Studying abroad in Japan has to be the highlight of my life so far. Having always been drawn towards Asian culture and being an avid anime watcher, being able to immerse myself into Japanese culture and society was truly life changing. Tokyo is such a clean, organized, and beautiful city. It holds so much historical significance mixed with modern pop culture. Definitely utilize Google Maps for navigating the train system, it saved my life! Another tip I would suggest is to keep an open mind. Japanese culture is very modest and more traditional, so be mindful of what kind of clothes you bring and do research on the social norms there. Japan was an amazing experience, but you'll definitely enjoy it more if you do research beforehand and have an open mindset!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did this all over again, one thing I would change would be that I'd spend more time in Tokyo after the program. Being a student in Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I definitely enjoyed the academia aspect of it! However, classes ending at 4-5pm every day and then the commute back to the hotel sometimes left me drained and not wanting to go back out and explore afterwards. I wish I stayed for an extra 2-3 days after the program ended so I can explore the further neighborhoods of Tokyo more. I only stayed for two weeks, though, so if you do the whole 6-week program this might not be an issue for you.
Pros
Hotel location in Shinjuku was so convenient!
Great group of people, program came with an almost instant group of friends.
TEAN provided excursions around the city such as tickets to Shibuya sky and a baseball game.
What other participants should know
J.F. Oberlin University classes ran pretty long, which is understandable, but it still was tiring.
Train stations are kinda confusing to navigate, but download Google Maps!
ISA study abroad is something you will not regret. With a promising new perspective of life itself, and a new appreciation of the world I can say it was the best experience so far. I spent my spring semester in Barcelona, living in a student residence. I recommend student residence living because you will be able to meet locals, practice the language, and feel less alone because of the easily accessible common spaces that is always filled with residents. Study abroad will also introduce you to a new education format than your home university.
The trips and gatherings offered through ISA was beyond helpful, and it was where I made some life long friends with great memories.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take a deep breath, look around, be open, travel and embrace public transport! Of course, life is still going to come into play, and not all times are going to be easy, and not all days are going to be 100%, and you will want to go home. Take it day by day, and plan things to look forward to! Culture shock is real, and bound to happen when you are taken out of your comfort zone. However, be persistent and remember why you wanted to take on this journey in the first place. Most likely, you will be able to feel a beautiful and fulfilling transition in yourself because of your freshly gained perspective of the world. Also- try all the foods, drinks, be friendly, and bring a digital camera! You will want to make a scrap book of your moments abroad.
I completed my internship in Valencia at a company called SingularStays. They manage the processes related to renting to make things easier for the owners. Many people staying at their apartments are travelers, but they also have longer-term guests. They list their units on their website, in addition to sites like Airbnb and Booking.com. I helped them with various administrative tasks and collected and delivered apartment keys. I’m interested in pursuing a career in the travel industry, and this internship aligned well with that. In addition to interning, I had plenty of time to explore Valencia and travel to various other places in Europe. The ISA on-site staff were friendly and made sure to look out for the safety and well-being of participants. They also organized optional activities and trips. My favorite day trip with them was to Gandia. We went to the beach and had the opportunity to do water activities as well. The activities are also a great way to meet other ISA participants. They also ran an optional paid overnight trip to Barcelona, offering it on two different weekends during my program. The apartment I was placed in was in a great location. I was only about a 15-20 minute walk from the city center, and my internship was also near the city center. I was also only about an 8-minute walk from the nearest metro station, which had a line directly to Valencia Airport. However, an important thing to keep in mind is that air conditioning is not as common throughout Europe as it is in the United States, and it was very hot in Valencia during the summer. For the most part, I had no issues with this as I had a fan in my bedroom, and I was lucky enough that the living room had air conditioning. The apartment was also a little bit worn, and I saw a lizard several times. The first time was on my first night living there, and one of my flatmates captured it and let it out. The second time I saw a lizard was towards the end of my program, and it hid away fairly quickly. While the lizard was harmless, seeing it was still unsettling. Despite this “startling” start, I had a fantastic time abroad in Valencia and in Europe, and it was the best summer of my life! I enjoyed my time abroad so much that I decided to do an exchange program with my university in the UK this past spring, which allowed me to continue my growth and excitement for travel that my program in Valencia helped ignite!
My time in Paris was fantastic, mainly because I had the perfect balance of planned activities and free time. I explored the city at my own pace, which made the experience much more enjoyable. I never felt rushed no matter where I wanted to go- from Montmartre to shopping districts.
What made a big difference was that I had a bit of structure from an architecture class. It helped me see the city in a new way and notice details I might have overlooked. But what I appreciated the most was having enough free time to soak in the atmosphere of Paris on my terms. This mix of learning and leisurely exploring made my trip fun and memorable while keeping an academic focus.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
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
What other participants should know
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
