Program Reviews

TEAN is definitely the program you should go abroad with! Sydney was by far one of the coolest places I have ever been, but a new place can be overwhelming. Not with TEAN. TEAN staff members make the transition to your new country SO easy! Experienced and knowledgeable staff made the process of getting there a breeze. TEAN helped me to set up me housing, my visa, and my classes with ease. When I arrived, there was just as much help. TEAN staff members greeted me and picked me up from the airport and helped me to move into my new apartment. I was introduced to other students and taken on a walking tour of Syndey! The first weekend we went surfing at the iconic Bondi Beach! Without TEAN I would have felt lost, but I felt like a local in days!

I had an amazing experience, so much so that I know I want to go back and work in China.

The University was good, a little difficult but overall good. I feel like I learned a lot and was challenged to think differently. Some things got a little annoying because there are certain topics not allowed to be talked about, and using the internet with firewalls for research were tough but manageable.

Apart fromt he university, TEAN did a great job at orientation, I felt like I really connected with my group who went abroad. We all became pretty great friends with eachother and so the housemates became my best friends.

Personally I also really wanted to experience what life would be like as a local so I would do things alone to get a feel for the city. I took dance classes and ran Spartan races and went clubbing and bar hopping. I made a lot of both local and foreign friends, both working and students, and I feel like that made the experience amazing. I found new hobbies and new friends and we were able to compare out life styles and I was able to practice my mandarin.

The best decision that I could have ever made in my choice to study abroad was choosing this wonderful program, TEAN or The Education Abroad Network. Everything that they offered and did for all of us students always went above and beyond our expectations. From taking a taekwondo class, going to popular and entertaining amusement parks, to having monthly coffee shop meetups, I always felt like our advisers truly cared for us and would be there if we ever needed them. As I went into this program and even my university, Korea University knowing no one at all, I was understandably very nervous about whether I would actually find any friends or enjoy myself for the long 4 months. However, these worries were quickly put at ease due to the many activities TEAN my fellow travelers and I did during the first week we were in Korea, making a bond between all of us that lasted the entire time studying abroad, and even until now, about 3 months after we all returned back to the U.S. I am truly so appreciative that I was able to have this adventure with the TEAN program, and everyone who wants to travel or study abroad should go through this program also.

My name is Victoria Guasco and I studied abroad in Sydney, Australia last semester. My experience with TEAN was amazing and whoever is looking to go abroad I would recommend going with TEAN for many reasons. First, they made the transition into Australia very smooth and they also made the transition back home smooth too. Second, they were there if anything went wrong and I could always count on them to help me get adjusted. Third, they held events for TEAN students to get acclimated and make friends. They never left us empty handed and they did everything they could to make us feel safe and at home. Everything was very organized with the program and if you needed something you could get ahold of them within minutes.
My experience with TEAN and studying abroad in general was amazing! Those four and a half months I was there is a time I will never forget and always cherish. I traveled around Australia and New Zealand, made friends i'll have forever, furthered my education, learned many things about myself and grew in every aspect of my life. Leaving your home and started completely new is very hard, but with TEANs help you will not regret your decision to go.

My experience in Sydney, Australia with TEAN Abroad was the trip of a lifetime. TEAN made it easy to not feel overwhelmed when transitioning to a new place. They were extremely informational and provided detailed information of what to expect when I get there. Once I did get there, I was extremely overwhelmed but the housing that TEAN put me into made it easy to meet friends and new people. It was also centrally located to the main part of Sydney which made it easy to travel and explore. Sydney was also centrally located to other parts of that side of the world. Because of that I was able to explore Thailand, Taiwan, Fiji, and New Zealand. I cannot wait to be able to go back there someday. Thanks to TEAN, Sydney slowly became my home away from home.

I had the best experience with TEAN studying at UNSW for a term! Before I even chose to study abroad with TEAN, a TEAN staff member answered all of my many questions promptly and in detail. When my flight was delayed causing me to miss orientation in Cairns, I was in constant contact with TEAN staff members. After I arrived in Sydney, they worked with UNSW's housing to get me into my room a few days before I was supposed to arrive along with my kitchen utensils and bedding. A staff member even met me at my housing location to help me settle in. I am so thankful them! They definitely go above and beyond! Additionally, they plan so many different excursions and longer trips that you can choose to take part in. These range from a tour of the Sydney Opera House, surfing lessons at Bondi Beach, a longer trip to New Zealand's South Island, a weekend trip to Melbourne, and more! I had an amazing time, fell in love with Sydney, and made so many friends that I still keep in touch with even though they're still on the other side of the world! It truly was the best semester of my life and I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone and everyone!!

