Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Florence, Italy through ISA was the experience of a lifetime. The program was in the Fall of 2023, from the end of August until Mid-December. Although I wanted to stay forever, this timeline was a perfect amount of time away from my home university at UCLA. ISA set 4 of my friends and me up with a wonderful apartment, right on the edge of the city center and the residential area. They were extremely helpful in providing us with anything we needed, from kitchen supplies to a spare key when I was once locked out! Florentines were extremely welcoming and excited to share their culture with us, making this experience more immersive and culturally enriching. The classes offered were also so fascinating and fun! I can't recommend the program enough.

This is an amazing university to study at, especially if you are in the sciences and love field trips and the environment. I was able to take many trips with my university to islands and fossil sites as well as gain relevant experience with research projects at the university and have opportunities in the future with this university and the professors. I was able to connect with people from all over the world and have many different adventures in and out of the country. I have gained many new experiences and have been excited to share them with my friends and family.

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece was an unforgettable experience filled with countless memories. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the rich history, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality of the city. The opportunity to immerse myself in such a dynamic environment allowed me to forge meaningful connections with people from all walks of life, each encounter leaving a lasting impression. Exploring the bustling streets, indulging in delectable Greek cuisine, and embarking on adventures throughout Europe added layers of excitement to my journey. Every day brought new discoveries and adventures, shaping an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. Athens truly stole my heart, leaving me with a profound appreciation for its beauty and the invaluable lessons learned during my time there.

Studying abroad has been a transformative experience that opened my eyes to new cultures and perspectives on a new continent. One significant advantage of studying abroad in Spain was the opportunity to practice my secondary language, Spanish. Proficiency in another language is highly advantageous in cybersecurity - my current major. During my internship, which occurred immediately after I returned from Spain, I learned that working in cybersecurity occasionally requires you to work in an international setting where multilingual communication is often necessary. Although most Spaniards speak Catalan, I was still able to communicate with them in Spanish. I challenged myself to do so every day, even though many Catalonians understood English enough to speak with tourists. This practice greatly increased my proficiency in Spanish and will enable me to communicate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders across different regions in my future career. Beyond academics, my time in Spain helped me grow personally and foster independence and self-reliance. These qualities, although not solely beneficial in cybersecurity, are universally valuable in any professional setting. I stepped out of my comfort zone and did my best to adapt to local norms. Among many things, this involved learning the local public transportation system (which to say I used frequently would be an understatement) and ensuring the safety of myself and my peers. I learned how locals dressed, acted, and protected themselves in the busy city. Additionally, I was offered numerous opportunities to learn about the culture and had the privilege of making lifelong friends with people from various corners of the United States and Europe. While exploring Europe, I visited three different countries including Spain, France, and Andorra. I ventured to monasteries nestled in the mountains, marveled at awe-inspiring churches and Basilicas (including, but not limited to the Sagrada Familia), viewed historical landmarks in and outside of Barcelona, indulged in regional cuisine, explored remote beaches, journeyed through caves and coastal cities, and, of course, experienced the vibrant and exciting nightlife the city is famous for! I am profoundly grateful for the support that made this journey possible and will carry the lessons and experiences I had with me forever.

This was such a great experience. I honestly enjoyed every second of it. I met so many wonderful individuals and the staff assigned to our area made sure we knew that they were here for us. Everyone's learning experience is different so the difficulty of classes really depends on the individual. The food at the school was amazing and the campus is beautiful. I would absolutely go again if I could. You have the freedom to do what you want on the weekends. Me and my friends explored the islands throughout our time in Greece. It was unforgettable.

This program is excellent if you want to travel but are afraid of complete language or cultural differences. Sydney is a massive city with people from all over the world, allowing me to taste all their cultures while taking advantage of the great view of nature. The city is very populated and crowded but relatively safe and clean. There are multiple large shopping centers and restructures everywhere. There is no need to worry about transportation; public transportation is well-structured there, and you can use Google or Apple Maps to see which ride you need to take. The train can take you to farther cities, but you would need a car if you want to go into the mountains or the fields. Cities outside of Sydney are very small-town-like, but public transportation is still there. They give a beautiful coastal view in a quieter setting and local experiences. I also recommend traveling to New Zealand for a week while you are in Sydney. The flight is only about three to four hours. New Zealand's city is less populated, but the lake and green islands outside the city are where the true beauty lies.
There is so much I want to share about my six weeks, but none of the words would be as good as experiencing it for yourselves. Australia has both, whether you are a city or a nature person. And if you are not satisfied with it, take advantage of the fact that you have already flown halfway across the globe and travel to neighboring countries.

