There are so many activities that can be done outside of school. You could go to pop-up shops or go to a cafe. The place is very convenient for traveling and walking everywhere. There are places you can eat and try new foods. It is fine to go by yourself to places. There are so many places where you can take photos and be able to create memories it also has so many accessories that can make your photo fun. The professors are really nice and very helpful making the class fun and easy to study. The communication with locals was great because I was able to learn Korean and some of them knew English.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw is that most restaurants open very late, like 11 am, which is surprising for me because many places open earlier.
In the Spring of 2024 I spent my time in Dunedin, New Zealand and attended Otago University. It was such a great experience and I am very blessed to have been given the opportunity. When I was out there I grew heavily in my faith and met up with the most wonderful church, Arise. There, I grew as part of a community with them and even more importantly, as an individual. It was so amazing to be able to see all nature in one day, from the mountains, to the hills, to the glaciers and beaches, the Lord of the Rings country and many more. Otago University was based on 80% international students and so, while in Uniflats, (the apartment/flat complex there), I dormed with those in Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as blessed to meet those from Italy, Norway, France, Germany, and more. There is no other experience like it and everyone's is different, so go and write your own tale.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did this study abroad program all over again, I would hike more and learn how to camp. I hadn't been camping in over a decade and so I was worried that I couldn't, but I wish I reached out and met up with others to travel more. Overall, I can't complain about my experience but I will definitely be returning to New Zealand in the very near future to do my own traveling.
Pros
You get to learn about more cultures from all over the world.
Traveling within and near New Zealand is very easy.
It is the most beautiful place you could ever experience.
Cons
You can experience all 4 seasons in one day (which some might view as a con).
New Zealand is filled with creations for those who wish to travel, someone who doesn't like nature may not appreciate its beauty.
Homesickness will come and you'll have your ups and downs, but you must rely on others to help you find a home again.
It was a great study abroad experience for anyone whose interested in going to the UK to pursue their education. Nice weather, good Turkish, chicken shops and convenient stores to buy essentials. Exploring the multiple sites that the UK has to offer and meet a lot of great people and made some connections. Using public transportations like the underground tube, double decker busses, riding Lime bikes around the city and walking around the area. Overall, I really enjoy spending time in the country and hope to explore outside of London, besides Brighton and Windsor Castle.
I could not be more thankful for my 4 weeks spent in Malaga Spain. Malaga is a very calm and beach city, my student residencia was located directly in the city center around many shops and restaurants. As a Black girl from Maryland I was weary of study abroad, as i’ve never been a minority in my community—Malaga was immensely welcoming and fun. I settled on Malaga because I wanted to be near the beach, and I am very happy I did. The center of the University where I took my classes was right on the beach, everyday I took the bus to class, went to the beach afterschool with my friends, then went a a restaurant for dinner and then the club at night. The ISA program took us to Sevilla, Cordoba, and Grenada. My friends and I also bought a $60 round trip ticket to Madrid for the weekend. Chose Malaga if you want to have a very relaxed yet impactful experience, you will be able to travel around Spain regardless but throughout all the cities I visited Malaga was like a story book town, the people were friendly, the weather was amazing, and the food was delicious. (Not the case for Madrid.) I took an international relations course during the Spanish elections and learned things that had never even crossed my mind. Malaga is also the home to Picasso and his museum which was a nice gem. Despite the fact I went on the journey alone, I left with life long friends because of the many adventures we went on during our time together. Overall I had an amazing experience, my professor was one of the best professors I’d had, she took us on a field trip around the Andalusia region. Malaga is a beautiful city, on the Mediterranean Sea, the food was excellent and I was able to experience it to the fullest without feeling overwhelmed and homesick…I highly recommend this place for anyone who many be a little overstimulated at times, this environment was very easy, incredibly fun, and welcoming.
What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was definitely the boat ride my friends and I book from Puerto Banus Marbella, they gave sangria and wine, we saw dolphins and went snorkeling, we tried to do flips off the boat and i’ll just say it was very funny.
Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. When I found a program in my dream vacation spot I knew I had to apply. Spending 6 weeks in Sydney was a dream come true and I could not recommend it enough. Meeting new friends, visiting new places, and gaining lifelong experiences is something I will cherish forever. While in Sydney, I visited some amazing places and saw some amazing things. Saying I have witnessed a symphony in the world-famous opera is something I will talk about forever. TEAN made my experience easy and fun. 10/10 Recommend!!
