Program Reviews

I originally met the folks at Cultural Embrace (CE) during a internship/study abroad fair at Texas State University. We started talking about what I was looking for in an internship, and it kind of sounded to good to be true. We had discussed doing an internship and I would just have to pay for a plane ticket. For CE, I would have to take pictures and keep a blog of what I was doing. I had recently bought a DSLR camera and really enjoyed writing. So that was the initial process.

I ended up choosing China, since I thought it would be a place I would never go to on my own. I'm not sure the set up now, but I went all over China and did the following: 2 weeks in an ancient village with the Yao minority, adventure treks in Yangshou (my favorite part because of rock climbing and a lot of hiking), life changing week at an orphanage in Changsha, amazing week a Panda reserve in the Sechuan province, and then taught English in Yantai.

It was all absolutely amazing!!! I kept in touch throughout my time over there, but I also had in country contacts that arranged transportation and lodging. You have to be okay with adventure, and if you are, this will be a trip of a lifetime. I encountered both men and woman of a wide variety of ages that all had a great time. I felt very safe the whole time and highly highly (that was on purpose) recommend this.

Interning in Australia was my first experience living abroad, and with the support of Cultural Embrace by API, transitioning to a new country was smooth and stress-free.

I lived with a lovely Australian family in North Sydney and my internship was at a nutrition clinic about a mile and half away, making for a convenient daily commute.

The landscape was beautiful and green with rich vegetation, and the neighborhood was fashioned with sidewalks lining every street, making it suitable for running. An avid fitness enthusiast, I also located a yoga studio only a short bike ride from my home-stay.

After several weeks of navigating the city and its many suburbs on my own, I eventually made my way towards the ocean, sand and social scene of Bondi Beach, where I stumbled on quaint coffee shops, health food stores, crystal waters, and hours of sunbathing. On the shores of Bondi, I made friends that are still some of my best mates to this day, including my Aussie boyfriend.

I went to Australia with an open mind and heart and a focus on personal growth and development. I made a conscious effort to stay fully present through every moment of my six months overseas. I turned challenges- such as experiencing bouts of homesickness or trouble with interpreting the Aussie accents and lingo- into opportunities for learning, viewing any difficulty as a chance to strengthen my fortitude.

My trip to South Africa was the first trip I've ever taken overseas. It was so easy! Buying the plane ticket was the most difficult and stressful part of the trip because I was unsure of flight times and plane changes, but once I figured that out, everything fell into place.
I was met at the airport by a wonderful man named Thobs, employed by Volunteer Africa, and he had all the others from our group with him. I felt like I was returning home, the welcome so warm.
After a couple days of orientation, we began our program with the schools. Each morning we walked to the office from the house we stayed in, checked in with the program leader and caught our ride to our school.
We worked with the children 3 hours each day and returned to the house to work on course work. I was able to participate in some community activities such as sports and adult education. People from the community were friendly, but careful, and allowed me small glimpses into their lives.
Chintsa does not have the same hustle and bustle as East London or Johannesburg. I felt we were pretty insulated from reality. I observed a community still segregated by economics and although I experienced some traditional lifestyles, I couldn't disspell the feeling of white privilege. Obviously, keeping the volunteers safe is a priority, but maybe if I had not been with a group from Texas State University, chance for cultural immersion may have been greater.
Returning to Chintsa is a priority. I want to be a part of the educational growth of the children and reverse the damage of apartheid.

Cultural Embrace did a wonderful job answering all of my questions before and during my stay in Spain. I knew what to expect and how to use my free time to really take advantage of living in another culture.

I really wanted to learn the language and as anyone being immersed for the first time will tell you, adjusting at the beginning is difficult but completely worth it. You must go out of your comfort zone to learn as much as you can about the other culture, making sure you approach every new experience with an open mind. Go join a local gym and take exercise classes or go to a festival advertised on a poster.

As a native english speaking au pair, my main objective was to teach the children English. I played games and encouraged them to speak each afternoon after school and on Saturdays. During my free time, I taught some private English lessons, went to the local gym, had an intercambio, or met another au pair friend for coffee.

This truly changed my life and vacationing somewhere will never replace actually living in an area for an extended period of time. You can form relationships with those around you and be immersed in not only the language but an entirely new culture.

I highly recommend traveling as an au pair because you can be a part of the family life of another culture while having the free time to see so much more.

Overall experience: I don't regret one second of my experience, the good and the not so good. I made amazing friends (American and Thai) and ha incredible experiences.

