WorldStrides Reviews

Sevilla is my new home away from home. When I started looking at study abroad programs I had no idea where to start. I have studied Spanish at school so I thought Spain might be cool. I looked at different cities and didn't think I would fit in bigger places like Madrid or Barcelona. I saw a picture of Seville and knew I had to go there. Every step you take into Sevilla has something new and beautiful to look at. I was completely exposed to a new culture and loved it. Because I was being exposed to so many new experiences, I was forced to become a more flexible. When I went to class none of my professors spoke English so I was immediately forced into Spanish. This was just what I needed to fully emerge myself into the language. I now feel more confident and have a more positive outlook on new experiences. Being in Sevilla changed my life and I can't wait to go back.

I was so excited to be going and spending a summer in a new country, improving my Spanish and adding some new skills to my resume. However, the internship I was placed in had almost no relation to any of my future career goals or my academic track. I was assured that my offer would be perfect for me when I expressed skepticism but trusted ISA and accepted the position nonetheless. This was a mistake as I picked up zero new skills from my internship and was bored most of the time because I completed tasks too quickly. Many of my friends were also disappointed in their internship assignment whether it was a bad placement, weird hours, or that it was an hour train out of the city. The housing they provide is subpar, not terrible it was livable but they could do a much better job when screening their host families. My host family made fun of my roommate almost every day because she struggled with Spanish.

Valencia was an incredible city and the friends I made were incredible and I cherish the adventures we shared. But the summer was not worth even half of what I paid for it. I don’t even list it on my resume unless I have extra room to fill in extra activities. I was extremely disappointed in the lack of support and activities from ISA as well. I recommend you spend a summer in Valencia but do NOT go through ISA if you do.

Growing up, my family and I never got the chance to travel other than the occasional trip to Kansas City for a softball tournament and Wisconsin Dells when I was 12. Being from South Dakota, a very rural state lacking in excitement and diversity, I wanted to explore the world while improving my Spanish language skills. ISA granted me the perfect opportunity to do so. The size of Salamanca was perfect. Not nearly as chaotic and overwhelming as Madrid, but far from being as dry as my college town. For starters, the staff at ISA are excellent at communicating and responding to every concern and question you may have about your trip abroad. Their website presents hundreds of programs in over 69 different countries so you will definitely be able to find one that works for you! My trip abroad included excursions to Portugal, Sevilla, Segovia, Madrid, and Toledo, along with an optional trip to Morocco, which I endured of course. I rode camels and ATVs through the Sahara desert, took a tram up the Swiss Alps, and ate one too many tapas, all while growing my Spanish speaking abilities! I also made lifelong friends who I still stay in contact with to this day! Thank you ISA :)

The Education Abroad Network made preparing to study abroad easy! They were always just an email or phone call away before and during my semester abroad. At the University of Newcastle I joined two student organizations that really defined my experience and made it unforgettable. In the Newcastle University Mountaineering Club I met a bunch of really cool Australians that were welcoming and willing to teach others. The University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network was great for meeting students from Australia and all over the world.

Over this past summer, I interned in Sydney, Australia. This experience has changed my life, I was able to make friends all over the world, understand how I react in certain situations, pushed my limits, able to get creative and gain real-world experience in my field of study. TEAN does an amazing job of personalizing everyone's trip abroad. They have employees working in the host cities to help with anything you may need. Where can I get the best dumplings in town? Are there any secret bars in Sydney? I have a cold where can I get medicine under health insurance? I stayed in a hotel with a kitchenette in the heart of Sydney. My hotel was very accommodating and in a perfect location. I had the summer of my life and I HIGHLY encourage others to take the leap and intern abroad.

I had a really good time attending Korea University over summer. It was really great to experience Korea for the first time with many other students from around the world! While studying at Korea University I was able to learn about Korean culture but also interact with a large global community. Not only was I able to meet many new friends during my time in Seoul, I was also able to have many experiences that I would not have had if I had attended a different program. From big group dinners to our big trip to Lotte World. If you would like to study in Korea, I would highly recommend studying in Korea through the Tean Summer in Seoul program. All of the Tean Staff members are so kind and so helpful throughout the whole process, from predeparture to return. 10/10!

If you are trying to decide which studying abroad program to use definitely use ISA. They plan many cultural and transitional excursions and activities while you are in Paris, which I found beneficial! If you are trying to decide which city to study in go to Paris, I think you will be surprised with this city. Paris is not a big “busy” city like New York. Everybody is much more relaxed and moves at a slower place which makes it much less intimidating. All of the little neighborhoods within the city are very charming and quaint. Additionally, it’s a very good city to leave from to travel to other places because Charles de Gaulle Airport is so big. Overall I would definitely recommend using ISA Paris! You will be amazed with how welcoming they are and how amazing France is!

I have had the privilege of study abroad (2018) and interning abroad (2019) with TEAN. The experiences that I have had with them have been a dream come true. From the start, the application to both programs were easy to understand; any questions that I had while doing them were answered quickly by the friendly and supportive staff. The first few weeks of both experiences began with an incredible orientation: fun activities, time to meet new people and of course learning the culture of the country. After orientation, the studying and interning began. I quickly grew to love the cities that I was living in; the support of TEAN staff made sure that I new all the ins and outs to make sure that I was having the best experience. I must admit, TEAN made it hard to say goodbye and head home; why would someone want to leave a paradise experience? If you are looking for a program to study or intern abroad, TEAN will be the one you.

I picked my program because 1. Thailand is beautiful, 2. I could fulfill my gen ed requirements easily, 3. because it was cheap. I was hoping to adventure hard for 6 months, because without "studying," I would only be allowed in Thailand for 30 days on my passport.

I was not expecting to learn about the world in so many ways. On the first day of our orientation, we learned about how to be ethical tourists, and how to react to things that surprise us. We went to a cafe that supports Shan refugees, and heard one girl's personal story. We went to an ethical elephant park and learned about the abuse many elephants go to. In class and on field trips, we learned about the complications of US intervention.

I received the adventure I was looking for, and unexpectedly learned so much about the the world.

Studying abroad with TEAN at Victoria University of Wellington has by far been the best decision I have ever made. The staff were extremely supported all the way through with occasional meetups with fun events. What truly made the experience was the bonds I made with my other TEAN and study abroad students. Everyone was up for anything and were just genuine good people who were looking to explore New Zealand. Wellington was perfect because you could be within the city or up in the hills or taking the ferry down to the South Island. Always something to do along Cuba Street, Courtenay Place, or just within the University Hall community. Each of the houses vary by design, but add to the charm of Wellington. The city is so unique with tons of hidden gems to stumble upon. Wellington has a special place in my heart.