Choosing to study abroad, especially in South Korea, was one of the best things I have ever done!! It was so much fun, I was able to learn so much about the culture, and I met so many amazing people while abroad. It is such a fun and awesome way to step out of your comfort zone, and it helps you grow so much as a person. It can seem really daunting to travel to a new place by yourself, but it is such an amazing experience! I will always encourage and recommend studying abroad, and I absolutely loved my experience in doing so!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I think I would go out and do more if I had the chance! There is still so much I want to see and experience!
I was consumed by anxiety as I prepared to embark on my Australian adventure. Yet, the experience transcended all expectations, emerging as the most extraordinary period of my life. I forged an enduring friendship with an individual who I am still close with. The privilege of exploring Australia's rich history through dedicated coursework was an invaluable opportunity. Each sunrise, I reveled in the spectacle of sunrise as I ran along the coast. Residing on campus facilitated unforgettable encounters with a diverse array of locals. My time in Australia is an irreplaceable treasure, and I implore everyone to seize the chance to study abroad there.
What was your funniest moment?
The funniest moments included the Australian slang. I kept a notes app filled with slang because it was so funny and unique!
Pros
adventures
new friends
international experience
Cons
no language immersion if English is your first language
I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The first week in Australia really set the tone for the entire trip. The orientation week was located in Cairns, Australia and we got to know the other interns in our home city and other cities as well. We also learned about aboriginal culture and the pride Australians take in it, and we were given an insight on Australian culture and how to decipher the slang used. I stayed in Brisbane, Australia and as a Zoology major I was placed at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. I had a very open learning environment and had hands-on experience with animals I didn't even know existed before going to Australia. I had an insane moment when I saw a baby koala come out of the mothers pouch when I was cleaning the enclosure. The layout of my internship allowed me the time to explore and travel to other cities and even see the North Island of New Zealand. However, before I started traveling I really got to find my way around Brisbane with my Residential Directors help and recommendations. Trivia Tuesdays at Stockies Exchange Hotel never failed us.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would advise getting to know your host city before venturing off. Once you get to know your favorite spots and how to get around without google maps it starts to feel like a version of home. I think this is important because when you do return from flights or train trips you get that feeling of home and routine when you return to your host city.
Pros
Gaining experience within academic field of interest
Was able to experience a new country with a guiding hand
Was offered activities within my host city like surfing
Cons
My field of interest is laborious so I would've switched up the hours worked instead of consecutive days
Commute going into the city after work with the traffic took longer than anticipated
It was difficult leaving at sunrise and returning when it was dark (It was winter so hard to switch that up ;) )
Valencia, Spain was the perfect study abroad location for me because it was inexpensive, had easy public transportation, and so many fun things to do! I was originally hesitant to study abroad because I was worried about spending too much money but, Valencia had so many cheap restaurants, places to visit, and transportation options compared to other countries. ISA was helpful in helping me to reduce my expenses by placing me in a host family. My family provided me with three meals a day and laundry once a week. My host family not only helped to save me money, but immersed me in Spanish culture through their cooking, language, and everyday life. I am so thankful for ISA for giving me this eye-opening experience!
When I was deciding on where to study abroad, I knew I wanted a town where I would deeply get to know the area, people, and culture, and Salamanca was the perfect place for that! I really enjoyed that It was the perfect size where when I would be walking back from class I might pass by classmates and friends who were sitting at street cafes, or when going out for a night, I would run into those same classmates or even professors and ISA staff. During my time there, I felt like I really understood the city and found my favorite cafes and spots to hang out, but there was always more to explore. Salamanca is close to a lot of really gorgeous nature and countryside, so my friends and I would always rent bikes in the city and take them to neighboring cities and spend days just exploring!
Through ISA I was also able to go on some amazing trips, both to cities nearby Salamanca, and those in different countries! I was able to really get a good sense of the country around me through these trips and some of the personal ones I took, and would learn a lot about the culture and history in each city we went to. Because my Spanish language skills were not the best when I showed up, I was able to take some of my classes in English which helped me feel more comfortable with the transition to understanding all the other parts of my study abroad experience that were completely in Spanish. I stayed in a resedencia (dorm-style apartment living) and really enjoyed the freedom it gave me and variety of people I was able to meet.
I am super glad I studied abroad in Salamanca, and have made memories and friends I will keep forever!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Over my time studying in Salamanca, I really got to know the main area of the city because It was where I lived and had my classes and everything was super walkable, but towards the end my friends and I started exploring more by taking taxis and busses to neighboring towns. I am glad I spent as much time as I did getting to know the city, but I wish I would have done further venturing earlier in the program.
