I chose to study abroad in Seville in the spring, and it was the best decision I could have made. In the spring, they have two festivals that cannot be missed. One of them is Holy Week but called Semana Santa in Spanish. Two weeks later, is their Feria de Abril which also lasts a week long! This was easily my favorite experience of my study abroad and I recommend it to everyone who is thinking about studying in Seville to stay that entire week. I was able to wear a traditional flamenco dress and hang out with Sevillanos. The social scene overall is lively and there is always opportunities to get to know other people/students. I never had a bad experience with the locals (even when talking to them in Spanish). The food is amazing and even when you get tired of Spanish cuisine they offer a variety of food all around the center. When I traveled around Europe, I always felt like Seville was my home base and by the end of every trip, I wanted to return back.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
There are snails in the river that runs through Seville. Apparently, they only catch and serve them in certain times of the year because that is when they have the most flavor! I believe it was May where I was able to try them for the first time. They were so tiny that it didn't freak me out too much to try it. Everyone recommended to try it at least once, so that is exactly what I did! They make great appetizers and the citizens love them so much.
I did the Summer I semester in Cusco and had a truly life-changing experience. Despite being a shortened semester, ISA made sure we saw all of the best parts of Cusco. Cusco's rich history and culture made for an amazing time studying abroad. The ISA staff and my professors made sure to support me every step of the way, providing great help even when I got sick. The study center is small but charming and offers a great space to study and engage with the ISA community. I will never forget my time in Peru and going through this program has me yearning to go again.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
During holiday seasons, they have something called Chiriuchu, which is a dish that dates back to pre-colonial times and consists of a combination of seaweed, fish roes, jerky, potatoes, corn cakes, cheese, and most importantly guinea pig. While the idea of eating guinea pig was a bit scary to me at first, I eventually built up the courage to try on Corpus Christi (one of Peru's biggest holidays) and it actually wasn't that bad.
Pros
Beautiful landscapes
Rich in history
Amazing culture
Cons
Altitude sickness
Lots of walking uphill/through uneven surfaces
Not always the kindest when it comes to the language barrier
Wow, what an unforgettable experience my 5 months in Chile have been. I am so grateful I was able to get the opportunity to experience and learn about a different part of the world. I wish to encourage others to consider studying abroad. Chile treated me with nothing but kindness, amazing sights, and fun memories I will always have replaying in my head.
ISA was a hands-on program that made me feel prepared and safe. The staff was there in a heartbeat if I had any questions or issues. I was able to go on a few excursions with my program and became friends with the other students within the program. I don't believe I would have as smooth a transition into living in another country without my ISA crew.
Although I traveled to other beautiful countries while studying in Chile... I always became homesick for my city Viña Del Mar, Chile. It is truly one-of-a-kind city. You have the coast with the most beautiful sunsets in front of you and a city with every kind of restaurant, bar, and shopping centers you'll ever need behind you. It's impossible to be bored in Viña. At the same time, it is so easy to run on island time since it is still a "beach city". The loud sounds of the waves at night will have you asleep by 9PM.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice for future travelers is to speak to the locals!! It is so easy to make a local friend since most of the time they are ecstatic that you are visiting their country. They will likey warn you where not to walk alone at night, places to visit, and more!
The best 4 months of my life! Florence was a dream and I would giving anything and everything to go back. The city is filled with lots of history and offers something for everyone. The coffee, the pasta, the pizza, you name it and it was amazing. I lived in an apartment in the city and I recommend this! It was nice to be able to cook meals when wanted and to come back to a cozy place.
With Florence being a smaller city, it creates a home-like feel which made my abroad experience 10x better. The more I traveled, the more I appreciated the fact that it was a walkable city. I enjoyed getting to roam the streets of Florence and take in the culture and architecture it had to offer. I am constantly missing my view of the Duomo I had on my walks to class!
While Florence is a bit more expensive to fly out of compared to other cities, I was able to travel to a hand full of cities and countries without any issues. Seeing as there are so many surrounding cities to fly out of, it didn't downgrade my experience one bit.
If you are thinking of studying in Italy, I absolutely recommend Florence! You won't be disappointed!!
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I traveled to Morocco for a weekend and while I was there we went to a Berber village. One woman there showed us how to make Moroccan Mint Tea and it was the coolest experience, along with, some of the best tea I've had!