Location: I was teaching in Suphanburi, a large province about 2hrs. north of Bangkok. It was just like living in a suburb. The community was safe and quiet. Plenty of restaurants, bars and shopping. The best perk was the food. It tastes incredibly better and it's cheaper than the tourist areas.

Accommodations: It varies greatly depending on location and availability. My living accommodations at Yoo Dee Mee Souk were better than I ever expected. Each teacher received their own studio apartment with bathroom and AC unit. Basic furnishings (bed, desk, chair, clothes chest) Refridgerator, water boiler and microwave. In the lobby of the building was laundry, massage parlor and small convenient store (all reasonably priced)

School: I was very happy at Sa-nguan Ying. All of the students very nice and well behaved. The other teachers were very helpful and accommodations. Only a few of the classrooms have AC. All of the classrooms have a computer with speakers and a projection screen. The classes habe a large amount of student (sometimes 50+) but you dont teach alone. You are paired with another foreign teacher, and a local teacher checks in to translate if necessary. The local teachers use a microphone so all of the students can hear. Te school also provided lunch for the teachers but you are welcome to buy what the kids eat. We were paid once a month by the school. They helped us open local bank accounts so that we would have direct deposit and ATM cards. Rent money was included in our check. AC an utilities vary based on use so we were responsible for paying that. The dress code is very easy to follow for foreign teachers. Girls, long skirt or dress (at the knee or longer) and a modest top tucked in. Guys, pants and a polo top tucked in. On certain days the local teachers where specific colors (holidays ect). The foreign teachers are not required, but are encouraged.

Transportation: I was under the impression that I would be walking everywhere. You can, but there are faster ways to get around! I'll lost them from cheapest to most expensive. 1. Song Tau (sp?) it's basically a covered pick up truck with benches in the back. It basically serves as the city bus. They have designated routes and they are super cheap to ride 2. Tuk tuk: it is basically the Thailand taxi. Price can always be negotiated. 3. Van: when you want to travel between cities/provinces, Thailand has a van system. It's a 10 passenger van with AC. 4. Motor bike: you can rent your own motor bike, but it is also a little dangerous so many student choose other options.

People: Thailand is known as the land of smiles. You will run into some very nice locals who are willing to help you anyway they can. However I will make a special note that as a woman of color, I did have some uncomfortable encounters because I looked different. People in Asia use skin whitener, and they also see many fair skin foreigners in their country. However people of color are very few and far between. There were times I felt like an outcast as people would stare at me. Also note that the Thai people are not very deadline oriented. If you are used to extensive planning and you need to know information in advance or need things done quickly, you may become frustrated adjusted to a new way of life.

Teaching English to a family in Barcelona was the greatest experiences! I did not have much teaching experience prior to my trip. However, the Cultural Embrace Staff really helped me feel comfortable with my teaching abilities and they gave me tons of great teaching info and lesson plans. I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a cost effective way to travel abroad.

Choosing to study in Granada with API was, hands down, the best decision I've ever made. Granada itself exceeded all my expectations - the API staff outdid themselves, and it only took a week or two for Curra, Lydia and Jose to become my second Spanish family. Every move was coordinated and organized beautifully, and it felt effortless and easy every time.

I originally roomed with a fellow API student, but had some troubles with the host family as well as my roommate and ended up switching to another host mother, Lolita. Curra made the transition incredibly smooth - she helped me set up a time to meet Lolita, listened to my concerns and made sure that it was the best fit for me - and it was. Lolita made me laugh when she teased me about my Spanish, but she taught me new words every day and I know that my Spanish drastically improved because of her and the daily (hilarious) conversations we had. She felt like my real mother by the end of my stay with her. My new roommate and I both felt like sisters in a true Spanish home, and I was surprised and delighted by that.

Classes were much easier than I expected, though transitioning from all English to all Spanish classes was a little overwhelming at first. However, once I learned to just listen and comprehend and ask questions if I didn't understand, it became much easier. The professors were exceedingly patient with us, especially on Monday mornings when the only Spanish any of us could speak was "vale."

The API excursions were a true delight. We encountered a problem when we went to Rome: the Iberia strikes cancelled our flight from Granada to Madrid less than 24 hours before we were supposed to be on it, but - and this proves how amazing the API staff is - we had a bus lined up within a few hours, everyone was notified and there was little to no stress put on the students. Curra and Jose handled everything with a smile and laughter, even when it rained the entire weekend, and made the trip an unforgettable one. The beach weekend in Cadiz could not have come at a more perfect time - right before finals, all of us together, after all of us had been used to staying in hostels, we had a beautiful, gorgeous, unbelievable beachfront hotel and were treated like princes and princesses. It was the best way to end the API experience: together on a beach, relaxing in the sun. The timing couldn't have been better.

