TEAN is a great program. They go above and beyond to prepare you for your trip abroad. I went to Dunedin NZ for a semester and the TEAN staff is simply phenomenal. They are easy to get in contact with and they really want you to have an amazing experience. They more than adequately prepare you before, during, and after your trip. The orientation program when you get to your country allows you to get acclimated in a comfortable environment. TEAN also allows you to meet fellow students who will be going abroad with you. TEAN staff is present within your country and are always available if you need anything. TEAN also has activities for you to participate in while you are in your country. I highly recommend studying abroad through TEAN.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Going bungy jumping! It was so scary but going with friends made it an amazing experience!
My semester in Australia was truly like a dream. It was astounding to me that I was half-way around the world making new best friends and traveling to the most amazing places all while being able to receive a full semester worth of credits. Not only was the trip filled with amazing experiences, it was full of wonderful life lessons as well. Being half-way around the world really instills a sense of true independence, there’s no going home or having your mom around to help when you run into trouble. I learned to do things on my own which pushed me to enjoy doing things on my own as well. If nobody was around to head up to the beach or go to dinner, I found myself going on my own instead of sitting around doing nothing thanks to this new-found sense of independence. That being said, my time in Australia also taught me how important it is to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, no matter how big or small, even if they scare you. Looking back, I am so happy I didn't back out of sky-diving, scuba diving, or our hike in the Bali heat because those experiences were some of my favorite times, not only my trip, but of my whole life.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
A group of my friends and I went to the Whitsunday Islands for the weekend and decided to go skydiving. It was absolutely terrifying being in an airplane and thinking about the fact that you're about to jump out of it. When my turn came to jump, my guide grabbed my hand and out we went. It was the best experience of my entire life so I am eternally grateful for my friends convincing me to go and my guides support!
My dream since I was 11 years old was to travel to Seoul, South Korea and learn all about Korean language and culture. I was really nervous about picking the study abroad right program. I wanted to challenge myself academically, but also leave enough time to explore and have fun. My university didn't offer a program to South Korea, but I saw TEAN's table at my university's study abroad fair. After speaking with the representative and researching Korea University; I knew that this was the right program for me. My sociology and Korean language classes at Korea University were challenging but the professors were amazing. The town of Anam was also amazing. I never felt unsafe once and that's saying a lot because I grew up in Baltimore. Anam also had some the best & inexpensive food that I ate while in Korea. During TEAN's welcome and farewell dinner, Sandra and Katie ( from TEAN) took us to awesome restaurants. The excursions that were included in this trip were so much fun. My favorite was Lotte World because I love amusement parks. During the excursions you could get to know your KUBA better ( Korean buddy) and then have a Korean friend for life. I honestly don't have one complaint about this program, I would go again in a heartbeat.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to try to go with the flow and explore as much as possible. Seoul is such a dense city and there are new places popping up every day. I was out of my dorm every day from 10am- until the subways closed at midnight and I still did not get to see as much as I would have liked to. Seoul tends to build upwards instead of outwards; so don't forget to look up above the first floor of buildings. Google maps and Apple maps don't work that well in Korea, so make sure you have Kaokao Map and Kakao Metro downloaded so you don't get lost. Don't skip out on the excursions because they're really fun and worth your time. TEAN has a great support system so don't hesitate to reach out to someone if you have questions or concerns. But my biggest piece of advice would be; watch out for mopeds.
My summer interning in New Zealand through TEAN was truly one I will never forget. The application and interview process supported by TEAN’s excellent staff was smooth and I was placed in the appropriate field in which I wanted to gain work experience. I had a blast on the orientation with the other interns; it was a great way to make new friends and get to see the country before settling into the internship. I lived in a beautiful apartment that TEAN organized with other interns, balanced working hard during the week and exploring NZ on the weekends, and established connections with my supervisors. I learned so much about my field, gained real-world skills, and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. It was a summer full of personal and professional growth and I highly recommend TEAN!
Best Six Months Exploring the Wilderness of the South Island
Oct 3, 2019
Studying abroad in New Zealand through TEAN (The Education Abroad Network) was hands-down one of the best academic decisions thus far. As an outdoorsy person, Dunedin was a perfect match. Almost everyone at the university loves exploring which makes it super easy to find an adventure to a nearby glacier, mountain, or beach most weekends. On top of that, having an American-Kiwi transplant residential advisor nearby at all times made my semester 110% better. My TEAN RA was like a supportive aunt for all of us; she was always there to get a meal or talk if we needed a hug or any advice but wanted us to have our own adventures separate from the other American students we came over with. I couldn't have asked for a better semester abroad experience.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I were to do the semester all over again, I would have traveled up to further parts of the country. It is so easy to get stuck visiting the thousands of utopian sites only a few hours away that it is easy to run out of time to get to visit parts of the country that are completely different such as Auckland or any of the north island.
