My time in Auckland was sureal and it's something I will never forget. TEAN was very helpful in finding accommodations, and my RA was easy to talk to whenever I needed help. She planned fun excursions, and most of these excursions ended up being my favorite things during the entire semester. We went to Queenstown for orientation, and Cathedral Cove as the semester started to close. We also had lunch dates, coffee catch-ups, and comedy nights. My RA was also very straight forward in this being "an edu-cation experience as much as it is a va-cation experience" and that stuck with me. I may have focused more on my academics than having fun, but the classes I took genually interest me, so I was having fun while studying. Overall, this was a great experience, and I could not have done it without TEAN!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don't be afraid to go out on your own. This is your study abroad experience, and it's okay to do stuff alone! I had the most fun doing things alone, and I feel like these experiences helped me grow in independence more. I went to Rotorua and Australia on my own, where I stayed in hostels, and I did and saw things that I wanted to do and see. I went to the Skyline (went on the sky swing and luging 100% recommend) and Zorbing in Rotorua. In Australia, I went to the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and Albert Park (the Formula 1 circuit). I was able to spend as much time as I wanted, doing the things I wanted and I feel like I was able to appreciate it so much more because of this. In the end, I just highly recommend you do things for yourself, and don't be afraid to go alone.
At first, I was nervous going into the Study Abroad experience. I decided on it all rather quickly as well, after one visit to my Study Abroad office, I had my heart set on New Zealand and started applying almost immediately. Fast forward six months later, I am on a 13hr plane ride to New Zealand. I was traveling for the first time on my own and yet I didn’t feel alone. The TEAN program helped me every step of the way and they made my experience unforgettable. I can’t thank them enough. When I arrived there, they showed me kindness and support and I never truly felt alone. Then we had a marvelous time exploring the South Island of New Zealand and immersing ourselves into the Kiwi Culture.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go into this experience all the way. It’s so easy sometimes for us to want to stay in our comfort zones and avoid the unknown but by applying, you’ve already taken a step out of your known world. So embrace it even more. Do things you’ve never even imagined doing, meet new people, and embrace the experience with full confidence. Remember that differences in this world is what makes it exciting and learn it all with an open heart and mind.
Pros
Learned a lot about a new culture.
Learned more about myself.
Gained experience in solo traveling, sustainable living, and much more.
I had the best summer studying Abroad at Hanyang University through TEAN. I met excellent students from across the US who participated, and they made my experience wholesome. I never felt alone since I had kept company with them. Also, the onsite team were amazing. Euisoo, Hwang, and Chan ensured that we lacked nothing. They were a text away and supported us throughout the program. They also sent out any weather notices or alerts, which I found super helpful. TEAN and Hanyang University's immersive cultural activities allowed me to engage with Korea's traditions and lifestyle. The highlight of my study abroad experience was my classes. I took a "Studies of Korean Society and Culture" class, and I encourage anyone studying at Hanyang University to enroll in this course. It was very insightful; there were lectures and discussions of ancient and modern Korea, among other topics. It allowed me to view Korea objectively and understand why things worked as they did. Also, I loved getting crafty in my ceramics class. That was fun. I am grateful to TEAN for the best summer ever.
I absolutely loved my time abroad in Rome, Italy with ISA. I went in Spring 2024 and was pleased by the weather, cuisine, and attractions Rome had to offer. Rome is a city like no other with a vast range of activities to do and neighborhoods to explore. I never found myself bored and was able to travel to 12 countries throughout my semester abroad. I found traveling out of Rome to be affordable and relatively easy which I loved. I attended The American University of Rome, which was incredible and enhanced my film studies scholars. Both the professors and staff were very accommodating and offered resources whenever I needed support. ISA was extremely helpful in my immersion to living abroad and I formed close relationships with the staff that helped eliminate feelings of homesickness. I would highly recommend studying abroad in Rome with ISA!!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would advice future travelers to get as involved as possible in their program and school abroad. It is truly a time to embrace yourself and try new things. I became more extroverted, free-spirited and open to new adventures after my time in Rome.
Pros
Rome has incredible culture, history, and people. The city is just as romantic and enchanting as the language, and locals encourage you to learn Italian.
The ISA program's staff is responsive and proactive in any situation involving their students.
ISA's excursions are both fun and relaxing as they are completely pre-planned. It is a great time to bond with the other students in your program. I still talk to all my friends from abroad every day!
What other participants should know
Rome is a big city which can feel overwhelming to someone who is not a fan of crowds or noise.
Picture this: sipping espresso at a quaint café, discussing global marketing with classmates from 80+ countries, the Eiffel Tower in view. This was my incredible semester at the American Business School of Paris with ISA!
ISA's program exceeded all expectations. Their on-site staff provided excellent support, from orientation to ongoing advice. I was placed in a homestay in a beautiful Parisian neighborhood, enhancing my cultural immersion. The academic experience was rewarding, with English-taught classes offering unique perspectives on business.
ISA's cultural excursions were a highlight, from Louvre tours to weekend trips across France. These pre-arranged events made exploring accessible and fostered connections with other ISA students.