I honestly wish that I had chosen to stay for an entire academic year instead of just a semester, because I had no idea I would fall in love with the people, the culture, the program and the stunning city of Granada. If you're on the fence about where to study abroad, or if you should even go, get off. Jump off the fence and onto a plane to Granada, because you're going to have the time of your life.

This program was ideal for me as a first-time traveler. The five weeks was enough time to immerse myself in the culture and language without having to worry about leaving home for several months. The support and guidance of my wonderful program director was very welcome and helpful, but I also had plenty of time and freedom to explore on my own. I quickly became friends with other students in the program, and we met students of our age who were native to Bilbao and welcomed us to spend time with them.

I lived with a host family, and my host mother made me feel at home right away. She also encouraged me to engage in conversation in Spanish so that I could have as much practice as possible. I still keep in touch with her through email from time to time. One challenge of living with my host family was the daily commute to the university. I lived in a suburb of Bilbao, and the commute was 40 minutes each way by metro. This was a bit difficult to get used to as I had to wake up fairly early for an 8:30 am class every day. Still, I was very pleased with the public transportation system of Bilbao. It was easy to navigate, ran frequently, and I felt safe traveling alone. I felt very safe in Bilbao in general, and I spent many afternoons taking walks in the park or the shopping district.

I learned a lot in my classes, but I was not overwhelmed with a heavy workload. My schedule allowed plenty of time for me to complete my homework. I had one morning class and one afternoon class every day, and I generally used the time in between the two classes to complete my homework so that I would be able to relax at home in the evenings. Both of my classes were taught entirely in Spanish, which was determined by a placement test taken upon arrival at the university. My 20th Century Spanish Literature class was especially interesting and challenged my abilities. I also enjoyed my class on contemporary Spanish Culture and Politics.

I enjoyed the excursions that were included in the program, and I was glad to have the opportunity to see the famed "running of the bulls" in Pamplona and to visit many other places including St. Sebastian, Guernica and Mundaka. The orientation days in Madrid were very busy, but it was great to see the highlights of Spain's capital.

Bilbao was an interesting city to study abroad in because its culture is different from what Americans typically think of as Spanish. The Basque culture was unique and interesting, and I'm glad to have experienced it!

After figuring out that I wanted to study abroad in the Middle East, I came across the API program at the American University of Sharjah and I knew it was the perfect program for me. I wanted to learn more about the culture, pick up on some Arabic and have an experience that I wouldn't be able to have other than in the Middle East. Not only was the UAE and the people here welcoming, the campus and the staff were exceptional. The campus is beautiful, clean and well maintained. I felt very safe and comfortable all the time while on campus and the exchange office was always available if I ever had any questions or concerns. Classes were not any different than at home, but it was great to hear different view points on topics from the local students. The students are very welcoming. There are always events every week that are run by student clubs on campus that I enjoyed going to.

The application process for API was straight forward and the API advisers were always helpful and answered questions quickly. They offered great advice on what to expect when coming to the UAE and also offered a wonderful pre-departure packet with useful information on how to adapt to the customs here.

There were many excursions that API provided which was a great way to see other Emirates and also the nearby country, Qatar. Some were very cultural which was always a nice learning experience, but also some were fun like visiting tourist sights like Ski Dubai or going to the top of the Burj Khalifa. Overall, the excursions were always a great way to bond with the API students and the resident director.

Being a 20 year old female traveling to the Middle East, I was a bit hesitant to take the journey. API offered me great advice about how to dress and how to act. Respecting the culture is very important, therefore, you need to dress appropriately. You don't have to be covered from head to toe, but dressing modest is a must. Pants below the knees and sleeves that cover the shoulders are what I usually wore. Light sweaters and scarves are also great because the building are usually pretty cold because the air conditioner. I never felt unsafe on campus or while I was out in the cities.

If you're looking to experience a different culture and are willing to adapt to new norms, then I highly recommend studying at the American University of Sharjah with Academic Programs International. The campus is just about 20 minutes from Dubai and is accessible by taxi or buses run by the university. AUS gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about the Middle East and take a wide range of classes. You will become a better communicator and also learn how to truly manage your time and money. Overall, this particular API program is exceptionally organized and extremely beneficial to a student during their college career.

Honestly, API provides more resources to the city than any of my friend's other programs did. Simple as that. Worth every penny spent. API provides not only excursions but local activities to help you to truly discover the city you are living in.