Program Reviews

New Zealand is a place I had never even thought about until I discovered TEAN hosted a study abroad program there that my university was affiliated with. I don't know think I would have ultimately decided to live on the other side of the world for an entire semester if it wasn't for TEAN. After meeting with them, I had this new found confidence to do something for myself for once in my life. That is what my study abroad experience brought to me. Studying abroad with TEAN made me realize what I deserve- which is so much more than what I was giving myself credit for- and also how much I am capable of. Studying abroad made me realize I can do so much more than I ever thought I could. I can climb mountains, I can get good grades at a new university, I am strong, have a good heart and am a great friend. I learned what I should tolerate and when I should stand up for myself. Studying abroad gave me a new found confidence that needed to come out. And for that, I can thank TEAN's study abroad program. With TEAN's help, I was comfortable throughout the entire semester, incredibly well introduced to New Zealand's lifestyle and culture, and supported the entire time. Thank you TEAN!

I went on TEAN's summer in Chiang Mai program. It was completely amazing. Staff are so supportive, friendly and helpful. I took Buddhism and Environmental Science and both classes were great, especially the Environmental Science one. TEAN really has a personalized feel, and they plan excursions such as The Elephant Nature Park (ethical elephant sanctuary) and Doi Suthep, along with a couple more. The housing is fine, I stayed in UniLoft which is dorm style and you actually have a private bedroom separate from your roommate which is great. I loved this program so much and my only wish is that I could've done it longer.

I completed a sports medicine internship in Perth, Australia through TEAN. The whole entire experience was so amazing! I loved my placement which was working with a Western Australia Football League team. I learned a lot of hands on skills while being immersed in the sports culture of Australia. TEAN did such a good job providing me with support throughout the whole process. Their staff was friendly and helpful and TEAN also took care of a lot of the logistics allowing me to enjoy my internship and Australia without stress. Perth was a safe city with a relaxed atmosphere. The people were friendly and I made many friends with the other interns and local Australians. Overall, I loved my internship placement in Perth that TEAN found for me. I highly recommend TEAN for helping you complete an internship abroad because they find the best placement for you and your interests.

My semester abroad in New Zealand was the experience of a life time. The TEAN staff made it easy to become integrated into the culture and feel safe and welcomed. They were always available to talk and truly cared about each of the students in the program. I spent a lot of my time hiking around the South Island and making my memories in the mountains. There was so much to do while abroad and the staff made sure that we knew about all of it and that everyone was having the experience they wanted. Being in a foreign country so far away from home is always scary, but New Zealand quickly became my home-away-from-home because I had all of the support that I needed to make it that way. I will definitely be returning to this country in the future to either visit, further my education, or eventually to live!

When researching which program I should use to study abroad to Australia I looked at many different programs. I am so happy that I decided to choose TEAN. Before I applied I contacted a few of their representatives and they were extremely helpful. I also talked to students who studied abroad with them in the past and had no bad things to say. After my own experience with using this program I can honestly say that I was amazed with how helpful, organized, and dedicated their program and staff are. They truly made my experience unforgettable. Their orientation helped me become acquainted with other abroad students before school started. Also the staff made suggestions on which clubs we should join and the best places to go around the Gold Coast. Their helpful positive attitude and being able to meet others helped me feel more at home with the huge change. They set up different activities throughout the semester that I would have never had the opportunity to do without them. TEAN truly helped make my four months studying abroad the best four months of my life. Anyone traveling abroad should go through TEAN if they have the opportunity to do so.

I recently studied abroad this past spring in Thailand and Vietnam. For me, my study abroad experience was an unforgettable experience that has definitely changed me for the better. I personally enjoyed meeting new people, learning Thai and Vietnamese, and going on cultural excursions. One thing I can definitely say about TEAN is that they have the program set up for the students so that they're getting an experience that's very enlightening. The program is set up so that students will have an experience to learn about the culture, environmental issues, how to combat the environmental issues, and most importantly, how to emerge yourself in a community. I studied in Thailand for 2 months then studied in Vietnam for 2 months and the experience was very different, but also a very enriching experience.

Thailand
During the last week of January, TEAN had organized a village homestay for us to participate in for a week. I had the opportunity to be assigned a host family, begin learning Thai, and getting to know my family members. I had a younger brother who I managed to love so much, play UNO with, and teach each other both of our native languages. In the village I had the opportunity of learning how to weave baskets, make desserts, and have a celebration with my host family. One of my favorite things I did was going to the rice field and planting rice because some of the parents were rice farmers so it was really cool to participate in rice planting and see how the process is done. Another activity I participated in was attending a Monk ceremony where I watched Monks chant, pass out goodies to the Monks, and join everyone in the community for a feast. Lastly, we had the opportunity to learn a few dances, practice in the village, and dress up in costume to perform for the community.