Choosing ISA was one of my best decisions. They transformed a potentially overwhelming experience into an unforgettable adventure. For anyone considering studying abroad in Paris, I wholeheartedly recommend ISA. They ensure a safe, educational, and life-changing experience that goes beyond just academics. Thanks to ISA, I've gained knowledge, experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try to fully immerse yourself in the Parisian culture! Dress like the Parisians, learn to blend in, and try to really appreciate the cultural differences. By letting myself adapt to the way the Parisians acted, I was able to get so much out of my experience abroad and learned just how much I love Paris!
Studying abroad in Florence with ISA was the best decision of my life. Being able to live in a new country and learn about a completely different culture and way of life is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There is no better way to learn than being able to learn through experiences. During the semester I was abroad, I was able to travel all throughout Italy as well as to many other countries all over Europe. Because of this program, I was able to meet some of my best friends and make many amazing memories. Through my time there, Florence truly became a second home, and I can't wait until I am able to be there again!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I were to do it again, I would have stayed in Florence more weekends. I went on a trip almost every weekend, which meant that I didn't really spend any long periods of time in my home city. I also wish I had done more day trips or quick overnight trips to smaller places around Italy. Studying abroad is your opportunity to get to know a country on a new level, so I wish I had taken advantage of that. I don't regret anywhere I went, but I wish I had spent a little more time in Florence as there are many things that I never got to do.
I went and studied at the American University of Rome over the summer and enjoyed everything about it. I was the only student from my university going and was very nervous but everyone in my program welcomed me with open arms and made me feel loved. The hardest part of the trip wasn't the Italian or the culture (they mostly speak English and their culture is really exciting) but I found that the one thing that made me homesick was a hotdog.I somehow got sick of eating pasta and pizza. I'll tell you though, once I got my hotdog when I landed in America, I just wanted to go right back to Italy.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I know I wasn't the only person in my program who had a bunch of trouble with getting an international phone plan for the time we were there and ultimately had to get a plan in Italy so that would be my biggest piece of advice: pay a little extra so you can follow the trains and map out where you're going and in case any emergencies happen, you have a backup plan. It will ultimately reduce your stress tremendously and you can enjoy your trip more.
Pros
Lots to do in rome
plenty of resources to travel around
planned out adventures for the entire program
What other participants should know
turns out our ac was broken for a month and we just didn't know how to read celsius
I spent five months abroad in Granada, Spain, during the Spring semester of 2024. I lived with a host mother, and two other roommates from my university. There are so many positive things I can say about this program and my time. To start, ISA is such a wonderful organization that I highly recommend traveling through. They were so helpful with everything from getting my Visa, to the on site staff in Granada, and my return to home. They have everything organized in easy to locate places, and communication was always clear. I chose to study in Spain for the language. I am a Spanish minor, and have always loved Spanish and had a goal of becoming fluent. All of my classes in Spain were in Spanish (however, I had some friends whose classes were in English, it just depends on your language level :) and my host Mom didn't speak any English. Both of these components aided in mastering my fluency in Spanish, which I will be forever grateful for. My trip included excursions, which were amazing. My favorite excursion was my trip to Morocco. The Sahara Desert and cities of Fez and Meknes created so many memories for me that I will cherish forever. There are so many amazing aspects that ISA and studying abroad has to offer, and I would HIGHLY recommend you check them out!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don't be afraid to embrace change! I developed so much personally during my time in Spain, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Change can be scary, but adapting to a new lifestyle and routine was such a good thing for me. It helped me understand that change can be good, and it aided in me gaining a new perspective on many aspects of life.
Pros
Language/fluency mastering
Ability to travel anywhere
Meeting people that will become your lifelong friends
What other participants should know
My university evaluated my credits abroad for GPA, rather than just completion requirements. This made it a little bit hard to enjoy myself at times because I was so worried about getting good grades, rather than just passing the class.
It was a very long program, which I personally loved, however, I feel the program could have maybe been cut short by a few weeks.
At first I was so scared to study abroad because I was alone but I never think for a second that I regret my experience. I overcame the challenge of having to be independent in a country where I do not speak the language. I felt so much peace and happiness during my stay and wish everyday I were back there. I saw myself grow as a person and become more confident everyday. The locals would encourage us to dance with them and everyone is truly happy there. If you are thinking about doing it, DO IT!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers is to be active and be yourself. Being actively involved in your cities activities and holidays really made it feel like I was part of the culture there and never an outcast. You have to be yourself to really let yourself grow and evolve instead of putting up a front.
During my time in Salamanca I had the best time. I have always been a city girl but knowing that I would walk everywhere, I was searching for a city where everything I needed was at walking distance. Salamanca was the perfect middle ground for that. I got to experience the city life without needing to travel miles across town for the best restaurants and cafes. I lived in a "residencia" with other students from other programs who were also studying abroad or were students that were studying their full college career in Salamanca. Salamanca was a city I feel in love with because of the history, the culture and the people. I enjoyed exploring new corners of the city center, expanding and challenging my Spanish speaking skills, shopping and building new friendships!
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My most nerve-racking moment had to be when I started getting really homesick. I have not been farther than 1 hour from home ever, so being in a completely different time zone where I was thousands of miles away was really difficult. I overcame this by accepting the fact that studying abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime that I should embrace and enjoy. I also reminded myself bittersweetly that me living in Spain for the semester was temporary.