WorldStrides Reviews

Bilbao is a small, walkable city with great public transportation, amazing food, and stellar cultural offerings. There are numerous free exhibits and concerts every week, and I took full advantage of the cheap, incredible food options across the city.

I went to Spain as a Spanish major wanting to cement my language skills, and ISA's Bilbao program let me do exactly that. Homestay was the only housing option (which I wanted), and my host family was incredible; my host parents supported my language immersion tirelessly (talking with me over daily family-style lunch about Basque culture and and Spain and teaching me new vocabulary) while also giving me the independence to explore the city and travel.

ISA's pre-program visa-support process in the US left a lot to be desired, but Genoveva (the on-site coordinator in Bilbao) is the absolute best. She connected me with volunteer opportunities, cultural experiences, and students seeking English tutors.

Be aware ISA offers classes through CIDE (el Centro Internacional de Español) at Deusto University. CIDE is a language exchange program designed specifically for North American students, so you'll start and end the semester on a North American schedule and take classes with mostly other North Americans unless you opt into classes with locals (although you will have to push to take more than one class with Spanish students per semester). The CIDE instructors are excellent, though, and they offer a variety of classes designed to meet requirements for Spanish and Business degrees. They will cancel some offerings (like Medical Spanish my year) for low enrollment, so pick backup classes with your advisor.

I joined Deusto's Basque dance group, and you can take language classes separate from your CIDE classes at the university's language center in the evenings (including French and Basque). There is also a chapter of the international student group Happy Erasmus in Bilbao that organizes weekly events and weekend trips in English for students from around the world.

I loved Bilbao so much I took a gap year after my program to continue volunteering on a tall ship based in the city. For a student who had never left the united states before but wanted as much Spanish immersion as possible, it was an incomparable experience.

The Uni of Otago was the perfect place in New Zealand to experience a study abroad semester, especially with my passion for the environment. There is so many activities you can do: beaches galore, the Royal Albatross Center, the OPERA, and Lanarch Castle are just some of the ones I recommend. Dee was an amazing resident director, always there to help and act as a mom figure! The classes were challenging but synced with NZ concepts and I learned so much and got to push myself. The people of New Zealand are the most friendly, always there to help you. The culture and hospitality made me feel right at home even at first moments of arrival in my host city. My kiwi host was lovely and a friend to be there to guide me through this experience. Overall, my experience abroad was the most amazing thing I could have experienced in my undergraduate career. I met so many diverse people, ate local foods, traveled the country, and learned so much from my classes and professors. I truly found a new home in another country, and I am so keen to go visit asap!!!

My study abroad summer trip to Athens Greece was nothing short of unforgettable. Having never travelled abroad for an extended period the summer session was the perfect opportunity to dip my toes in. Of course this left me wishing I could stay for much longer. I had decided to take this trip solo and that was honestly the best decision I could have made. Almost everyone I met had chosen to do the same, and I made friends who I got really close with very quickly. I enjoyed the luxury of being close enough to walk to campus, shopping, markets, and different restaurant's. Public transportation was also super easy to navigate and we took many trips downtown on the metro and the buses. I went on many weekend trips with my program to historical sites and different islands. Big groups from my program also planned many weekend trips to different islands such as Mykonos and Paros. We booked boat cruises where we stopped at numerous islands or in the ocean to swim off the boat. The campus was beautiful as it sits on a mountain. The academics were a bit different than the U.S. as their grade scale and system is not the same, with little to no daily coursework. However, it is definitely manageable if you take the time to study for your midterm and final. I really enjoyed the cuisine as well, eating gyros almost every other day. There were lots of options for fresh produce and juices as well, and so many different authentic Greek dishes to try. Every Greek I met was very kind and helpful with any questions I had whether it be recommendations for places to visit or foods to try. Almost everyone speaks some English which made it especially helpful to navigate everything. My Greek classmates and Professors were very eager to answer our questions. Our accommodations were very close to the college and the apartment style living with everyone in our program made it so much fun to spend time together. The RA's living in the buildings were extremely kind and helpful and even spent time with us on various outings. I loved being in close proximity to everyone and so close to town where we could always find something to do. The views of course were extravagant. The beaches are unreal, with water so clear you can see completely to the bottom far off the shore. With the hot summer climate the water felt amazing. The historical sites and temples are truly something to behold, so much ancient history and Greek mythology associated with every place. It seemed that every site had a story of sorts behind its name. Greece in itself is truly everything I anticipated and more, I had many moments that felt so surreal. My biggest takeaway however, is the relationships I made. I was very fortunate to have met so many amazing people, and many which I kept in touch with after my trip. It is hard to see people you spent everyday with return back to every corner of the U.S. but I am so grateful to have experienced my summer abroad with them.

