Seoul is very fun and it’s a great place to be however the academics and the dorm life at Korea University were very disappointing. The inability to hang out with friends in the dorms is a big disadvantage and getting support from the teachers is very difficult. The teachers also speak good English but they are still hard to understand and don’t do very much to accommodate. Class registration was very stressful and if you don’t register for classes immediately you will not get what you want. But overall it has been an amazing experience and I’ve made a lot of great friends and learned a lot.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would not share a room, I would pay to have my own room.
My study abroad experience was the most incredible 4 months of my life! Barcelona is a beautiful, electric city full of culture, amazing food, beautiful beaches, and more. I got to learn a lot about international business and Spanish/Mediterranean culture through school, which has become a big talking point for me in post-grad job interviews. I was able to travel to so many cool places in Spain, as well as several other countries. I even got to go to Morocco with our program, where we camped in the Sahara desert and rode camels. And most importantly, I met the most amazing people I still talk to daily and continue to travel with. Study abroad in Barcelona- you won't regret it!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of everything living abroad has to offer!! Try new foods, travel as much as you can, and remember- you can sleep when you're dead! You'll only regret the chances you don't take.
Studying abroad was truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I had never felt so excited about my life and engaged in what I was learning. It was an experience that made me learn so much about who I am and what I wanted to do with my life. I made friends that I will have for a lifetime and found a mentor who has helped me find my path. Studying abroad opened doors for more opportunities in the US as well. After studying at FUA Apicius I was granted an incredible opportunity to do a program in New York City cooking for the James Beard foundation. The ISA blog program also gave me experience in my field of digital media. I cannot think of a more valuable incredible time of my life and I cannot wait for the day I return to Florence. I now plan to study for a whole semester in Spain to continue the incredible experiences and learn more about the world.
To say that the ISA Abroad experience changed my life is an understatement. I came to Madrid in the spring of 2022 hoping for an immersive experience in Spanish to culminate my Spanish Minor from the University of Colorado. This program certainly exceeded my expectations. From the renowned education and hands-on coursework to the opportunities to bond, travel, and experience Madrid with my classmates, I couldn't have asked for anything better. With the flexibility of the course schedules, I was able to visit 11 different countries during my time abroad, my particular favorite being a week in the Sahara Desert in Africa (Morocco). This experience allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I became more comfortable being independent in a (large) new city, went out of my comfort zone to experience new food and culture, and worked hard in school to complete my Spanish minor. I wouldn't change a thing about the program: The housing and activities are well-established and organized. Study abroad.... It will change your life and perspective!
What was your funniest moment?
While I was in Spain, my roommates and I had the opportunity to attend the Madrid Open Tennis Tournament. We bought tickets for some of the pre-tournament activities, but I think we were all expecting it to be a lot more crowded than it was. Sometimes, when we would enter a game, we were the only ones in the stadium watching the players. Looking around at all of us, dressed nicely, and being respectful of the players was a funny moment in the sense that I realized how much everyone had matured over the course of the trip. It didn't matter what we were doing, we just loved all being together and experiencing new things.
Pros
Amazing housing
Rigorous but manageable coursework
Comfortable, safe city
What other participants should know
If you are not used to a big city (like me) there is a little bit of a learning curve, but that is with all things.
I had such a great experience on this trip. Everywhere I went was historic and beautiful. The campus was amazing and the teachers were so nice. We got to go on field trips to the locals museums even though I was only there for a three-week course. I also got to join a school trip for my first time SCUBA diving! With my ISA group, we got to see many historic places such as the Acropolis, the National Archeological Museum, Anafiotica, the Acropolis Museum, Aegina, Cape Sunion, Lycabettus Hill, and more! In my free time, I got togo to Crete and saw the REAL labyrinth (the Palace of Knossos), the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Omphalos (what the Greeks believed was the center of the world), the Delphi Archaeological Museum, and the Sanctuary of Athena!
I’ve always been interested in traveling since I was young. I wanted to go to multiple countries and learn the languages of said countries so I could get the most out of it; being a polyglot is still something I’m working towards. Initially I had no interest in visiting South Korea. It didn’t pop up on my radar until late 2021 when my friend got me into the K-pop group BTS. After I was introduced into a seemingly endless world or Korean culture, I began teaching myself Hangul to better understand my new daily music preferences. At the same time, I saw a plethora of videos of Korean historical and recreational destinations, fashion malls and cuisine hotspots where food like the viral Korean corn dogs and the ever delicious KBBQ were sold. What captured my attention was how convenient the convenience stores were and the drinks people would make there. If you know, you know. A few months later in January, I received an email from the TEAN Abroad organization about applications opening for the opportunity to study abroad in South Korea for the upcoming fall semester. I, of course, jumped at the chance and started the strenuous but worthwhile process of getting a passport, applying for a student visa, and moving to Korea where I’d be for four months when I’d never been out of the country before aside from cruises. In my time spent in Korea I was able to meet so many amazing and like-minded people who shared many interests with me, I had the best food at my disposal at every turn I made, the cultural sights I visited were otherworldly, I was able to partake in learning and speaking Korean in a native environment, and my confidence with traveling and socializing went beyond my expectations. My study abroad experience with the 2022 program was unlike anything I could’ve imagined, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the knowledge and support of TEAN. Thank y’all so much for aiding in this experience!
