CIEE High School Summer Abroad in Germany

I had the best month abroad with CIEE- the staff, teachers, and other students are so kind and sweet! There were very few problems within the trip, but the program leaders and CIEE staff were always available and able to fix everything right away. I would highly recommend this program- lots of scholarships are available, and it is such an amazing opportunity! It was seriously the best trip ever, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I have grown so much, and the environment was such a good place to be in. I loved everything about this trip :)

This was an absolutely life changing experience, I could not recommend it more. I fell in love with Berlin, and will absolutely be returning in the future! The program had a “learn by doing” approach to classes, which meant I had a ton of fun and learned a ton at the same time. I made friends that I will keep for life, I had experiences I will never forget, and I grew immensely, both as a human and an engineer. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to see the world, experience new things, explore other cultures, and make lasting memories. This was hands down the best summer of my life, and I am better for it.

This was a very memorable experience and I am very grateful I got to study in a different country! As for a review of the program, there will be lots of walking so be prepared!! Definitely ask as many questions and join preparation meetings before the program because it really helps. Due to weather the schedule they gave us can change so just be open-minded and just enjoy whatever is planned. During the program, we do community conversations, and most if not all days feel long so it does get tiring, but I would say just enjoy all the time you have. You get a lot of free time so make the most and appreciate your host family :)! Have fun and make friends.

Spending my time immersing myself in the Germany culture and language was definitely not my go-to option as to how I wanted to spend my summer. I wanted to go to the more "popular" European countries, the ones that are romanticized like Italy, France, England, or Greece. However, the one month I spent there was one of the best months I've ever spent anywhere. The people I've met through this program from the teachers to my host family to the friends I've made on this trip have been some of the most supportive people I know. I've always been a travel person, wanting to one day travel the world and going to Germany made me want to solidify that goal so much more. I fell in love with the German culture and language and would definitely recommend this program. Whether you just want to immerse yourself in a different culture, find a different setting to clear your mind or gain some experience under your belt, it's worth it.

My Summer trip to Berlin was definitely a highlight of my life! It was scary traveling with a large group of strangers, but we all had the interests of entrepreneurship and travel in common, and many of us clicked right away! The combination of a city with intense history and a classroom setting in which we learned about a topic we enjoyed was phenomenal! Personally, I got a lot out of this trip because I got to meet someone within our group with the same sexuality as myself, and I briefly experienced the accepting culture of Berlin at a Pride celebration. Overall, my summer abroad has shaped who I am and who I will be: it made me more confident in myself, and sparked a passion for business endeavors now and in the future.

My experince on this trip was nothing but amazing! Exploring Berlin and the outskirts of Germany was just one piece of the cake. Other things involved us talking to locals, and local business people. There were lots of fun things like taking weekend trips to a city in the outskirts of Germany that was filled with cobblestone roads and the most beatiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. I can still remeber the taste of currywurst from the street venders and how we and my newly found friends would walk two blocks too our new favorite coffee shop “no need for fancy names.” Each day was something new and made an everlasting imprint on my lives and i’m sure everyones elses. Even after the trip I still talk to the friends I met in Germany. Even though we are scattered across the country we still skype and even send each others gifts.

I had an amazing experience on my CIEE program, from an amazing team of staff, teachers, and awesome host families, the fun felt like it could never stop! I am unable to take german classes in my home town so thanks to this program i was able to learn a lot about a language i love! My host mom constantly went out of her way to better my day! From waking me up with a pleasant good morning and a cup of tea, to bring snacks to me and my friends as we studied in my room. Over the four weeks Sabine easily became my favorite part of Berlin, she made me feel so incredibly welcome and my hope is that everyone will have hosts like Sabine, because there’s nothing better than that.

I've never thought I would be lucky enough to travel abroad, let alone in Europe. Thanks to the scholarship CIEE gave me, which I am undyingly grateful for, I was able to experience what it was like to be in Berlin. It's almost been an exact year since the visit and I still scroll through my photos or look in my album, and keep in contact with friends and host family from the program. CIEE gave me the opportunity to see into my future, and I'm now preparing to go to college in Germany thanks to the downright positive experience that was studying abroad. CIEE is wonderful for people hesitant on studying abroad, they are very supportive and generous, and I wouldn't trade my experience for anything in the world.