I had the most incredible semester studying at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The TEAN crew were so helpful, with an orientation trip and lots of local excursions to explore the area and meet other students also studying abroad. It was through them that I got to meet one of my closest friends and now roommate! The leaders were always available to answer questions and provide support, even staff in other cities would help provide travel tips for me when visiting another city. In addition, Sydney was such a stunning place. I was not only able to explore some gorgeous locations, I got to connect with locals and pick up some lessons of the culture (and some slang) along the way. Overall, I would say this experience made me more confident in my own independence, a lesson that has been valuable even after I returned. I cannot recommend this experience enough, ever since I got home I've been counting down the days until I can go back.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was able to get my scuba certification! It was honestly something I never expected to do, because I have a fear of the open ocean, but being surrounded by some of the most incredible marine life in the world, it is hard not to fall in love.
Pros
Nature: from the ocean to the jungle to the mountains, Australia has some of the best to offer
Amazing food, in particular the Asian food there is so good
The locals are so friendly
What other participants should know
This university is particular was a bit far from the city, and not being able to drive it took quite a while to get places
University culture is very different from the US (felt less social and more business, a lot of students live at home), and at times it was hard to socialize with the locals
I did a semester abroad with ISA after dreaming about living in Paris my entire life. Before arrival in Paris, I was assigned to an apartment with 5 other girls, which initially scared me because I didn’t know any of them and hadn’t chosen the apartment. Not only did they turn out to become best friends who I still talk to regularly, but the apartment was also beautiful & in a safe location!
I also loved the university, classes were interesting and challenging - but not too intense that I couldn’t go out & enjoy Paris + take time to travel.
When my time got cut short because of Covid, I was heartbroken, but there was nothing to be done - and I’m still incredibly grateful for the time I did get!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Put yourself out of your comfort zone, trust that everything will work out & that you’ll have the adventure of your life
Pros
Lots of social opportunities & planned trips / excursions
Good housing
Nice university
What other participants should know
A bit pricey
Although housing was good, would’ve been nice to have a say in choosing my apartment
International Studies Abroad went over the top with my program. They felt like my far away-from-home family. The staff and the students were very supportive and friendly. Everyone was happy to be there and wanted to share whatever knowledge they had. Everything was planned out great and they were on top of everything. There isn't much at all I would recommend changing out the program. They were there for me and made sure I was having the best time I could be having. They were able to show us around the city and help get us settled in for our new life for the next 4 months.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I was on a weekend trip to a small town in Germany called Hannover. I went to this restaurant where they had Kebaps. Which is a popular dish in Europe. Except everything on the menu was in German. I didn't know what anything was. So I decided to order the thing that had the longest name. And I'm not sure what it was, but it was the best food I have ever eaten in my life. It was like some kind of chili in a bowl with bread as the base. I don't even know how to describe it haha.
Pros
Made sure I was always doing alright
Gave plenty of notice before any event we did
Went out of their way to immerse us into the culture as much as possible
What other participants should know
I wish they told me my host mom only spoke spanish
I wish I was kinda taught how to navigate the city
This program met all of my expectations for a study abroad and more! As somebody who does not speak french and has barely traveled Europe, I was extremely nervous about studying in Paris. However, ISA did a great job connecting everyone in the program which made it easy to make friends. They also held info sessions that contained all the information you will need for the semester, such as metro information, upcoming events, trendy restaurants and bars, and places to visit. The trips that ISA planned were the perfect balance of structured events and free time. I chose to live in an apartment that ISA arranged for me, and it had everything that I needed and was in a great location in the 11th arrondissement about 10 minutes from ABS. Also do not be too nervous about the language, as long as you put in some effort and show respect, you will be treated very nicely in Paris.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to travelers on this program is to not ignore the amount of things you can do in Paris, or even in France. It is popular to travel to different countries on the weekends, which you should do if you can afford it! France borders many amazing countries! But don't forget about France! There are amazing cities in France that are a quick train ride away. Not to mention Paris is a massive city that has thousands of different adventures awaiting. I would also advise future travelers to study french while in Paris. I had very little french speaking experience, and mostly practiced on different language apps before arriving. However, the schools will offer french classes and they really help you enrich your experience while living in Paris. My last piece of advice would be to save up! You won't need to spend much money in Paris and there are a ton of fun thrifting stores or cheap food options. However, the nightlife and travel can get expensive quick! Just plan ahead and you will be fine:)
Pros
Easy to make friends through the ISA excursions and meetings!
Getting to experience the city life!
Amazing museums and architecture.
What other participants should know
Can get expensive:(
Transportation is excellent until there is a strike.
Excursion to Morocco was not offered my semester:(
I studied at UQ for their academic year and was able to not only take courses that were in my major, but I was able to assist in lab work with a few of my professors to further my knowledge and provide more of a background for my future. I was able to explore and understand more about living abroad and living on my own in another country and get to know Australia and Brisbane through excursions with TEAN and traveling with my friends. This program helped me grow as an individual and as a student and I now feel prepared to move away from home and not only live abroad in Australia, but I feel that from this experience I could live anywhere in the world and feel confident in my abilities to navigate and make friends that I would excel anywhere in the world. I would highly recommend this program and university to anyone who asked where to study abroad because I cannot have gain this experience anywhere else.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try to explore new parts of the city at night after your work for the day, but don't be afraid to just take a few days off and rest. You are here for a long time and need to pace yourself. I would also recommend that if you are living off campus and are living with just TEAN students to try and find other study abroad students or students in your courses to meet as I was able to travel with many of my friends that were not in the TEAN program as well as students that I came on the program with. I now can say I have close friends across 6 continents and am very excited to go and see all of them in the future.