What was your funniest moment?
I studied at Korea University and lived in Anam International House. At the bottom of our dorms was a CU convenience store that I frequented at all hours throughout the day and night and because of that I would see the same workers often. I would always do something embarrassing like leave one of my items on the counter and the worker would chase me down to give it back to me, have too many things in my hands and decline a basket, or drop my ice cup, etc. around the same worker. Every time I did something like that, he’d laugh at me. Not in a bad way, but a way that was similar to how you laugh when you see a baby do something innocently.
Living in Seoul was such a rewarding experience. I would recommend Seoul to anyone who is interested in food, history, and loves shopping or cafe hopping. TEAN only added to this wonderful experience by taking care of all the stressful yet necessary aspects of living abroad. They planned activities that satisfied all of my above recommendations. They took us on historical tours, took us to local food markets, and even helped us with visa documents. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I would recommend TEAN and Seoul to everyone.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I thinks the only thing I would do differently is go for a whole year instead of a semester. I was scared to go for a whole year in case I didn’t like it. However, Seoul quickly became my favorite city.
Studying Abroad at James Cook University, Australia
Dec 1, 2023
Truly studying abroad was the best experience of my life. I know that's incredibly cheesy, but this was a life changing experience.
There is such personal growth that takes place, you are able to travel the world and meet some of the best, like-minded people. Studying abroad helped me in my overall career and research goals. I can not recommend studying abroad enough! Australia was the best country I've ever travelled to and I really loved explore the quaint Townsville city.
I study biology, specifically marine biology, and there is so much research happening in Australia constantly. There are tons of opportunities for research and working for professors in any field of study. The Great Barrier Reef is beyond any of your dreams and truly is a magical place.
Every town across Australia has so many different features and qualities that are all worth visiting! Travel as much as you can! I travelled the entire east coast of the country for a month after my semester abroad and I completely grew independently as an individual, learned communication skills, and travel skills, along with so much more.
Honestly, if I could go back to studying at James Cook University right now, I would!!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Say yes to every opportunity! There are so many different opportunities to take advantage of in Australia, and I would tell everyone to take every chance you can. Travel to as many places you can while you are there. Meet people within your building, live like a local if you can, and truly complete everything you want to!
P.S. pack light - If you are anything like me you will be buying a lot of clothes and things once you arrive.
Pros
Amazing professors and research opportunities, tons of chances to adventure, explore, scuba dive, and hike.
As this is a small town, you are able to connect with the locals. You are able to travel across the whole town through public transportation, and the beach is always 20 minutes away.
Australia has some of the best array of wildlife and nature spots on the planet! There are many trails, nature based centers and changes for travel and adventure. From land to underwater, this country was the most beautiful place I've ever been to.
What other participants should know
Communicating with the time change difference can sometimes be challenging.
Small town - This is not a big city within Australia so if you are going for a big city feel it's not in Townsville.
I was in all hard core classes for major, which I loved, but if you are looking for easy basic classes you will not find it at James Cook. Most classes at this university have a large amount of rigor, but truly are amazing for your resume and career.
I had the time of my life studying abroad in Christchurch. If you love the outdoors it is the place for you. You can ski and surf in the same day, everyone around you also loves the outdoors, the clubs are amazing, highly recommend studying at the University of Canterbury. One warning is you are housed with all Americans which I thought was a little interesting but in the end I didn't mind it at all. Join different clubs definitely made my experience as great as it was. I wouldn't want to have studied at a different place.
Studying at AUT was such a blast! This was my first time leaving the United States and I felt very welcomed when I arrived. The housing was much nicer than usually provided for students in the US, and the staff in the residence hall were in touch with young adult issues and actually served as useful resources rather than just authority. Studying at AUT let me get a close look at the city of Auckland since we lived very close to Queen Street and the Viaduct, but also allowed me to explore a large portion of the nature outside Auckland and throughout the country. I quickly made friends with other students studying abroad and students native to NZ who I traveled with and explored Auckland with. I rarely felt homesick while studying abroad at AUT and had only the best experience in almost every way. Highly recommend!