Studying abroad in Auckland allowed me to explore a new city and have easy access to nature and neighboring countries. My program allowed me to meet amazing people and my housing was great. I had the opportunity to live with two girls from New Zealand and form friendships with people from Auckland, other cities within New Zealand, and even with people from other countries. I got to experience life on the other side of the world and could have not imagined a better experience. I would highly recommend studying abroad in Auckland, New Zealand!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
While traveling abroad keep an open mind. Everything may not always go as planned but when one door closes, others will open.
Pros
walkable and safe city.
housing was close to campus and apartment style.
so many places to travel within or around Auckland
I had a fantastic experience with this study abroad program. The orientation was well-organized and a great opportunity to meet fellow students. The group trips were enjoyable and allowed us to explore new places together. My mentor was exceptional—she was always available to provide medical support and made a genuine effort to check in on us regularly. Overall, the program was well-managed and supportive, making it an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend going abroad with TEAN I would do it again in a heartbeat!!
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw was the Southern Lights. My friends and I went out Aurora hunting 2 times before getting to see them. It was the most amazing thing I’ve seen in my life. The sky just lit up. It is a moment I will never forget
My experience in Valencia Spain was one of a lifetime. All staff were fantastic and were great program leaders. My transition to living in Spain was painless and my time spent there was beyond enjoyable. We did many different cultural activities as a program and through my ISA program which were all fun and very educational. I was able to build relationships with the ISA staff and others students from all over which was very cool. I recommend ISA and and this program to anyone and everyone!!!!!!
I took 3 classes ("papers") which were great - I recommend Māori 108 ! The uniflats office paired me with great housemates that I got along with and I really liked my house/ location (I thought mine was one of the best) and loved having a kiwi host. TEAN organizes your living through uniflats so you don't have to worry about too many housing logistics before arrival. Dee (program staff in Dunedin) is very kind and helpful! Dunedin provides great access to south island adventures and beautiful scenery. I did lots of beach swimming, hiking, queenstown adventure fun, etc. The otago peninsula beaches are amazing! I felt safe in New Zealand and really enjoyed my time :)
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Sea Lions playing in the waves on the otago peninsula!!! it was so cool!
Going from a standard Illinois suburb like Romeoville to Rome was an incredible change. Seeing famous landmarks like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum every day made history feel real. The food was amazing, especially the pasta, which was fresh and delicious. I loved experiencing Italian culture, with its relaxed pace of life and long meals with friends. The locals were friendly and welcoming, making me feel at home even though I was far away.
Studying in Rome taught me a lot about adapting to new situations and opened my eyes to different ways of thinking. It also made me even more excited about working in international relations. I had a comfortable place to live and made great friends, which made my time in Rome unforgettable. I’m really grateful for this experience and hope to go back one day to enjoy the magic of the city again.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
During my time in Rome, I tried Ox Tail Stew. I was a bit unsure because I had never eaten Ox before, but I decided to give it a try. The stew had a rich tomato base, and the Ox was tender almost like Pot Roast. To my surprise, I really enjoyed it!
Pros
Surrounded by history.
Such good pasta!
Public Transportation
Cons
Traffic in all forms is not unusual especially in prime tourism season.
Embracing Madrid - Breathtaking location for your study abroad!
Aug 2, 2024
This was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve made during my years in university. Madrid in my opinion was one of the best choices in terms of cities to study in while in Spain, and the host university I was in was extremely warm and welcoming. ISA was very helpful in regards to how the program was structured, and it was so comforting to know that the staff was focused entirely on our well-being while we were there. I never felt alone while I was there, even though it was my first time studying abroad. We were given countless opportunities to explore, whether it was through guided excursions, tours, or with the freetime that we had. I would recommend this program to anyone who is contemplating going, because if I were able to I would do it all over again!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I loved staying in a residencia. There are so many perks to living in this type of housing - form close friendships with fellow ISA students, practice your Spanish with locals living there, as well as a feeling of independence while you are there. It helped me with my independence a lot.
However, I would definitely choose a homestay the next time I study abroad, if given the chance. The level of immersion my classmates and friends were achieving through this living situation made me eager to live in a homestay. I also saw many of them improve immensely their Spanish abilities. For solo travelers, having a family that you could come back to after class looked to be so comforting, especially being in a foreign country.
Pros
My Spanish got so much better
The food was amazing and the seafood and produce were always so fresh
I learned how to use public transport!
Cons
Some culture shocks at the beginning - like with tipping, took me a while to get used to
