AIFS Abroad Reviews

The city of Salzburg is not the city to go to if you want a crazy bar scene. It is not a loud city. It is not a busy city. I wouldn't even say it is a city. Salzburg is a town that you return to after all the craziness of a traveling a weekend. It is a town where you take evening walks and explore the mountains throughout the city. It is a town where the shopkeepers remember you and help you. It is a town that I would call a second home.

During one weekend excursion to Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, and the island of Capri, I had such an amazing time. First, I got to see a city that had been buried by a volcano in 76 AD! It was super cool walking through such an ancient society that got perfectly preserved in the dust and ash. Next, I got to climb the volcano that had destroyed the city of Pompeii. I was above the clouds! And last my friends and I took a boat tour around the small island of Capri, swam through a cave, and tasted limoncello from the place where it was invented! It was the trip of a lifetime!

I chose to go to South Africa after always dreaming to make it to Africa in my lifetime. Now I am so in love with that country and wish I could share it with all of my family and friends. The culture is awesome, it's literally the most beautiful place in the world, there are tons of things to do in Stellenbosch and you are just a short train ride from Cape Town for weekend trips. If you love adventure there is plenty of hiking around and different trips offered from Cape Town throughout the country. I was there in the summer and it only rained maybe 5 times in the entire 6 months I was there. The accommodation was awesome and was even better than back in the states (I had my own bathroom and a wonderful cleaning lady). Mama H provides you with nothing but the best support, and is there for any question or qualm you may have about anything. You can drink the tap water which I was surprised about and there is no danger of malaria or any other diseases unless you travel. Stellenbosch and Cape Town are very safe as long as you practice the same safety measures that you would if you would visit a strange place or a big city at home.

I loved Ireland and the culture. I made many friends that I have kept even now that I'm home. My only qualm was the weather. I went in the Fall semester and it mostly rained...all the time. Obviously Ireland is synonymous with that kind of weather but coming from a place that is rarely that miserable out I had a tough time adjusting. If I could do it again, I might have gone in the Spring or even for a Summer semester.

Accommodation was okay. I shared an apartment with 7 other students--male and female which was different for me. And all 8 of us shared 2 bathrooms and one small kitchen/living area. I had good accommodation at my home university so this was tough for me to get used to. With that being said, it's very easy to make quick friends in a house with 7 other people. I had Irish, Norwegian, Swedish, German and American roommates. I had friends who lived in other apartments with only 2-3 other students so I guess it was just luck of the draw. It was nice to be able to have locals to make friends with and we all quickly became friends with their friends as well. They brought us to the local bars and showed us where to go. They also showed us other parts of the country where they came from as well.

Support was great. We were given a monthly sum to cover the cost of food and had meetings frequently to be sure everyone was well. When we went away we gave travel information to be sure that we were there safely and would have help if anything were to happen.

Ireland is a great hub if you want to travel to other places in Europe. I was able to make it to 5 other countries in the few months that I was there. Shannon airport is a short drive and there are budget airlines who with take you to many other countries for as cheap at $40 round trip! Sign up for their alert emails and you'll be first to know when they're having a fare sale!!!

As I said before the culture is what made it such a great trip. Irish people were some of the friendliest and most warm and welcoming group of people I had ever met. Limerick is absolutely beautiful and there are pubs and restaurants/cafes on campus so you never have to go too far for a drink or some food. My classes were challenging and all of the professors that I had were great. If you like going to the gym, they have one of the biggest and most awesome gyms I had ever seen on a college campus.

The AIFS summer program in Istanbul, Turkey was an amazing experience. There was a large variety of courses offered, housing and meals were included, and the package included a number of great excursions around the country. I definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested!

I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into when I decided to go study in Russia for 4 months my junior year of college. I knew it would be cold (duh). But I was not prepared for the most unforgettable experience of my life that changed the way I viewed the world and this wonderful country that I have fallen so in love with. I made some of the best friends I could ever have, met so many interesting people that enriched my experience in ways I never thought they could, and saw landmarks and cities I had only seen in pictures. Russia is mysterious, quirky, and so incredibly unique that it is impossible to describe it in just a few sentences. The only way to truly experience Russia's amazing language, culture, people and breathtaking sights is to go there and see it for yourself. AIFS provided me with a great study abroad experience that has affirmed my aspirations to get involved with Russian-US foreign policy after I graduate from college and sparked my love for Russian language. I encourage anyone who is thinking about this program to jump on the opportunity, get excited, and prepare yourself for the ride of your life. Russia will leave you breathless, amazed, and eager to see more. I never wanted to leave and I plan on going back as soon as I can!

My primary goal studying abroad was to get as much practice with Spanish as possible, since I am a Spanish major. I also wanted to get to know the city and country and take other opportunities to travel. AIFS was great because the placed me in an incredible home stay that was the highlight of my experience abroad. The family was incredibly welcoming and I felt at home with them very quickly. They included me in their family events and outings and made sure I was happy and comfortable. The program directors in Granada, Edu and Noelia, were also amazing. They were supportive and helpful and did everything they could to improve our experience abroad and adjust to our new lives there. I also loved the excursions with AIFS. I got to see so many cities in Spain and I am not sure I would have seen so many if I didn't have the excursions to make traveling so easy. The trips had a good balance of education and sightseeing and downtime to do what we wanted. I left my semester abroad with a greater confidence in my speaking ability. While abroad, I also discovered the career path I am pursuing now as I prepare for graduation in 6 months. Studying abroad gave me direction that I did not have before.

I knew I wanted to go to London so my search for a program was based on cost and location- AIFS was hands down the best choice for both! Not only was it the most affordable program (that also included meals!), it also had an amazing location. I did not know much about the "best places to live in London," but Kensington, where the AIFS campus and living is located is THE nicest place to live. You are a block back from Kensington Gardens and High Street and are consistently surrounded by luxury and posh people. Never in my life would I think I would be living among the Beckhams or Kate Middleton, yet I was fortunate to be thanks to AIFS.

This 3 month internship was one of the best learning experience I've had! I learned more about myself and of the proffessionalism at work. I did get culture shock in the beginning but was able to adjust and familiarize well thanks to Eleonora (GE staff) and the girls in the program!

Global Experiences has been the perfect opportunity for me. The length of the program, the people in the program, the city, etc. From exploring the center of Milan to getting lost just outside of it, everyday was an adventure. The wining and dining in Milan started my journey out perfectly. Not only did I try a thousand different types of wines, pizzas, and pastas, I also had the ability to order in the native tongue, Italian. Being able to partake in language classes is what makes this program unique. I was able to tackle my internship head on with a new diverse Italian vocabulary and the confidence to speak. I am blessed to have meet lifelong friends from home and from Italy. I will cherish the moments I had laughing, crying, and dancing on tables all over Milan. And I know, I will be back.