Pros
It is a very international place and most of the time I would rarely hear english being spoken around me, especially on campus
Public transit is amazing and efficient
There are many courses in all subjects and several include fieldtrips to islands or around the area
What other participants should know
Campus is out of the city, but there is a bus that takes you fairly frequently
If you want to explore nature you have to get outside the city and have a car most of the time
My time in Dunedin, New Zealand was all that I could have imagined and more. I was able to explore the majority of the country when I didn't have classes and I also got to spend a week in Australia! I was afraid to travel across the world by myself as I didn't know anyone going, but I was welcomed by an amazing staff and had support whenever I needed it throughout my semester abroad. I was able to get immersed into the culture and make friends from all over the world as well as make some amazing friends from my home country that I have already visited since being home! One of my favorite memories is camping in Fiordland with my young adults group where I experienced the clearest sky that I have ever seen absolutely filled with stars.
New Zealand was absolutely beautiful and I am so thankful that I was able to experience such a unique landscape! Not only was I able to explore through hiking, surfing, and camping, but I was also able to experience an entirely new academic setting. I learned how to adapt to new environments and ways of doing things! Now I have an incredible experience that has shaped the person that I am today, I have visited two new countries, and I have many skills to add to my resume!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go in with your arms wide open. Get involved in something like a club or a sport and don't be afraid to say yes to things! But also remember that rest is important too. I made myself feel like I had to do as much as possible in as little time as possible but there was so much beauty in taking slow days and appreciating the world that was right in my backyard!
Pros
Long-lasting friendships
Experience of a new culture and setting
New skills such as flexibility and the ability to work well under pressure
As cliché as it sounds, my study abroad experience with ISA in Valencia this past summer was hands down the best thing I have ever done. Since I returned to the US in July, a day has not gone by where I don't wish I was still living in Spain. From the second it began, I was beyond happy with every aspect of the program and my life in Valencia, and ISA did a fantastic job facilitating everything. Not only did I meet some of my best friends (whether that be from my own college, other universities back in the states, or people who lived in Europe), the independence of living in a homestay allowed me to thrive independently and truly feel like a local. I was amazed to see how much 6 weeks abroad was able to broaden my horizons and allow me to try new foods, see new places, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable at times!
Aside from the social aspect, taking two courses at Centre d'Idiomes de la Universitat de València really expanded my educational experience and showed me a new way of teaching/learning I hadn't previously been exposed to. Being in class from 9-2 on Monday-Thursday didn't feel like a burden, and we were able to do plenty throughout the week still. All in all, I couldn't be more grateful for my study abroad trip and all it gave me, I definitely would say I'm a different person than when I left back in May and have learned exponentially more than I could've ever anticipated.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
On the front end of my trip, I decided to do a short solo-trip to Madrid before flying to Valencia to begin my program. As someone who had never left the country, I thought my several experiences traveling alone and my proficiency in Spanish would be enough to get me through the first 48 hours, but the culture shock was real! Upon landing in Madrid, I was shocked by how massive the airport was, and was certainly overwhelmed by the signs and directions. I checked into my hotel with over 24 hours of no sleep, then decided to go explore the city. I had absolutely no idea how to use public transportation such as the metro or buses, wasn't familiar with Euros as currency, and certainly wasn't used to being somewhere where nobody spoke English. I made it to downtown Madrid and spent the afternoon sightseeing, eating out, and trying not to get lost! I took the wrong train going home, and called my parents thousands of miles away in a panic. Looking back, despite the immense stress of my solo venture to Madrid, I feel as if it made me capable of traveling to any foreign country on my own in the future.
Pros
Way of life in Spain
Personal connections with new friends
Ability to use my spanish-speaking abilities in real life
What other participants should know
Adjusting to schedule at homestay (different meal times, etc)
6+ hour time difference with friends/family back in the states
Lengthy classes (2.5 hours) with minimal breaks between
I have had a really great time at Hanyang. The classes were a lot less strict then I thought they were going to be. The on site staff are very nice and respond very quickly. Had housing on campus at the dorms and they are nice and have their own bathroom and good space. The campus is nice just hilly. I feel safe walking around at night and you really can leave your belongings and no one will really take. The people here are polite but it’s hard making friends with Koreans because of the culture of who is a friend and who is noona or oppa. So if you want to make Korean friend you have to make one the same birth year as you or the dynamic will never exactly be friend with an older Korean. The there are a lot of fun things to do and you should definitely travel around Korea!! Definitely go to cafes in the Hongdae and Seongsu area. Go sheep cafe called Thanks Nature Cafe. The transportation system is smooth and cheap.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I saw two IVE members at Everland.Also I got into a ONEUS fansign.
I came here to Korea looking to become more independent. Where I come from in the States, I also do things with others. However, being in a country that has another primary language and is independent has made me branch out. I was able to go to stores alone. Travel hours away by myself in the subway system. I was even able to socialize more and make a lot of friends. Overall, I enjoyed the independence this program gave me. It has also given me a new sense of identity that I plan to use back in the States.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Raw squid. I was very hesitant to eat it at first, but I am very glad I did! This is not something I normally eat or would try at home but once I was offered to try it. It became a new favorite of mine.
Pros
New friends
A different outlook on the culture besides what is shown on the media.
I went to Seoul with TEAN during Fall 2022- Spring 2023 and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The staff there helped so much will any problems or issues I had and all the excursions we went on were a blast. They were extremely helpful when we went through a tough time in the fall. The program was also affordable. I was able to make so many new friends and try a bunch of things I would usually be too scared to try/do. If given the chance I would study abroad to Seoul with TEAN again.
