This fall the Montreal Botantical Garden is presenting The Magic of Lanterns in the Chinese Garden. This 18th edition of the display continues through October 31st and commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Montreal-Shanghai friendship as well as salutes this year’s World Expo in Shanghai.

Inspired by the famous traditional Chinese painting Qing Ming Shang He Tu, this year’s theme is Like a Painting. In addition special lanterns that represent the 2010 theme, there are over 700 traditional traditional lanterns on display every year. The Lantern Festival in China dates back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) and is held during the New Year cycle. Lanterns carry traditional motifs of animals, plants, and mythical scenes. Originally made of silk and paper, modern materials such as nylon are more common today. The lighting for The Magic of Lanterns was changed to a TFT LED Contactless System in 2008. This brings energy use for the event to 1/10th what it used to be as well as ensuring that the lights are more reliable, even in less than ideal weather.

In honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Insectarium, giant lanterns have been created in shapes of butterflies, grasshoppers and dragonflies and line the paths around the museum that are devoted to insects. Besides strolling through the lantern-lit paths, visitors can enjoy Chinese pastries and jasmine-scented green tea. Visitors staying at hotels in Montreal can check with the hotel concierge for details and directions to the Gardens.

Most art exhibitions last for a few weeks or a few months, but the Vancouver Biennale , which started on January 1st of 2009, is scheduled to run through June of 2011. This open air exhibition features some of the most prominent sculptors in the world as well as renowned New Media Artists — and all available to the public for free. There’s still plenty of time for visitors to book a flight and schedule one of the best Vancouver hotels to enjoy this one-of-a-kind event.

Bike and pedestrian paths wind through public sculptures placed on beaches, throughout the city’s urban plazas and waterside neighborhoods. The Vancouver International Airport is a major site for the exhibition. New Media installations are visible across Vancouver’s many transit shelters, billboards, and the rapid transit vehicles themselves. Artists from over 25 countries and 6 continents will provide 30 major sculpture installations while 100 international artists will display some 60-80 light and New Media installation. Simulcast events as well as extensive international media coverage offer glimpses of the event to art lovers across the globe.

With a theme of in-TRANSIT-ion, the Biennale emphasizes how people move through a mobile society and the changing sensibilities and attitudes towards public art . Special workshops are scheduled throughout the two year event and online learning opportunities include school lesson plans and interactive games.

One of the best ways to make decisions about potential income options for students is to create a pros and cons list. Another is to read feedback from others who have experienced or done the same thing or research cased studies on previous experiences. These are some of the best ways to form and educated opinion on decision-making and directions you should take. And deciding what to do and how to earn some money during the summer can be an extremely difficult decision for any student.

Fortunately, there are many cases studies and feedback forums on Southwestern Company and agencies that provide intern options for students. And while there are always going to be extreme examples of experiences that are both positive and negative, the trick to understanding these studies is to determine the consistent middle ground .

In addition, there are certain aspects that Southwestern Company offers students that are important in the quality determination of an intern program. When reviewing student feedback , look for examples of the features that you are seeking with a potential program. For instance, if you need assistance with temporary housing, look for students who have participating in this and also review their experiences. If you are looking for career benefiting professional skill development, than look for information at what other students have done with their experience. These are just a few of the guidelines that can help students navigate through the wealth of feedback examples they can find.