Ever since I left Cusco, I have been wishing I could go back. It is the most magical place full of delicious food, incredible people, and breathtaking scenery. The staff at ISA was so supportive and did a great job making me feel safe and comfortable in a new place. They gave great recommendations, taught us how to use public transportation, and took amazing care of us whenever any of us got sick. We got to go on amazing excursions such as the jungle and Machu Picchu. In addition all the classes included a bunch of amazing field trips.

From the orientation at the Great Barrier Reef to the nonstop laughs in the dorms, I truly had the best time on the Gold Coast with TEAN. Writing this review makes me want to book another flight back. My two onsight trip leaders were great resources and very helpful when it came to acclimating to an entirely different country. Australia is an amazing country, but I believe it's the people who make the place. This program came with the best people and let me meet the greatest people. Go start your adventure!

I recently completed my internship in South Korea, and I have to say it was life-changing. I think one of the most unique parts of my internship would be my coworkers. I was able to practice real conversational Korean with my coworkers and make connections throughout the company. I would recommend looking into the internship programs if you are an upgrade. Not only is it something good for your resume, but you also get a chance to explore somewhere you've always dreamed up. My biggest advice would be to take the chance and see where it takes you!

My experience with ISA and their study abroad program in Florence, Italy, was absolutely incredible. From the moment I arrived, I was immersed in the rich culture and history of this stunning city. ISA's program was meticulously organized, ensuring a seamless blend of academics and exploration. The staff was incredibly supportive, providing guidance and assistance every step of the way. I had the opportunity to live like a local, studying in historic buildings and indulging in authentic Italian cuisine. ISA made my dreams of studying in Italy a reality, offering personalized support that allowed me to focus on my studies and fully embrace the Florentine lifestyle. This transformative experience not only broadened my academic horizons but also enriched my personal growth in ways I could never have imagined.

I chose to study abroad through TEAN in Seoul, South Korea as a student at Korea University. During the 2022-2023 semester, living in Seoul became my new home. At first, I was alone, but as I took learning the language more seriously, and was comfortable adapting to the culture change, I was able to make lots of friends. Making friends with the natives boosted my experiences. I was able to visit local cafes, restaurants, and pop-up shops around Seoul. Also, it is hard not to indulge and spend all of your money. After living in Seoul for a year, I did not feel so much like a foreigner anymore. I was extremely grateful for the help through TEAN by making my trip and transition to arriving in Seoul both semesters easy. I also participated in the Seoul, Winter Program and hosted through TEAN during 2023-2024 at Korea University again. If it were not for choosing to study abroad, I believe I would not have developed my new goal of returning to my host university, Korea University, as a graduate student after graduating with my undergraduate.

I would definitely go through TEAN for my study abroad experience. The onsite staff were very useful and a much needed support system when adjusting to a new environment. Many of time the staff helped me with translating as my Korean is not very good. The excursions which are included in the program price which made planning very easy. I did not need to figure out stuff like tickets. Most of the popular attractions were a part of this program, there was not an excursion that was uninteresting. This program also planned a trip to Busan which was amazing. Other exchange students at my university, not apart of TEAN, were a bit jealous as they could not join this experience because they were not with TEAN. TEAN also guarantees university housing so this minimized stress. Overall, I think studying abroad without this program would have been a lot more difficult and not as exciting due to the support and community of TEAN.

I spent a summer in Lima, Perú, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Lima is a huge city filled with endless activities, so you'll never be bored. There's something for everyone between the delicious food, rich history, amazing art, and beautiful beaches. There are also plenty of outdoor activities in the city itself or in nearby towns. And, just to reiterate, the food is a huge part of the experience. Peruvian cuisine is on another level, with Lima being home to FOUR of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, including Central, which holds the top spot. ISA helped make this an easy and enjoyable adventure by always being just a text message away to answer any questions and taking us on several wonderful cultural activities. I can't recommend the program in Lima enough, I loved it so much that I'm doing it again this semester!