* You will be removed from your comfort zone and placed in a foreign environment
* You will be exposed to new traditions and social and academic customs
* You may not speak the language of the host country
* You have to make new friends

Yet for some others studying overseas is a turning point in their lives, because studying abroad is full of amazing experiences, from learning a new culture and language to making new friends from diverse ethnic and national backgrounds. With advances in technology, online degrees can be earned overseas from the university of your choice.

Remember “No Pain, No Gain”. In the end, you like most students, will return with a new sense of independence and more confidence.

Site of the Month for June 2011 is about California business. California business directory is providing business resource and service in California. Including business, economy, real estate, travel, computer, networking, education, health, insurance, news and media, recreation, science, environment, shopping.

If you’re coming to Southern California, it’s easy to reach from almost everywhere, even the airport. That is less than ten miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), so you can even make it your first stop. Just take Selpuveda to Lincoln. From the San Fernando Valley, you don’t even have to get on a highway. Take one of the canyon roads to the Pacific Coast Highway. There are some good Santa Monica hotels you can use as a basis.

The wide, golden-sand beach stretches for three and a half miles along the coast, and the weather is nearly always perfect. In fact, it’s sunny here 340 days a year. When you visit, watch for TV and movie crews, which shoot here regularly.

Each morning, the beach is raked and cleaned, and lifeguards are on duty all day long. You can bring your own beach towel or your own beach chair and just enjoy the scene. Or lease from Perry’s. Their beach butlers will provide you with a table, chair, and umbrella.

Put on lots of sunscreen or wear a hat. And sunglasses will help protect your eyes and add to your appreciation of all the perfectly fit beachgoers. Don’t be surprised if one of them turns out to be a celebrity.

The ocean is nearly always cool here, even on hot days. But when it’s 100 degrees in the valleys, it likely will still be pleasant here. Surfing is permitted in designated areas between certain lifeguard stands. If you’ve never surfed, you can usually arrange for a lesson, or rent a surfboard or boogie board from Perry’s.

The recently reopened Annenberg Community Beach House used to be the estate of William Randolph Hearst. The five-acre, ocean-front property has a wonderful swimming pool that’s open to the public by reservation in summer, a café, and beach rentals.

If you don’t want to sit or swim, you can rent a bike and take the coastal trail. One of the world’s longest beachfront trails, it runs 22 miles from Malibu to Torrance. Skates, skateboards, roller blades, and other non-motorized transportation are also permitted.

Being very close to LA, it is also the front runners of famous celebrities-yes your eyes will pop out as you will witness all of the celebrities here for their holidays.

People from all walks of life can easily enjoy a grand vacation in Santa Monica. Both the average as well as the affluent classes can have fun. Right from the accommodation to the food, outdoor activities and other recreational activities, you will get it all here in Santa Monica that will match with your budget and taste.

While you are on your trip, you simply cannot miss some places and surely give it a visit. The Santa Monica pier will always be on the top list which is considered as the city icon, with lively crowd and huge ferry wheels.

You will be mesmerized to see the pier along the edge of the beach which is one of the predominant spots of this place. Your kids are simply going to enjoy the Pacific Pier Park that makes fun amusement rides and it would certainly turn out to be the best day ever for your children.

If you are fond of shopping, then you will find many malls for some great shopping. One of the famous shops is known as the Downturn third street promenade and is now converted in to a big shopping mall with exotic things. Movie theatres are present with good sound effects and picture quality.

The beach showcases wide coastlines with the pier built on either side of the seashore. Shopaholics cannot ask for more as you will find some of the swankiest shopping malls in this place.

The Third promenade street is a shopper’s paradise which projects vibrant stores, theatres and eateries that completes your trip to Santa Monica.

Though this is mainly a tourist destination, thousands of visitors visit this city for business purposes too. There are many normal and chain hotels ranging from cheap to luxury in the city.

Luxury Hotels
Lodging into one of the luxury hotels is the best way to enrich a tour. Those, who wish to spend lavishly on their vacation mostly, prefer luxury accommodation. If you are one of them and looking for luxury hotels in City, then just give up all worries because there are many full service star hotels in this city to choose from such as Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Loews Beach Hotel, Huntley Santa Monica, the Georgian, Doubletree Guest Suites, the Viceroy and Sheraton Delfina etc.

The Fairmont
This is only super luxury hotel of the city located at 101 Wilshire Blvd in the Beach Cities. This luxury hotel is famous for offering world class services and royal treatment to its guests. Whether you are on vacation here or for some business meeting, the Fairmont would be the perfect lodging option for you. The finest features of the Fairmont include spa tub, restaurant and beach-club shuttle etc.

Cheap Hotels
Always lodge into one of the cheap hotels for reducing your tour expenditures, does not matter whether you are going for vacation or for some business meeting.

While on tour, you will find plenty of cheap lodging options, but some the finest ones include – Best Western Gateway, Travelodge Pico Blvd, Holiday Inn at the Pier, Santa Monica Motel, Pacific Sands Motel, Comfort Inn and Days Inn etc.

Days Inn
Days Inn is one of the cheapest places for lodging in the city, offering excellent services with comfort of luxury hotel at the most affordable price which suits all budgets. This 2 star property is conveniently located near 3rd Street Promenade. This is the best place for both business travelers and vacationers.

Besides, this city offers accommodation in its every corner, whether it is downtown or near airport.

Downtown Hotels
Downtown is full of exclusive retail stores, first-rate entertainment venues, casual and fine dining establishments and many major attractions. Hence, every visitor to Santa Monica wishes to stay here. If you are also looking for downtown accommodation while here then need not trouble much. There are many lodging options ranging from pet friendly hotels to spa, beachfront and casino hotels.