I loved my internship experience in Australia! The first week at the Cairns orientation was spectacular! We went snorkeling and diving in the Great Barrier reef, went on a walk through the rainforest with an Aboriginal guide, and had a chance to skydive, raft, bungee jump, or hot air balloon. My internship in stem cell research was really beneficial for furthering my education and experience and I know it will help my resume and graduate school application be more competitive. I also had a great time in Adelaide going to Australian Football games, going to the beach, spending time in wine country, and spend time in the city center. The TEAN staff were amazing and always there if I needed help or support! The local TEAN staff in Adelaide had great connections and coupons to get discounted or free meals or events. I will always remember the sites I saw and the friends I met!
I was extremely apprehensive in my decision whether or not to go abroad; however, it ended up being the best decision that I have ever made. Not only was my world view broadened, I also learned so much about myself and my role as a global citizen. I gained a strengthened sense of my own identity as an Asian American studying in Asia. and I have become a more confident person. I had no prior experience in international travel, but now I consider myself a pro traveler. Chiang Mai was the perfect place for me; it was so different from what I am accustomed to in the US, such as its slow pace of life, and the people there are extremely friendly and kind. The homestay was such a great way of experiencing it first-hand and to get integrated into Thai society, and I deeply cherish those memories. TEAN was extremely accommodating, right from the start of the application process up until the day the program ended. They prepared us for assimilating into Thai culture, which was greatly appreciated considering how intimidating it was to go to a country that I didn't know the language of and they kept us busy during orientation (such as taking us to an elephant sanctuary or visiting Wat Doi Suthep!), which helped immensely with jet lag. The excursion to the Golden Triangle was also very enjoyable for me, as I feel like I learned so much from this trip that I would not have experienced if it were not for the program. Over the course of 5 months, I made so many friends and countless amazing memories. No matter any concerns that you might have, do not let that stop you from making the decision from coming here! You will not regret it.
This was an amazing experience! It was my second time abroad with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) and I can promise you this is an amazing program. I was impressed with the amount of care I felt from the advisers and tips that they gave to me - not only for school and culture, but also life advice and wonderful memories of actually becoming friends that still text till this day.
The other students in TEAN were also great, I loved how during the orientation with TEAN we really got a chance to become friends with fellow TEAN students so when classes started we already had a support group. TEAN also did an amazing job at making sure everything went as smooth as possible with orientation at Korea University, classes and teachers. The trips TEAN took us on were all amazing like the trip to the DMZ, to Lotte World, as well as monthly coffee catch ups to destress and get food.
Korea University is also an amazing university that completely enriched my learning, I was able to meet soooooo many amazing classmates and really get involved on campus.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I dont know if it counts, but it was maybe the first month I was in Korea, I was with some friends in Hongdae and we were deciding where to go. The all of a sudden my friend hits my arm and is jumping up and down. In my head I was thinking "what are you doing?????" but then she whisper/screams "that guy is from descendants of the sun" and I whip my head around and see the actor. Never thought I'd see an actor, just out and about...but I did and it was the most unexpected thing but I was sooooo happy.
Studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia was amazing and so impactful. TEAN helped me get all my paperwork done in a timely manner and were very helpful in making sure I was on time for everything. Melb itself is a beautiful city that has so much to offer on every corner. It is full of rich culture and has incredible food, coffee, art, and music. The place has something new waiting for you always. If you love the arts then Melb is totally for you. You don't need to look at a phone at any point as there is just so much street art or someone performing on the street. I attended RMIT University which was right in the CBD. Its modernism was cool to see next to some historical buildings. The city is thriving with new buildings going up everywhere. It truly is booming. I met some pretty awesome people as well and was able to create friendships that will last forever. Overall, the experience was superb and going through TEAN was easy to do. I reccomend Melbourne to anyone.
What would you improve about this program?
I would recommend it being a bit cheaper in price.
I chose Thailand because I heard it was beautiful and cheap. Yet what I didn't realize was Thailand is beautiful through their people, culture, food, and of course natural beauty from the mountains to the beaches. Some of the best food (and spiciest food) I have ever eaten in my life was because of my time studying abroad in Thailand. I absolutely loved my time abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand and wish I could do it all over again. As soon as we arrived in Chiang Mai, TEAN began introducing us to the Thai culture by informing us of dos and don'ts and by taking us to places all around the city. I was immediately welcomed by TEAN and Thai people and am so grateful TEAN invested so much time into us! TEAN went above and beyond when they did not need to. When the air quality was at its poorest, TEAN relocated us to Bangkok, gave us air purifiers, masks, and bussed us to school. All of these precautions showed TEAN really cares for their students. Since everything in Thailand is very cheap in comparison to the United States, it was so easy to try new foods and buy cute items at all the markets in Chiang Mai. There are so many things to do in Chiang Mai you will never get bored! I have never grown so much in so many aspects of my life before studying abroad and I thank TEAN for making the experience so easy going. I will never forget Chiang Mai and can't wait to go back to my second home.
What would you improve about this program?
The only thing I would improve about this program are a few of the professors in ISEAA at TEAN. The academics were not hard but if some of the professors were better teachers, I would have learned more academically studying abroad.
