CIS Abroad Reviews

As the semester came to an end I was overcome by both the joy of being able to go home and see family and friends and being able to use my debit card freely with no extra charges, but also with sadness realizing years will probably pass before I will be able to return. Throughout all the experiences I had in Florence, good and bad, altogether I had an amazing time. There are definitely things that I wish I had known and think other participants should consider before choosing to study in Florence. For example, I was not aware of how Americanized my day to day was going to be. You go to school with Americans, travel with Americans, and mostly everyone speaks English. This being said many people come to Florence with a group of friends so this could be a challenge socially since CIS and FUA provide no student hub where people can go to either study, relax, or mingle. Even if you don't find a group this shouldn't stop you from exploring and expanding your knowledge of culture and travel. Some of my favorite trips were ones I took alone and I was able to finally meet different people from around the world. There are definitely improvements that could be made, but your experience truly depends on whether you are able to escape your comfort zone and enjoy every little moment that you can.

My experience was amazing and gave me everything I needed for my first time abroad. Because of this trip I know want to spend the rest of my life traveling and getting to know the different cultures of the world. I got to meet people from all around the world while also working at my dream job. Sydney was one of the most beautiful places and I cannot wait to go back. I would love to one day more and live there and maybe finish school there.

Before I left for this 2 month journey I didn’t realize how much of an impact this experience would have on my life. As soon as I landed I was taken away by friendly faces. I met other students along the way and instantly felt connected. When I saw my host mother and future roommate I was nervous, yet excited for the journey ahead. Everything about this program was spectacular, the classes, the professors, everything. I believe my experience was so unique because of the way it shaped me as an individual. This experience taught me more about myself and my love for travel. I excelled in my coursework, developed a healthy routine, and came out of my comfort zone. As an individual with high anxiety, I was able to conquer my fears and have an experience of a lifetime. Every weekend was a new adventure with the friends that I made along the way. We travelled to various cities and met wonderful people. My favorite memory would have to be the programs trip to La Ciotat. Seeing the markets, and the beautiful ocean view took my breath away. The day was filled with laughter and thrills as we jumped off the cliffs into the crystal blue water. Post-program my life had definitely changed. I started to appreciate my hometown more trying to mimic my experiences in Aix. Although nothing compares, I have definitely been bitten by the travel bug. I would do it all again in a heart beat, but now I have my memories, and friendships that will last a lifetime. I’ll leave you with a tip, never say no. Don’t turn down any new opportunities and to all the future participants cherish each day. Try to learn or try something new each day. Be kind to your host family and make the best of this once in a lifetime experience.
Also here is the link to my Vlog tch?=3HfFIIqRaxw&list=PL5ITnwWudcvw9-tzWUQizglj8LdEEE2kB&index=5

Going abroad was the greatest thing I have ever done. There were ups and downs but the overall experience was incredible. My trip was made exceptional by the people that were on it with me. I went into it knowing no one and left with many close friends. I certainly have the travel bug now and a taste for adventure. Visiting the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland was a dream come true and something I will never forget. Getting to see the entire royal family in London was also an unforgettable experience. I was able to visit so many different castles in different countries which was truly amazing. I learned so much on this trip about Celtic culture, spanish art history, and I got to see and learn about the London theatre scene. Some useful tips: prepare yourself for no air conditioning, make sure you have a phone plan that works, and bring your own sheet and pillow. Overall my advice would be, be prepared for anything, sometimes things happen and you just need to take it in stride. The world is an adventure so get out there.

Overall I loved the trip. I made some great friends and I got to see things I never would have. One problem I had was the living condition in England. They told us we could not stay in the same room as opposite sex and when we got to England they put women in shared lofts with men that we had never met before. That was a bit uncomfortable. The rooms were also dirty. Other than that, I loved my experience and found it to be memorable and positive. I loved my class in England

I had a fantastic semester abroad. The education was very thorough and the environment was great in all aspects. If I had studied abroad earlier in my college career, I would definitely have done it again. The transportation in the city was very efficient and overall nothing was very expensive. Great location for visiting other coutries as well. Dorms were small but everything worked out okay. Would reccomend to anyone.