In Thailand, I attended Chiang Mai University which is an extremely colossal campus that resembles campuses in rural areas in the United States. My days getting to class consisted of me taking the shuttle bus or walking if I really felt I wanted an adventure. My favorite course I took while studying in Thailand happened to be Buddhism. My professor was an individual who was extremely knowledgable on Buddhism and is also a teacher for individuals who want to become monks. He taught us how to meditate, use different meditation techniques and sound audio to enhance our experience, and took us on trips to visit temples which were gorgeous by the way. I've always wanted to learn about Buddhism and what better way to learn about Buddhism where majority of people residing here are Buddhists! He had us make comparisons between religion in Thailand and the United states as well as interview an individual to learn about what religion they identify with, how involved are they, and what they believe. He also had us keep track of a meditation journal or participate in temple ethnography as a project which really made the course worthwhile.

TEAN organized a few group excursions which was very helpful to us because a lot of these places would've remained undiscovered if they hadn't. They took us to the Elephant nature park which was an incredible experience. While at the Elephant Nature Park, we learned about elephant abuse, how they rescued the elephants, and had the chance to feed the elephants as well. We also had a feast which had great options and accommodated special diets. As a group, we were always taken on dinners which I found to be very helpful because we were introduce to other parts of town and also ate at expensive restaurants which were definitely worth. Also, TEAN scheduled an optional excursion to the Phi Phi Islands which was an amazing experience altogether.

Vietnam
I truly enjoyed the level of independence I had while studying in Vietnam. For me, being on my own and planning things to do for myself is something extremely rewarding because I can do things on my own time. I personally enjoyed discovering things on my own, befriending locals, and trying to immerse myself as much as possible in the community. This allowed me to build strong relationships with people in Vietnam that I hope to see again one day. My time here made me realize how big this world is, how much there is to learn, and how important certain bonds will be. There's definitely a big sense of community in Vietnam and I believe this country is extremely welcoming and friendly. The people definitely made it memorable for me, but I also think my effort is what made it worth while.

The motorbike food tour was an incredible experience. I have never been on a motorbike before so the experience was terrifying, but it was also worth it. I went on a five hour food tour that exposed me to popular foods, drinks, and desserts in Vietnam. This was a great way to experience numerous dishes because I think it's easy for individuals have a hard time deciding what dishes they should try. I left extremely full and satisfied with the food tour. The individuals running the food tour were very helpful, kind, and welcoming. The staff did an exceptional job of introducing me to different dishes as well as educating me more about Vietnam. One thing I can say that stood out to me was an outdoor market we went to at night which was filled with all of the fruits and vegetables you can imagine. During the tour, an associate actually cut up Guava for me to try free of charge which I thought was really sweet because this is what she does for a living.

In Vietnam, I attended Hoa Sen University which resembles my home university because it's located in a city and has separate buildings. My favorite course I took while attending Hoa Sen University happened to be Gender and Development in Vietnam. Taking this course helped me learn about the gender roles in Vietnam, men and woman paying to be matched with a spouse who has all of the qualities they're looking form, and how men and women are treated in the work force. I had an amazing professor who was very knowledgable on this topic and encouraged us to think outside of the box. We participated in daily discussion and made comparisons and contrasts all of these topics to the United States. Our professor was an incredible woman who also tried to introduce us to Vietnamese culture as much as possible. She brought in seaweed, desserts, and tea for us to try which were delicious.

Being abroad for five and half months has shaped me into a better individual and I can guarantee being abroad has broaden my horizons in many ways possible. I enjoyed my time in both countries and had the ability to experience how breath taking Asia is. Leaving was tough, but it's only a goodbye for now and I know I will be back one day.

I can honestly say that studying abroad through TEAN was the best decision I ever made. TEAN happened to be the only program that had a unique program experience that I was looking for and I'm very happy I met with staff when they attend my study abroad fair. I signed up to be on their email list and kept receiving wonderful emails which led to me to revisit their website plenty of times. TEAN really outdid themselves with this program and I highly encourage any student looking for an extraordinary experience abroad to study abroad through TEAN.

