CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

My first week in Florence was a culture shock. From the open-air city of Los Angeles to a more compact town like Florence, I was initially taken off guard and scared for my new adventure. Quickly, I realized the worlds that sat behind the yellow concrete buildings. The local coffee shop, which looked similar to the ones on most streets, became a home in itself. The barista quickly learned my name and order, and each morning, I was comforted by the familiar face. Between classes, I'd wander off into a random church, only to experience the astonishing sights of Brunelleschi's work. His ability to create illusions of space in otherwise standard construction was incredible. My free time was never boring. I often went with new friends to check out the local markets or thrift shops between classes. Or, we would grab a cappuccino with our professor and hear about her favorite places in Florence. We would sit outside the Duomo just minutes from campus to admire the building and people-watch tourists. The school and city filled my time with learning so much about the city's history and how to experience Italy's culture best. I took quick trains around Italy many weekends to see amazing new places. But, at the end of those trips, I was always excited to return to my new home away from home.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires was so incredible and I wish I could go back everyday! I lived with a host family and they were so amazing. The CEA onsite staff were so helpful and kind as well as my professors. All my classes were very interesting and helped me gain a stronger understanding of the new culture. Most of our classes were used for field studies which was so much more beneficial than sitting and listening to a lecture. I went on tons of weekend travel trips and made the best friends. Overall amazing trip and program!!

CEA CAPA Barcelona was a fantastic way to experience Europe for the first time. Classes were held Monday-Thursday, so long weekends were great for traveling. Barcelona was a phenomenal city to call home for 3.5 months. CEA CAPA prepared students to go abroad with a step-by-step pre-departure process that made the logistics of going abroad far less daunting. While we were there, CEA CAPA provided us with cultural workshops, optional trips to explore other parts of Spain, and more. CEA CAPA has a great selection of housing options and courses.

When planning to go abroad, I was choosing between doing an internship and studying. CEA luckily had a program that allowed me to do both. I felt like I was able to truly live abroad and become accustomed to the culture because of my unique experience with the workplace. I felt like I was making a real international change because the nature of my internship was legal aid. These internships are so hard to find on your own, and CEA works especially hard to match you with one that aligns with your unique interests. It was an amazing experience and something I will never get over! Do the internship!

I honestly loved studying abroad and recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it. Aix is a beautiful small french town that is a completely different scene that Paris. It gives that European town movie scene feeling. There were so many places to meet people and the people in Aix are very friendly - there are people from all over the Mediterranean. Academics wise, I enjoyed it, the teaching is more lecture based and you really get to know who is in your class and your teacher because you are conversing, rather than focusing on heavy exams. I had the opportunities to travel to other countries on the weekends as well as attend events that CEA hosted such as pottery class, cooking class, and a weekend in the French Rivieria. It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires for the fall 2023 semester was an experience unlike any other. From the vibrant culture to trying new cuisine, Argentina's capital city offered a kaleidoscope of experiences that left me in love with the city.

One of the highlights of my time in Buenos Aires was immersing myself in the local art, markets, and dance! During the weekdays, I spent my time in classes at a local University with other international students. I spent weekends exploring the city's rich history and architecture, visiting museums and every possible artisan market I could! The locals couldn't been friendlier and patient with my Spanish. At night, friends and I would grab a bite to eat and go to a local milonga where people would dance tango to live bands.

Overall, my semester in Buenos Aires was an incredible adventure filled with new experiences, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories. It's a journey that has left me with a deeper appreciation for the richness of global culture and a longing to return to the city where every street corner feels like a dance waiting to happen.

The CEA Capa internship program in Sevilla, Spain was a wonderful experience in personal growth, academic and professional experiences, and cultural immersion. Through my time with CEA, I took one class on global communication which was an eye opening view on how to approach cultural differences in a variety of setting. I also had an internship in which I got let into the stress free atmosphere of the Spanish workplace. CEA also organized events to highlight an area of Sevilla's culture. My host mom was the sweetest (so was the cat) and engages me and my roommate in cultural conversations and showed us her favorite places in Sevilla (we ate at her favorite restaurant 6 times). It was a great program and I great way to experience life in Sevilla. Everyone was kind, warm, accommodating, and excited to share Sevilla with us.

I have CEA CAPA to thank for a wonderful experience! It indeed was the most fun I have had! I don't think that there is another way to travel that beats studying abroad with CAPA! It gave me so much freedom while making me feel safe and cared for.

I could not recommend more!

Also, the numerous activities and experiences that were provided by CAPA made it easy because so many things were planned by them, and all you had to do was join in if you chose to! It made it super easy to have a few fun things to do that you didn't have to plan yourself! Which for me meant I could spend a lot more time planning certain things I wanted to do!

I studied and interned abroad in Sydney last year. It was an incredible experience and I made so many amazing memories. The staff was so kind and I enjoyed every day I was in Sydney. I learned so much from my classes and excursions to my own adventures around the city and living in a new country. The Center and accommodations are in the heart of the city with easy access to wherever you want to go. Sydney is expansive, so take advantage of that and explore! I fell in love with Sydney immediately and hope to go back as soon as possible.

What I appreciated most about my experience with CEA CAPA Florence was how integrated my program was with the host city and culture. Because the CEA CAPA Florence building is located in such a lively and bustling part of the city (Santa Croce), it really felt like the city was our campus. Each day, we were encouraged by the staff and faculty to take advantage of this. There were numerous excursions to go on and activities to do.

During my semester abroad, I had the opportunity to participate in Ganzo! (an Italian slang word meaning “cool"), a cultural exchange program that matches study abroad students with local families. Being able to create a connection with my Ganzo! family allowed me to practice the language and immerse myself in Italian culture in ways that would’ve been difficult to encounter otherwise. Ganzo! was definitely a highlight of my experience. I appreciate CEA CAPA’s commitment to pushing students to immerse themselves in their host country’s culture by offering volunteer programs such as Ganzo!