AIFS Abroad Reviews

I spent four months in Costa Rica. It was AMAZING, as everyone days about their study abroad experience. I am so glad that I went for an entire semester because I got to know the country so much more than if I had stayed for less time. And there were still more places that I want to visit one day. Costa Rica is the most biodiverse countries in the world, so if you appreciate plant life and the outdoors, Costa Rica would be a great place for you to go. It also has so many different biomes: beach, forest, and mountains. They are all so gorgeous! Costa Rica has beaches on two sides. One is the facing the Pacific Ocean and one is facing the Atlantic. THe two coasts have two different vibes, which is cool It is fairly easy and cheap to get around the country by bus. I stayed in San Jose, which is the capital and is a city. There is sooo much to do in San Jose. We would leave to visit other places in Costa Rica most weekends, but if we did stay in San Jose, we could always find something entertaining to do. Ticos and Ticas (people who are from Costa Rica) are super kind and caring people. The food is buenisimo. Gallo pinto is their signature dish, which is beans and rice. We literally had gallo pinto practically every morning for breakfast. I loved it, so did my roommates. I miss it so much now. But if you hate beans, that might be a bit of a struggle for you. I was there during the dry season, which was perfect. So you should definitely take that into consideration when you're thinking about what time of the year you will be there. Because apparently it rains kind of non-stop during the wet season. Ideally, you would know some amount of spanish, but I wouldn't say it's required in order to study abroad there. A lot of people know english.
I chose to go through AIFS because they offered everything I wanted during my study abroad experience: the classes I needed (spanish, biology, and sociology), immersion (going to a local university and living in a homestay), and volunteer opportunities. AIFS also had excursions that were included that were a lot of fun, and took a trip to Nicaragua (at an additional cost). The final cost to study abroad through AIFS included tuition, housing, and 2 meals every day, and a support staff in the country. I really think that with all those things included, I probably paid less studying abroad in Costa Rica for the semester than I would've spent staying home (when I consider tuition, rent, groceries, gas money, all that). I REALLY appreicated the AIFS staff that was there in the country with us. They are native Costa Ricans, so they were completely knowledgeable about the country and any questions we had from what are the areas that are safe for us to go to where can I get my eyebrows done. Insurance was also included, Luckily I never had to take advantage of that, but I know that other students did. And the AIFS staff was there with them, in the hospital, being a mom away from home. It was very comforting to have them there. We had the freedom to be independent when we wanted and the opportunity to reach out for support when we needed. It's the best of both worlds. I'm extremely glad I chose AIFS. They really care about their students and providing the best and safest study abroad experience that they can.

I went to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador during the 2018 JanTerm. We had field trips to various sites including kicker rock where we swam with sharks and sea turtles. The class was excellent because we learned about the history, biodiversity, and issues of the Galapagos islands. My favorite part was housing because my host mom was very welcoming. The meals were amazing and getting to know her family was heartwarming. This program allowed to be open-minded and get to know other cultures without being afraid. I learned to be independent and comfortable while traveling to another country. The most exciting part of this program was snorkeling for the first time in the Galapagos and swimming with sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, and other diversity in the ocean.
If you are planning on participating on this JanTerm go with all your positivity and be open to try new things. Do not be afraid to talk to your host family because your host family is there to help you.

While living in Budapest, I met some of the most genuine people. This experience has taught me more about life and the value of personal connections than anything I have experienced before. Everyone should go visit Budapest if you do not have the opportunity to live there, because it's one of the most down to earth big cities you can imagine. The culture and history is too important to pass up. It's a great city for young adults because the cost of living is very affordable and the young adult demographic in the city makes for a homey feeling. The living accommodations through AIFS were superb. It was very comforting to live with three American female students attending Corvinus University as well. Also, cooking and making food wasn't an issue for us roommates because the food in Hungary is to die for! We ate out all the time because it was also so cheap and affordable!

While living in Budapest, I met some of the most genuine people. This experience has taught me more about life and the value of personal connections than anything I have experienced before. Everyone should go visit Budapest if you do not have the opportunity to live there, because it's one of the most down to earth big cities you can imagine. The culture and history is too important to pass up. It's a great city for young adults because the cost of living is very affordable and the young adult demographic in the city makes for a homey feeling. The living situation through the program AIFS was superb. We had our own apartment with three American girls. It was very homey and comforting to know that I was living with other American students. The food is to die for in Hungary! You won't have to cook much because you will most likely eat out all the time! Yum!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to visit Europe and specifically Barcelona, Spain. Mostly because I saw Cheetah Girls 2 when I was younger. Despite my strong desire, I was still relatively nervous when I discovered the opportunity through AIFS to study abroad in my dream city to complete my Spanish minor. However, any worries or anxieties I had quickly disappeared as soon as I stepped foot in the city and immediately fell in love. First of all, the warm greeting by the AIFS staff was truly heartfelt and very much appreciated as I could tell how much they cared about us students. Even though I went by myself, I quickly made friends not only with other AIFS students but also with locals. The best part, and also what I am most proud of, was how drastically my Spanish speaking abilities improved! I previously had always struggled to speak Spanish in my classes at my home university. Being in Spain however, allowed me to gain the much needed confidence to allow my abilities to flourish. Aside from all of the great times I had in Barcelona, being able to travel all around Europe was a plus too! Even though I have been back in America for over 6 months, a part of my heart will always be in Spain as I search daily for opportunities to return.