Bonjour! Paris, France was everything I dreamt it would be and more! I studied French language and culture at the Institut Catholique de Paris and learned so much about my second home. Every day, I went to class and strolled through streets admiring the art and architecture around me. ISA was extremely helpful in getting acclimated to a new city and country, and supported me throughout the entire process! I stayed in a studio apartment and took the metro to classes, explored museums and neighborhoods, went to flea markets every week, and of course, I picnicked and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle every chance I had. Traveling on the weekends was easy, and ISA has multiple excursions that were an incredible time! If you're on the fence about where to go or which program to choose, I absolutely recommend going to Paris with ISA! It's an experience that I carry with me every day, and I can't wait to go back someday!

Overall, this program changed my life for the better. Having been born and raised in California, I felt like I had been living in a bubble for most of my life. Everyone falls within the middle or upper-class economic status, is heavily encouraged to go to school, and has access to plenty of career opportunities. Before going to Thailand, I was aware of how lucky and privileged I am, but being able to go abroad gave me such a vital shift in perspective. Seeing how everyone's way of life was centered around family, community, and practicality made me realize how many Americans are consumed by the desire for material excess. Overall, I really feel as though my priorities were set straight by this experience, and being able to make friends with people who come from all different backgrounds totally validated by ability to adapt and expand my horizons.

Program: ISA : Study Abroad in Paris, France

February 8th, 2024
I miss France, and I wish to live there with everything that I experienced during my time abroad. Paris was beautiful in so many ways. I got my first apartment there. I got my first boyfriend there. I lost so much weight from walking and running so much. I ate some of the best foods I have ever tried in my life, and I went on an excursion trip to Morocco to adventure in the Sahara Desert and to understand a world that is different from my own. Man did I LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT AFRICA! I consumed a lot when I stayed in Morocco when it came to eating, jewelry, events, trips, and spending on clothes, medicine, and spices. I went to this shop at this Leather Crafts store in Marrakech, Morocco, and I lived in the Sahara Desert for a week! We didn’t have our phones, so the sun was our alarm clock, and nightfall was when we went to sleep. Our diet consisted of cous cous, boiled vegetables, yogurt, and bread with salt every day. And our drinks were either water or coke with sugar because you NEED the calories and sugar from all the walking and the hot sun beating down on you.

I went into the country not knowing what I would buy, bring back, or experience. I rode a camel, I slept on the sand dunes, I tried so many spices and bought many oils for my hair and skin. I had no prior knowledge of Morocco or Algeria but it was a beautiful country and many stores I went to was decorated of beautiful colors and prints. Especially the carpets that covered the walls of the airport and pretty much every restaurant and hotel we went to. I was blown away at all of the hand-stitched carpets and the beauty of the country. AND there were cats roaming around the streets. I loved petting them all.

I am a young adult, and after my experience abroad, I have really grown to learn so much about the world outside of America. This was my first time traveling alone. I was able to have a space of my own in Paris, and I am so grateful for having that space, especially after sharing a room with two siblings all my life and a roommate in college after COVID. At times, I was not ready to understand that I am not a child anymore; I am an adult, although young, who can make big purchases, do big things, and dream big. It was always a dream of mine to go to Paris, and the fact that I got to travel too was an added bonus, and it made me think that this is the life I want for myself. I want to travel.

I went to a leather store in Morocco, and most of the leather I felt was made of a layer of cow stomach, camel stomach, or camel skin. This was very shocking to me because in America, people tend to dislike leather that is made of animal skin because it is cruel, but outside America, it’s different cultures and beliefs. The biggest shock I had when traveling to all these different countries was how much power men held EVERYWHERE we went. Every restaurant I went to was made-to-order, but they made an exception for us because we were travelers. The staff at these restaurants and hotels were just men. No women at sight.

In Morocco, women were not allowed to sit outside, go to cafes, or eat at restaurants, and they were required to wear head coverings and cover themselves when outside, so no one knew their identity. This changed my perspective a lot when I was living on the Sahara. We had to cover our skin and our heads so we would not get burned from the hot sun and we also kept many layers on because at night it got VERY VERY VERY COLDDD! We slept on the ground and used wool blankets to keep warm. This was a culture I was not expecting, but in no way could I judge because this wasn’t my life. I met many nomads while staying on the Sahara, and we got a chance to see ex-slaves. YES, EX SLAVES who played music for us at an event while in Morocco and served us coffee! I was shocked and speechless. No words could describe what I felt in that moment.

When I got my phone stolen and my wallet stolen, I went to two different police departments in Paris. The first one did not care about me at all. They told me it was my fault; it got stolen, and they kicked me out of the station. They were so rude to me, and the second police station just told me to write a report and that they would get back to me in three days. I never got a message from them at all. I accepted my fate and had to move on. I was grateful for the Dear Neighbor Fund because many women in my program got things stolen from them once October hit. I told some friends in my program what you all did for me, and they were shocked because their school did not help them when they got their stuff stolen. I was grateful for Regis in that moment because you cared when I felt like no one else did and I was alone.

