someone who has more knowledge and experience. Make a study plan. Believe me it is much more effective way of learning. It will lead to better results, reduce the level of stress. And what is important, you will achieve more without feeling drained. Get at least 6 hours of sleep a night. If you get less than that, your body will feel the stress of fatigue. Having enough sleep keeps your body and mind exceptionally healthy. Reduce social media time. Instagram is having a major impact on our productivity. Switch it off when studying and you will fell the difference. Join more student clubs or organizations to expand your social circle. You’ll get to know like-minded people with similar interests and it can also look great on you resume. Live within your student budget. Dont use a credit card for things you want. Use it only for things you need. Challenge yourself a little to try something totally new at least once a month. Try to limit the number of TV shows and movies you watch. Try to read more instead. Reading is never a waste of time. No one can go back in time to change what has happened, we can only work on our present to make yourself a wonderful future!

Country Day School

Country Day School Country Day School Founded in 1963, Country Day School is an international school offering an American High School Diploma and a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses for its 875 students. CDSs curriculum also prepares students for the Costa Rican Bachillerato examinations at the high school level. The CDS mission is complemented by the CDS Educational Development Association, the non-profit arm of the school which funds scholarships for local students, encourages student community service opportunities and supports continuing education for local teachers. The campus moved to its current site in July 2016 and is the first K-12 LEED-certified school in Costa Rica. It includes 81 well-equipped classrooms, seven science labs, robotics and maker spaces, a theater, fine arts center, library, athletic facilities and swimming pool. CDS offers a full sports program and a range of after-school activities for its students. Basketball, soccer and volleyball are the most popular competitive sports. Student council, National Honor Society, environmental and service learning programs, music and drama, a robust elective program in middle - high school and overnight class trips to Costa Ricas national parks provide a well-rounded extracurricular program. CDS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the United States and by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education.

American International School of Monrovia

American International School of Monrovia American International School of Monrovia The American International School of Monrovia Liberia Over 40 years ago -- with the arrival of a large expatriate community involved in everything from missionary work to mineral excavation -- a need arose to provide an education for expatriate children. Thus, American Cooperative School came into being. Starting out with just a handful of students, ACS evolved into a school of over 600 students and was known as one of the top American-International schools in Africa. Shareholders of the school were, and continue to be; multi-national companies, members of the diplomatic community, and qualified local Liberians in search of a quality U.S. Education. A change in the economic and political climate during the late 1980s and 1990s discouraged many of the multi-national companies and diplomatic community from remaining in Liberia. When they left the country, the school population declined, and with the onset of Liberian Civil War, the school closed in 1988. On October 8, 2007, after five years of peace in Liberia, the school reopened under a new name: The American International School of Monrovia. For the 2014-2015 school year, AISM anticipated over 150 students. However, the Ebola Crisis of 2014 led to a virtual shut down of essential services in the city of Monrovia, which led most international missions and embassies to issue an ordered departure. As a result, the Board of Trustees took the difficult, but prudent, decision to close AISMs doors (under Government Decree that all schools in Liberia be closed until further notice) to ensure the safety of its teachers and pupils. It was with great excitement that the Government of Liberia allowed all schools to open once again in early February of 2015, for AISMs eight continual year of operation, signaling the containment of the Ebola virus, and the resumption of normal life, in the country of Liberia. The crisis, however, did take a toll as the American International School of Monrovia looks to open its doors for the 2015 School Year with between 70-80 students in our Early Childhood Education program (ECE) through Upper School. Recently, as the economic, political and health situation in Liberia have turned the corner and business conditions have improved, there has been a direct increase in enrollment due to the fact that companies and the diplomatic community brought in more expatriate workers and their families. The American International School of Monrovia is a modern air-conditioned facility that, in the future, could once again enroll well over 600 students. Presently, there is ample classroom space for all of our students. In addition to the main school building, our facilities include a basketball court, gymnasium and weight room, and a soccer/baseball field. The curriculum is North American, the medium of instruction is English, and the student/teacher ratio is 6.7/1. AISM is in the pre-accredited stage by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. We have completed our 5-year strategic improvement plan, which will culminate in a visit from educational experts from around the world, in April of 2016, and result in a renewed U.S. certification for the next five years. Monrovia is Liberias largest city with a population of just under a million. Although we are a capital city, Monrovia has a rustic urban feel. There are modest swim and tennis clubs; there are several nice restaurants, adequate shopping close at hand, two fitness gyms, and high-quality housing with central air conditioning. On long weekends and vacations there is a diversity of environments to explore. Picturesque African beaches, the highlands of the dense jungle interior, and rain forests are all within driving distance.