I studied abroad in Barcelona Spain through AIFS for the academic year. It was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend to anyone. I definitely got my money's worth and the home stay they paired me with was amazing.

While abroad a tore my meniscus and was sent to several appointments at the local hospital. This may have been intimidating if I was by myself. But the AIFS local barcelona staff accompanied me each time and acted as both both translators and just generally good company during the very stressful experience of being in the hospital in another country.

The staff also gives tours of the city and available 24/7 for any questions and concerns during my year abroad. I had an amazing experience studying abroad in Barcelona and account most of that amazing experience to the AIFS staff.

Another great thing to add, at the beginning of the semester they host Catalan classes! This I have found helpful to this day.

From learning about Ancient Rome in my early history classes and dreaming of visiting a world wonder, I knew Italy was the one place I had to visit. When I got to college, I knew that I wanted to study abroad but thought it was too expensive. When I got to my study abroad office they had recommended me using AIFS because it was probably going to be the program with the most inclusive benefits, and they are extremely good about accepting financial aid and are all around very helpfully. Throughout my entire process of applying to leaving Italy, AIFS was amazing and very responsive to all my needs and questions. I could not have asked more a better hands on program that made me feel safe, protected, yet let me have my own room to grow at the same time in Rome. The amount of cultural and social activities that AIFS and Richmond provided me enriched my experience, and I am forever grateful for having the experience of being able to live out my dreams for four months.
I was nervous for typical things like I wouldn’t meet anyone I connected with or I would feel like the odd one out, but most people in your abroad experience are feeling the Sam way and embark on the journey on their also. I already felt like I was a friendly person who didn’t struggle to make friends, but this experience really made me turn into someone who can talk to anyone in the room confidently. Dealing with foreign language barrier and cultural differences paved a way for me to grow and expand my horizons.

I went abroad with AIFS to Florence, Italy in the spring semester of 2018. Even before getting there the AIFS staff was really helpful with helping me with the application and my obtaining my visa.

I utilized their flight package option which included a 2 day trip to London before getting to orientation in Rome and then eventually Florence. This was so nice since I was able to make connections before classes even began. It also helped to know I was flying with other people in my program.

The Rome orientation was so cool! Every day after school orientation, we would go on tours of the city. A great start to the program.
The staff in Florence are absolutely amazing. They were so kind from the start and helped me with everything from course selections to more serious issues as well. They made school a safe and welcoming environment.
The classes were my favorite, I loved learning about so many different parts of Italian culture. From espresso to the vespa, I really learned a lot. The best part was you do a lot of hands on learning in the actual environment itself, not just from a textbook.

I stayed in a beautiful, spacious apartment located >1 minute from the Duomo, and >10 minutes from school itself. The meal plan was unreal it was so amazing. We were given breakfast vouchers and dinner vouchers as well as grocery store gift cards. The vouchers could be used at a ton of cafes and restaurants around town. (I didnt even get to them all) The food was always delicious.

My experience with AIFS in Florence was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I spent my spring semester of 2018 in Buenos Aires and absolutely loved it. There is truly something for everyone in this city. I attended the University of Belgrano and met many wonderful people, from both the USA and other countries around the world. This city is filled with art, culture, and an abundance of history. Each neighborhood has something completely different to offer, whether it be food, music, or architecture.

I was not great at Spanish when I arrived in BA but when I left I improved drastically. I lived in a shared apartment with 12 other people from 5 different countries and it was a great way to improve on my Spanish. I also met a lot of people to travel with. While in South America it was easy for me to travel to Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Patagonia, and Salta. The excursions included in this program are also an amazing experience you can’t miss out on.

Studying abroad in Barcelona with AIFS was the greatest experience of my life! My apartment with AIFS was very nice and was only a 7 minute walk from the UAB Sant Pau campus which was very convenient. My random roommates with AIFS ended up being some of my greatest friends ever! AIFS offers an array of cultural activities that allows students to immerse themselves into the culture and get to know people in the program. The program directors are the nicest and most helpful people! Inma is a saint and my experience wouldn't have been the same with the AIFS program staff! Anything you need the AIFS staff will help you with, from helping you get a phone to taking you to the doctor to translate for you when you are sick. I went to Switzerland and Morocco on weekend trips with AIFS and they were some of my favorite weekends! I felt so comfortable going to Morocco with the AIFS staff and had the most amazing experience! I highly recommend AIFS and Barcelona to anyone who is trying to have there best summer, semester, or year abroad!