I always wanted to study abroad and travel to Asia. Being able to do both was a blessing for me. I was nervous starting off, but once I landed at the airport and seen how beautiful the trees were, I became so excited.
In my three month program, I met and made many friends. Some of which I still keep in contact with today! I will admit, I was very hard on myself and it took me some time to find people who I could relate to and feel comfortable around. That’s what my experience was mainly about, learning how to open up to people, and be myself. I never felt so free before.
The culture itself was A-MAZING!! It’s was safe as well because I took quite a few trips into Bangkok and even around Salaya alone. I also was able to cross a few other things off my bucket list. One being taking care of elephants. They were not shy one bit! I felt so comfortable around them which made it even more special. On our exertions, I wasn’t all too excited some times because of the communication with from the cite director. Additionally, it was kind of a continuous trend with the nonchalant and sarcastic demeanor which was huge disappointment and unappreciative experience for me. His communication and actual concern on things and over all interactions I expected to be better than it was.
Lastly, academics was a slight challenge but nothing I hadn’t experienced back home. I love love love how I didn’t have classes on Fridays because that gave me more time adventures and traveling! But more importantly, most of my professors were very helpful and understanding if I needed additional explanations of material from class. So we’re my Thai friends especially when it came to learning the language because it can be extremely tedious. The entire campus is gorgeous with a huge variety of food options. Thailand has amazing food annals a wide variety overall. Getting lost I was a little nervous but Thais were helpful too. I love the buddy system for that exact reason. At the same time, it was when I was lost I found the most solitude beautiful time of my experience. I embraced it because I knew I wanted to get the most out of living a totally diverse culture because it was a moment I’d remember forever.

I went into this experience planning on going to Greece. I had everything scheduled, and then was informed that they ended up dropping the photography class that I was very anxious to take. I then went into a mind set of just looking through programs that offered photography, and came across Sorrento. I had actually never heard of Sorrento before finding out about the program and doing my research. I agreed and signed up, which ended up being one of the best decisions I have ever made. Growing up, I wasn't even keen on spending the night at my friends houses, much less spending weeks somewhere foreign, but I decided it was time to experience something other than the midwest. No one from my university joined me, I didn't know anyone in the program, and I flew out there alone. 5,000+ miles away from anything that I was comfortable with for 5 weeks, and by the time my weeks were up, I didn't want to leave. The people, the culture, the food, and the scenery were indescribable. The university/learning environment was awesome and I learned more in those 5 weeks than some of my semester programs. We were also fortunate to live in apartments around town as apposed to the dorms, which really gave us the full living experience. The group of American students who were in the same area studying/interning ending up being some of the most amazing people I had ever met. I had made life long friends, that I still talk to a year later, in that hectic 5 week period. We were all in the same mindset to do anything and everything that we could with each day that we had in that beautiful place. I found people who were willing to travel, hike, experience the night life with, jump off cliffs, and I even found two people crazy enough to ride a bus for 4 hours to jump out of a plane at over 14,000 feet! Free-falling along the Amalfi Coast is an experience that I wish I could give to everyone, because you never experience life more until it is happening right in front of you. Along with my external experiences, I couldn't even begin to justly explain what I learned about myself while there. I am more driven to experience life, confident in myself and who I am, and socially equipped to handle any situation just because of my experiences abroad. My only tip for people who would even consider going abroad is to just do it. It is scary and incredibly stressful leading up to the experience, but if you just continue to see that this will be the most amazing learning experience you will ever have, you will be just fine. Do your research about the area before you go, learn some of the language beforehand (especially things that would help in an emergency), be incredibly social and open to the people around you, and experience everything that you can while you are there. The time will fly by incredibly fast and then you will have to return home. Take risks, but don't do anything stupid enough to get you into big trouble. Look out for those around you and they will look out for you. Try all the foods, even the weird looking ones because those might end up being the most delicious. Make friends within the local community, because as easy as it is to relate to the Americans that are there with you, it means so much more to the locals if you attempt to make a connection with them. Most of all, just have fun and be your most authentic you. I promise it will be a blast.

Living in Greece was the best thing that ever happened to me. I feel that being away from family and being able to go out alone in a safe area helped me grow as a person. I became more confident and independent traveling Athens picking up the language here and there. One of my favorite memories was Greek grandmothers telling us to put on coats even though it was 85degrees. Or the fresh baked breads from the bakery. Everyone is so friendly. I strongly recommend studying in Greece and if not visit it in general!

My time in Paris, France was amazing to say the least. Paris has always been my dream to go and visit but I had the opportunity to not only live there but go to school as well. I went into the program knowing little to no French and it was a great risk I was taking. However, it was the most rewarding experience I have ever had. I not only got to further my French speaking skills it showed that I can overcome difficult situations in positive ways. Going abroad gives one valuable skills that you will have for the rest of your life. I loved my time in France! I enjoyed it so much that it inspired me to go abroad again with CISabroad! Traveling and indulging in new cultures led me to find my passion in life and try to pursue a career in it. I recommend everyone and anyone to study away at least once in their life.