This all happened when the Israel and Palestine war started and many people in Paris were stealing cars, stabbing people, and stealing bikes and scooters too. Five women in my program got their phones stolen, including me, and I even got followed home by a random man in a cab one night, asking me to be his friend. One girl in my program got her laptop stolen. One girl got her backpack stolen, and this was all on the metro! Sometimes I felt like these Parisians knew we were Americans and we were heavily targeted, and I was really scared. One friend of mine got her keys stolen, so she could not get into her apartment, so I had to let her in, and she slept with me in my room for a day before she could get new keys the next day. Hard times came, but I knew it was part of the experience when you move to a foreign country, and as a woman, I was getting disrespected by men left and right for how I looked and how I dressed. At times I missed the USA because I was never discriminated against this much for being black, being a woman, and dressing the way I wanted to as much as I did in Europe.

I did have very fond memories while traveling to Spain and Morocco. Spain was beautiful and warm, and the food was so fresh and so good. The beaches were so clean and everyone seemed to be enjoying their life there. I went to a pottery shop, and some workers asked people who wanted to volunteer to spin pottery. I offered myself to do it and I got a chance to spin my own pottery plate, and it was that real workers experience in the art of pottery and how I could do it myself too. As a Black woman in a new country, I have never known or thought I would be going to a continent like Africa this early in my life and experiencing the world of Africa. I never imagined that I would be going to Spain either or living in France. One thing I know for sure is that if there is a will there is a way.

Traveling plays an important role in building bridges and friendship with different types of people and ethnicities between different cultures that isn’t my own Carribean Black. I did unfortunately face discrimination because of my dark skin. I was kicked out of areas because I was black. This is unfortunate because in America, discrimination yes exists but it’s not so straightforward like it is in Paris. I made this realization after of course crying about it but that too was part of the experience. I researched and only went to places I knew were for women like me and that made me happy because the country was so diverse and Paris was my college campus. I tasted many foods I have never tried before and even went to a Michelin-starred Asian restaurant.

My trip to Northern Africa was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, and those are memories that will last a lifetime. I bought a headscarf and many scarfs that were beautiful and decorated with many patterns that I will keep forever and give to family. Part of my identity being a Black woman experiencing a foreign country for the first time was a complex and evolving journey of me being comfortable and uncomfortable somewhere where racism exists very much and traditional roles for women were still in effect as part of the country's values. While there were many challenges faced for women outside of America, regardless, I accepted the culture as my own and I used strength, resilience, and my unique open world and open-minded perspective to purchase goods and even engage in the culture to contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and interconnected world. Even with the negative aspects of it.

Again, I am so fortunate to have been able to see the rugs and how they are hand-stitched. As I left Morocco with my carefully chosen Moroccan gifts for my mom and for friends, I couldn't help but feel that I'd taken home not just a piece of exquisite craftsmanship but a piece of Morocco itself. This experience was more than shopping and riding jeeps into the sunset; it was a sensory and cultural immersion that I will treasure for a lifetime, just like I treasure the immersion mission trip to California. It's a reminder that the most exceptional experiences and purchases in life are not just possessions but a part of the story of our lives and how we felt in that moment.

During my stay, I fed the homeless with my program on a Friday and spoke to many homeless men and women. I helped by giving out toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soaps and lotions. Unfortunately, we ran out of supplies quick, but the homeless people there were rude even when we helped. Beggars could not be choosers but our team did the best we could and couldn’t judge their life or attitude towards us because we didn’t know what they were facing daily. ISA was very helpful with the negatives that I faced. I was stuck in the elevator at one point not being aware it was broken because my apartment only placed a broken sheet of paper on the first floor and not the others. I had called for someone to help and help came, thankfully, in time. When I was facing racism at school with my professors and going out for social events, they helped me switch my classes and helped me find events that were inclusive.

Bilbao is a beautiful city rich in culture with amazing views, inspiring art, delicious food, and kind people! The city's vibrant atmosphere and welcoming spirit allowed me to feel at home within days of arriving. The city offers experiences for everyone to enjoy: lively nightlife, picturesque hikes, world class gastronomy, and spirited fútbol matches of Bilbao's own professional team. The public transportation is in a class of its own as it is reliable, clean, and efficient allowing easy access to explore the city within or take quick day trips to nearby cities and beaches. Whether it was walking around historic Casco Viejo, riding the metro to nearby beaches, taking in the views of the city from above per the funicular, eating pintxos at La Ribera market, or simply sitting on a bench in the park, my time in Bilbao was a once in a lifetime experience with memories I will cherish forever.