Program Reviews

This program was amazing! We went on weekend excursions and night activities which were the best part. I distinctly remember the time we went paddle surfing. You will have to step out of your comfort zone but it is worth it! You will absolutely love every second of it. Studying abroad in another country is very eye opening and probably one of the best experiences that you will ever have. Amazing teachers from all over the world that have made an impact on me as a person. Not to mention the fact that my family host was amazing. If you have the opportunity to participate in this program then you should.

The summer i soent in berlin was amazing. I met so many people and learned so much about german culture. Traveling since then has been my passion and i have gone to minor in german at my college. German has become such a big part of my life now. I continue to talk about my trip and share pictures with my friends. If i had the money i would go back in an instant. I an excited to study abroad during my forth year of school and now hope to work abroad, in Germany.

From start to finish, CIEE made my summer in Valpraíso, Chile unforgettable. I signed up super late, yet CIEE was very accommodating in helping me be part of their program. All of the group leaders were funny, charismatic, and intelligent. Everyone shared their backgrounds and experiences and what led them to this experience in Chile and I was lucky to be surrounded by some truly fascinating individuals with whom I still have contact with, almost a year later. My host family was extremely caring and funny. I wouldn’t have been able to grow as much in the Spanish language if I hadn’t been with them. My family did not know English, so I was forced to develop my speaking skills, which was truly invaluable. The program confirmed that I wanted to study Spanish and international relations in college; experiencing another country’s culture for a straight month by living in it was incredible and I have to thank CIEE for having such a huge impact on my life.

I’m really glad I went on my CIEE program. Although it wasn’t without challenge, I look back on it as a positive experience. My first host family and I were not compatible and I ended up asking to switch host families. CIEE made the process really easy and alleviated a lot of my stress about switching. My advice is that if you have an inkling that you are not compatible with your family then you should tell the program as soon as possible. Even if you don’t switch or want to switch they can put your feelings into context (maybe it’s a matter of culture clash rather than a particular family) and help you decide what to do next. Once I switched host families my experience drastically improved. I loved my host family, made a lot of really close friends and had a ton of fun. I feel that because I faced certain challenges abroad, away from my family, in a different language and culture, those same challenges seem much less daunting now that I’m back in the US.

I'm going to make this short but living in Spain for a month is by far one of my favorite life experiences. The program was incredibly helpful with getting connected to a new culture and place. Learning the language was so much fun and inspiring and I still use Spanish almost everyday where I live. The housing was by far the best part. I'm still in touch with my host mom and will be visiting her when I return to Spain this summer. Overall the experience was great and life changing.

I moved to Spain after finishing up four years of college on the East Coast. I had lived, worked, and traveled through Europe a few times before but there was still a fair amount of nervous energy in me pre-departure. Upon my arrival to Madrid, jet-lagged and in a little bit of shock, I was immediately greeted by some of the most enthusiastic leaders I have ever met. It was honestly so reassuring to see the excitement that they had for our experience and made me feel comfortable knowing that they enjoyed their experience to such a degree that it prompted them to stay for another year. As I approach the end of my first year I couldn't be more excited to be spending another year in Spain and in Europe as an overall whole. Going abroad after graduating, or really before any major life decision has drastically changed my approach on life and the plans that I had laid out for my future self. Putting yourself in a completely new environment culturally, linguistically, and geographically has allowed me to grow and develop in so many ways that I don't believe would have been available to me had I chosen to stay in the US. I have met people from all over the world, traded stories and drinks with some characters straight out of a novel, and have seen some of the most amazing places and monuments that I could only dream of as a child. The road is not always easy and there are honestly times where the pull of returning home is strong and there would be nothing more comforting than returning to everything that is familiar. But with the help of friends and colleagues that you meet in your adventures you can see just how many reasons there are to stay and further develop yourself. Plus it doesn't hurt that I can travel across Europe for half the price of a ticket from Boston to California.

I had the wonderful opportunity to have a 6 credit academic internship with an international hotel asset management company as one of my classes in Palma. This not only helped increase my professional Spanish skills, but it also helped strengthen my intercultural communication. My CIEE program allowed complete immersion into another country’s culture which is extremely valuable for one’s personal growth. The program was well organized, all the small details were taken care of. The only complaint I had about the program was my first homestay. I had some issues because the homestay mother was going through a hard time herself so they changed me into a different homestay with a single mother who I swear must be an angel. I had a very tough time abroad medically and mentally and was able to receive the help I needed to make my experience worthwhile.

Being my first trip abroad without my parents, this program really took me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to embrace a culture unlike any other. Although I didn't feel super confident traveling without my parents, the providers were there every step of the way and became everybody's friends! This program has everything, from history, to old Korean culture, to modern Korean culture, to language, food and more! Korea has a very different history and culture from the U.S., but the growing influence that we have in Korea is making this program even more important for American students.

Incredible professors who really care about the students and their learning process, catered to each students level individually. Great staff, sometimes can seem a little tedious but that's just due to liability issues (they really don't care what you do). Only one student in my program had an issue with their host family, everyone loved their home stays including me. Also, such a great eclectic group of students, I will never forget them or my experience in Alicante :) and don't forget to TRAVEL!!!

It had its highs and lows but overall it was a really good experience. The trip had moments of being a very scary experience (getting lost in a big city, getting int a car accident, losing your phone) but it has also given me amazing experiences like meeting people in Sevilla, It has broadened my horizons, finding amazing new discoveries and helping me connect with people further than where I live