CIEE

Studying abroad with CIEE in Monteverde was truly life-changing. The hands-on learning in the beautiful cloud forest was unforgettable and made every class feel exciting and real. The food was fresh, delicious, and a perfect way to experience local culture. The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and always ready to help or make us feel at home. I gained valuable real-world experience in sustainability and environmental studies while making lifelong friends from all over the world. If you want an immersive, adventurous, and meaningful study abroad experience, this program is absolutely for you!

This program taught me so much, CIEE has amazing teachers and well formulated curriculums. Plus, the accommodations, outings, and location make it even more great. The place you say is in a very safe and relaxed place.

Learning the public transportation system is daunting at first, but if you get off the unfamiliarity and follow the instructions on your phone, you will have no problem getting your way around the city. Also, if you are used to it, I recommend finding a cheap bike or skateboard on gumtree.uk (their version of craigslist), to cut costs on transportation.

Pack your own lunches, buy food from the grocery store because it is much cheaper than eating out. Plus, groceries are one of the only things cheaper in the UK than in the US.

Have an amazing time, I am sure you will.

Walking through the streets of Seoul, looking at each memory made, and each friendship that is truly special to me, it seems that everything is coming to an end soon as the program is finishing. There are so many things I want to get done, and to experience and it doesn’t make it feel like a farewell to Korea, but just appreciation of the growth I’ve experienced during my time abroad.

Each corner of this city holds a moment, whether it was a late-night walk with friends along the Han River, a quiet moment sipping a matcha latte in a cozy café, or laughing uncontrollably over our struggles with the language. These memories are stitched into my heart, not as endings, but as parts of me now. I see the version of myself who first stepped off the plane, nervous, curious, and unsure and compare her to who I am now: someone more confident, more open, and deeply grateful.

Being immersed in a culture so different from my own taught me to be present, to listen, and to step out of my comfort zone. I didn’t just learn about Korea, I learned about myself. This isn’t the end of something, but rather a continuation of a new mindset, a broadened perspective that I’ll carry with me wherever I go.

As the program winds down, I’m not rushing to check things off a bucket list anymore. I’m taking time to savor each day, each conversation, and each sunset over the city skyline. This experience has been more than just travel or study, it’s been about connection, growth, and becoming.

And for that, I’ll never say goodbye to Korea, just thank you.

Yonsei is a great school for language learning, though some of my STEM friends said they wished they took only electives while here. I have always felt very safe in Seoul/South Korea in general, which is especially valuable when coming home from the club at night. There is so much to explore- I would recommend scheduling your classes so that you have a weekday or two off if you can. I loved the freedom of being able to take day trips so I could get the most out of my time here. Also, CIEE organizes some really great events, so definitely sign up for those as quick as possible! Overall, despite having a kind of small room a few districts away form campus, I wouldn't really say I have any major complaints.

My semester in Edinburgh is something I will never forget. CIEE and its staff gave me so many new experiences, and I met some of my best friends through doing the same program as them. Getting to stay in university housing and being immersed in the culture is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I could not recommend being in Scotland more. The program taught a Scottish history class and took us on excursions to make sure we truly got a proper understanding of the country we got to experience.