With advancements that doctors and technology have made with cosmetic surgery, it is safer and less expensive to get a nose job or to have your eyelids worked on in Santa Monica today than it has been in the past. Despite the increase in safety, there are always risks involved with any form of surgery. Some of the more common risks associated with getting a nose job or having work done on the eyelids include…

* Infection in the area operated upon
* A bad reaction to anesthesia
* Swelling
* Blurred vision (with eyelid surgery)
* Visible scarring
* Development of small whiteheads after removing stitches

All of these potential problems are usually relatively easy to remedy and do not require additional cosmetic work.

In rare instances, complications may arise that may require additional work. For example, after having eyelid surgery, the patient may have difficulty closing his or her eyes properly, or the patient may experience a “pulling down” on his or her lower lids. Both of these problems can typically be fixed with.

With so few risks and such great benefits, it is easy to see why so many people are choosing to undergo a nose job in Santa Monica or to get surgery on their eyelids in Santa Monica.

Ocean Avenue begins where San Vicente Blvd from Brentwood ends on the cliffs. Ocean Avenue extends south up to 2 miles and is lined with giant thick palm trees, million dollar homes and condominiums and glass front hotels. Ocean Avenue is full of parks, restaurants, parks and attractions for the family. All the hotels along Ocean Ave allow visitors to take advantage of all the sights in Santa Monica. There are two main locations of hotels along Ocean Avenue. Those that are on the eastern side of the street that have views of the beach and ocean only, and those on the western side whose back doors and guestrooms actually open out onto the ocean.

Those hotels that are on Ocean Ave but not on the beach include the Fairmont Miramar, Vice Roy and The Georgian. The lobby of the Vice Roy is elegant and contemporary while giving guests the feel they have traveled back in time to the 1920s. White leather chairs against golden door knobs and chandeliers with a full bar and mirrors in the background give the lobby a comfortable but classy feel. On the other side of the lobby is the pool where quaint cabanas line the edge of the pool. The hotel stretches out parallel to the ocean and guests with rooms in the east facing wall will have views of the Santa Monica Mountains, all of Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles rather than the ocean.

Located on the central area of Ocean Ave is the Georgian Hotel. This hotel is smaller, has a Victorian look and is wedged in between two other buildings. Once the playground for the rich and famous as well as Hollywood’s elite in the 1920s, the Georgian offers a boutique feel with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica’s many shopping and dining opportunities are only steps away from the Georgian.

At the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and Ocean Ave is the Fairmont Miramar. This hotel is a California contemporary high rise with individual balconies for each room. The Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica is a full luxury resort hotel offering spas and relxation services. Guests entering off of Wilshire Blvd will find themselves in an oasis of fountains, gardens and a pool along with private cabanas and a full lobby. Most of the rooms afford guests spectacular views of the ocean and the hotel is steps from a bridge that takes visitors down to the beach.

The hotels that line the beach of Santa Monica include Casa Del Mar, Shutters and Lowes. Each of these hotels are grand resorts and offer guests the ability to check in and then walk right out on the beach. The Casa Del Mar is the only five star property along this stretch. Guests checking in at the lobby will notice amongst the book cases, large furniture and chandeliers a gigantic window behind the bar and restaurant area that over looks the Pacific Ocean. On clear days, this back drop looks like a scene from a movie rather than a hotel lobby.

Of course, when we want to get back to what we expect of the rich and famous, we don’t have to look any further than the house actress Julianna Margulies is trying to sell. Presently being rented by another top actress, Kyra Sedgwick, this house is on the market for $4.2 million. Built in 1927, it’s 3,235 square feet, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room with a beamed ceiling and wood-burning fireplace. It has an open chef’s kitchen, a den, an office-library, a swimming pool, and the detached guesthouse has one bedroom and one bathroom. It also has a three car garage.

Then we have the Britney Spears home that’s still up for sale. At $7.9 million, it’s considered as somewhat of a bargain because it’s a spacious 7,453 square feet. It’s a wonderful six-bedroom Italian renaissance inspired house in a gated community. It also has six baths, a gated motor court, a wet bar, maid’s quarters, a library and looks down into the living room, a smoking room/den, a formal dining room, a grand entrance foyer, dramatic high ceilings and carved millwork, the standard pool and a chef’s kitchen.

Of course, not only the famous own lavish homes in Santa Monica. One wonderfully large home right on the beach, a 5-room European villa style home sitting on a double lot, is up for sale right now at $16 million. It’s a 2-story courtyard style house with a retractable roof, a master bedroom suite with his and hers bathrooms, large living and dining rooms with a professional screening room and a bar on the lower level. It’s a house that was originally built in 1927 (there seems to be a pattern here), but obviously has had many modern touches added to it.

But Santa Monica is known for the stars that live there, and the houses they live in. Stars include Jamie Lee Curtis, Ted Danson, Jane Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Judge Reinhold, Jeff Bridges, Mel Brooks and Tom Selleck. Even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lived in Santa Monica at one time before he married Maria Shriver, and still owns commercial properly there.

The cast of characters at the Santa Monica Playhouse includes some of the most talented actors in the country. The resident company brings life to everything from historical plays by Moliere to contemporary plays that are both cutting edge and extremely entertaining. No matter whether you are interested in the classics or the new wave theater scene, you will find something to love about the Santa Monica Playhouse.

Workshops are available for kids and adults, so you and the rest of the family can get involved with something as entertaining as theater by working with a selection of talented educators. The assortment of available workshops is excellent and covers a wide array of areas, whether it is learning how to produce a play or learning how to be an actor. All in all, the Santa Monica Playhouse is a great part of the community.