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
What other participants should know
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!
What other participants should know
Some culture shocks at the beginning - like with tipping, took me a while to get used to
I became a more adventurous, independent, confident individual after studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica with ISA. I had so many opportunities to explore beaches and volcanoes, snorkel and whale watch, and participate in cultural immersion experiences. I got to try and learn how to cook many traditional Latin American dishes, take tropical dance classes, and learn about Costa Rican history. ISA was super supportive in guiding me to begin and move through this journey, and I would not have changed my experience for the world.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My most nerve-racking moment from my time in San Jose was arriving at my homestay at the beginning of my study abroad journey. It had been a very long day of travel, and I hadn't taken a Spanish class in over 3 years. I arrived late to my homestay around 9pm, and got dropped in front of the house by a taxi driver, with no way of turning back. I met my host mom and housemate, and instantly had to converse in Spanish. I was flustered and had a difficult time saying more than a couple words at a time. However, my host mom was extremely patient and supportive and over my 3 months living with her, I regained some of my fluency and a whole lot of confidence, and the nerves from that first moment of speaking the language again were suddenly erased.
WOW! My time abroad was amazing. I would not have changed anything if I could. I loved my school, host family, roommate, and everything about Sevilla. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was being able to be immersed in a culture without being a tourist. There is something so special about calling a foreign land a home. I was able to learn about life across the world and experience something so unique. I also loved living with a host family. It was in their home that I was able to practice Spanish in a way I have never done before.
I loved studying abroad in London. It's a city full of history, experiences, and views that I can't wait to go back and see! I took classes that were associated with my degree and ones that were not, which was nice because I was able to have a varied educational experience and understand how their education system compared to the one I was used to. ISA hosted excursions to places such as Windsor Castle that were a lot of fun. They also held orientation and pre-arrival information sessions which made the transition much easier. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could go back, I would make this program longer so I could spend more time there! I had a lot of places in the UK and abroad that I wanted to visit, and even though I made many trips and went to a long list of places, I could never run out of ideas or things to do.
Pros
London is a large, global city with variety and a long history
A life-changing experience that everyone should have
ISA made the transition easier, safer, and more fun
Such an amazing experience. I got to go with my best friend and we made so many friends and got to experience the amazing culture in Florence. I think living in an apartment off campus was such a key in feeling fully immersed. We got to cook at home and go out to restaurants. I recommend this! I did the J-term which was about two and a half weeks which was perfect for my schedule. I LOVE to travel however have only been overseas once before this so I was nervous about going a whole semester and this is a great way to ease into a longer trip. I really want to study abroad for longer again!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have traveled to other cities and gone for a longer time. I traveled to Rome one weekend but wished I planned other travels!
My time in Sevilla, Spain was such a wonderful experience especially as my very first time abroad. I originally applied due to interest in the history course offered, but the sheer fun I had with my classmates as well as the relationship fostered with the staff in my time there was very heartwarming. I felt incredibly safe due to the gated housing. I had access to a lot of banks/ATMs, grocery stores, restaurants, and a lot of close by local attractions like the Alcazar and the Plaza de España. And coupled with the sheer atmosphere of being in such a beautiful country was the fact that the class was just as interesting. The professor really went out of his way to educate us and I'll forever be grateful for that.
Definitely go for it! It's okay to be nervous and scared at first, but I PROMISE you'll soon come to relax and love it so much that you'll promise yourself you'd come back!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I'd definitely let myself wander outside more. When I was there, I did go out often, but I'd be too nervous to go without a friend. It's good to be safe, but I find myself thinking that I should have went out more on morning or afternoon walks just to really soak the view in for myself.
Pros
Beautiful weather (winter)
Everywhere you look is just gorgeous!
Pretty decent prices (groceries especially)
What other participants should know
hard to communicate without Spanish (obvious, but make sure you know some)
pickpockets are common so be careful
stores tend to be closed during the holidays so be aware
Fiji is an excellent place to have new cultural experiences. In addition to the rich Fijian culture, the University of South Pacific has students from many different pacific island nations, and the cultural diversity is widely celebrated. If you love to snorkel, scuba dive, surf, or just spend time next to/in the ocean, Fiji will be the perfect place for you. I have so many unforgettable experiences with sharks, rays, and other tropical fish and animals. I will never forget snorkeling with nurse sharks for my 21st birthday.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to talk to strangers and make friends. The people of Fiji are some of the friendliest I have ever met, and the connections I have made in this country are invaluable.
Pros
Very affordable cell phone coverage, housing, groceries, transportation, and general living costs.
Fresh coconuts available every day.
The University of South Pacific has many classes that can count towards your degree. I completed 3 marine biology classes while I was there.
What other participants should know
There was one weekend where the city lost access to its waters sources, but we came up with creative solutions.
Standard of cleanliness is not the same as the United States in places like public restrooms.
Very warm, I personally enjoyed this, but some may complain about being very sweaty very often.