As it is for many, studying abroad was way out of my comfort zone. I had never been out of the country, never mind traveling to the other side of the world all by myself. Going to a place as far away as Australia was a tough decision to make but I am so grateful that I did. The program I chose allowed me to have an adventurous experience, while also knowing I had support along the way. I now feel so much more confident than I did before and the memories will definitely last forever. Griffith University had a beautiful campus and it made a perfect home away from home. The friendly atmosphere and the diverse amount of people made it a pretty quick adjustment. TEAN was always there when I had any concerns or needed help, providing much needed comfort. It was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone ready for an adventure!

In my notebook, I kept a section titled “moments” where I logged pages on pages of all the small, but impactful, experiences I had in Thailand. As I read through it now, attempting to answer this question, I can’t help but tear up. You don’t realize how far a simple smile can go until you experience it in place of words, and I don’t think there was one day I didn’t feel the radiating kindness. From the wholesome, simple lifestyle in the village, to the music blasting at Zoe in Yellow, each person reflected pure joy in what they were doing because they did it surrounded by those they love. It just goes to show how little we need to truly find happiness, and how important it is to hold onto it once we’ve got it. In Thailand, it was never about who had the next best thing, but instead how can we help someone feel a little bit better today. My biggest takeaway from studying abroad in Thailand was a shift in perspective and newfound appreciation for all that I’ve had and have the potential to receive. It’s eye-opening, and one day the whole world will see it too. Thank you TEAN.

After weeks, maybe even months of looking into different study abroad programs, I finally found the Education Abroad Network (TEAN) and that was when my dream started becoming a reality. Throughout the entire process of filling out papers and getting my classes together, TEAN was very supportive and open to helping me. Even while abroad, the support didn’t stop. The occasional check-ins and activities were great additions to my study abroad experience.
I came for new experiences and to meet new people; I came to make memories. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this goal, especially on weeks when I feel like I have so much to do and so little time.
But some of the best experiences I’ve had while here are the moments I’ve spent with friends, even if we weren’t doing anything “significant” or adventurous. Walks along the coast, movie nights with lots of junk food, learning a new position on the aerial hoop, brekky after circus training, all of these little moments, although they may seem insignificant at the time, are some of the best experiences I’ve had. Not everything has to be a grand adventure or getting work done.

They say that studying abroad is a great way to find yourself and figure out what you want to do in life. But what I learned is that I don’t. I don’t want to be on this journey to find myself or figure out what to do with my life; I just want to live it. Since grade school, I’ve been conditioned to think about my future and make decisions based on how it’ll help me in the future. Will I still think in this way? Yeah, of course, it’s kind of ingrained in me. But now I have the choice to try to unlearn this mindset and really start winging it and seeing where life takes me. Australia is a country where the day to day pace is much slower and people are truly just taking it one day at a time, which is much different to the general mindset back home especially in college where everything is about your future. I’m definitely going to have moments where I freak out about future and if what I’m doing now will be worth it, but I just have to keep reminding myself, whatever happens, happens and that it’ll be okay eventually.
Australia will always have a special place in my heart and I’m so glad that I got multiple opportunities to travel around the country and even outside it. I can’t wait to be back one day and see how much it has changed while I was away.

Choosing this particular program and destination was hands down the best decision I've ever made. The experience itself was challenging, fulfilling, heartwarming, immersive, and crazy fun. I would go back right now if I could. I'm Asian American and going back to a region that has a lot of familial history was eye-opening and an opportunity of a lifetime. I learned a lot about myself and I think I'm a better person because of the way I got out of my comfort zone (physically, mentally, spiritually).

I learned how to admire and participate in Thai culture while also respecting the practices. I gained a newfound understanding of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries roles in geopolitics (which is extremely important if you've only been exposed to Western countries' roles). I learned how to be more patient and more understanding of those that are different than me. I also gained friends from other parts of the world (within the US and from Thailand) that I can't wait to see again!