Studying abroad through tean was an incredible experience. Through the orientation that tean organizes you are able to meet a lot of the people that will be studying at your university. This was a huge advantage because I was able to have peer support right away while across the world. The staff were very helpful in making sure we were adjusting to life in Australia. Whatever questions or problems I had while abroad they made sure to fix. It was a great opportunity going through tean and would recommend it to anyone.

I went on TEAN's Summer in Thailand program and had the time of my life. I did the 7-week option. I took Buddhism in Southeast Asia the first session and Human Rights in Southeast Asia the second, and in between I went on TEAN's Souhtern Island excursion. I wanted to go to Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai, because of its unique blend of relaxed city life and natural landscape and its heavily Buddhist-influenced culture. Taking a Buddhism class in Thailand was a dream. I still can't believe I actually got to stay the night in a Thai Forest Tradition temple and follow the monk on his morning alms through a village. This is something I never could have dreamed of experiencing, and something that an average tourist just passing through would not be able to do. This is what I think is the greatest value of studying instead of just visiting Thailand: you get integrated into the culture, and you learn quickly to adapt.
Everyone I came across in Thailand was nothing less than welcoming and kind. If you follow TEAN's rules, especially the one prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle (the streets are crazy but the red truck/ tuk tuk/ grab drivers know what they're doing), you should be very safe. I never truly felt reason to fear for my safety in Chiang Mai.
The education was top-notch and the professors are very understanding of the fact that we are only there for a short period of time and desire time away from the actual studying part. I went to class for three hours Monday-Friday, giving ample time to visit places in the morning, afternoons, and weekends. The local TEAN staff members, Nala and Lauren, were extremely kind and always eager to help with anything.
If you're a nature lover, a culture/ religion enthusiast, or an adventure seeker, Thailand is the perfect place to study. There are beautiful nearby hiking trails, waterfalls, tons of museums and temples, active nightlife, amazing food everywhere, many types of markets, and so much more. I am incredibly happy that I did this program, it has truly been the greatest experience of my life so far. I met beautiful friends both from TEAN and local Thai students. If you have any desire to do this, do it!

I didn't want to graduate college without studying abroad, I am so glad I chose TEAN as my program because they made everything very easy and fun. The 5 day Queenstown orientation was packed with awesome activities and adventures, like the scenic Milford Sound tour and bungee jumping! The orientation was a great way to get to know everyone else one the program and made my first few weeks in Dunedin much more fun and comforting because I had already made some friends. One of my favorite aspects of TEAN is their optional mid-semester break excursions. I traveled to Thailand for 9 days which was somewhere I had never really thought of going before and had the best time of my life!
Studying in New Zealand made me really appreciate the Earth and understand the negative impact we have on its environment. I love TEAN because they are environmentally conscious and promote ways to benefit the environment through recycling and other energy-saving facts.
I was really happy I chose Dunedin to study and live in. Dunedin is perfect for college students! The city and campus are filled with historic and beautiful buildings, but have modern touches added throughout. There are so many coffee shops, thrift stores, art displays, and gardens to explore! I also loved how it didn't take too long to travel outside the city and experience nature, whether it was hiking the local trails or driving a few hours to different national parks.
The living situation in Dunedin is slightly different from most other places. Students live in "flats", which are apartment-style buildings or quaint little houses. This is so unique because everyone's flat looks different! Most flats house 4-6 students. I lived with 5 other girls: 2 were Canadian, 1 was American, and 2 were from New Zealand!! I loved living with international students (especially Kiwis) because I learned so much about their culture and differences in language. It was also an amazing way to connect with other international students, so I wasn't always surrounded by Americans.
The Education Abroad Network provided everything I was looking for in my study abroad experience, and more! I absolutely loved every minute and would do it all over again if I could.

To kick off my semester abroad in New Zealand, TEAN treated my orientation group to an amazing welcome week in Queenstown! It was a great way for all of us study abroad students to get to know each other! We adventured in Fiordland, which including a boating excursion through Milford Sound as well as a day hike near Mirror Lakes. In addition, TEAN also hosted information sessions in local, historic venues in Queenstown and helped us get acclimated to the New Zealand way of life. Once we got settled at the university, TEAN hosted a bunch of really fun catch-up events where we could all eat lunch & do an activity together. These check-ins were a really fun way to see how everyone was doing. Towards the end of our semester, TEAN hosted an emotional farewell dinner where we said our goodbyes. Going to New Zealand was an absolute dream. The places I adventured, the people I met, and the experiences I had while abroad were some of the most magical times of my life and it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for TEAN. I'm forever in debt to TEAN for helping me have the best semester of my life.