WOW! My time abroad was amazing. I would not have changed anything if I could. I loved my school, host family, roommate, and everything about Sevilla. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was being able to be immersed in a culture without being a tourist. There is something so special about calling a foreign land a home. I was able to learn about life across the world and experience something so unique. I also loved living with a host family. It was in their home that I was able to practice Spanish in a way I have never done before.
I loved studying abroad in London. It's a city full of history, experiences, and views that I can't wait to go back and see! I took classes that were associated with my degree and ones that were not, which was nice because I was able to have a varied educational experience and understand how their education system compared to the one I was used to. ISA hosted excursions to places such as Windsor Castle that were a lot of fun. They also held orientation and pre-arrival information sessions which made the transition much easier. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could go back, I would make this program longer so I could spend more time there! I had a lot of places in the UK and abroad that I wanted to visit, and even though I made many trips and went to a long list of places, I could never run out of ideas or things to do.
Pros
London is a large, global city with variety and a long history
A life-changing experience that everyone should have
ISA made the transition easier, safer, and more fun
Such an amazing experience. I got to go with my best friend and we made so many friends and got to experience the amazing culture in Florence. I think living in an apartment off campus was such a key in feeling fully immersed. We got to cook at home and go out to restaurants. I recommend this! I did the J-term which was about two and a half weeks which was perfect for my schedule. I LOVE to travel however have only been overseas once before this so I was nervous about going a whole semester and this is a great way to ease into a longer trip. I really want to study abroad for longer again!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have traveled to other cities and gone for a longer time. I traveled to Rome one weekend but wished I planned other travels!
My time in Sevilla, Spain was such a wonderful experience especially as my very first time abroad. I originally applied due to interest in the history course offered, but the sheer fun I had with my classmates as well as the relationship fostered with the staff in my time there was very heartwarming. I felt incredibly safe due to the gated housing. I had access to a lot of banks/ATMs, grocery stores, restaurants, and a lot of close by local attractions like the Alcazar and the Plaza de España. And coupled with the sheer atmosphere of being in such a beautiful country was the fact that the class was just as interesting. The professor really went out of his way to educate us and I'll forever be grateful for that.
Definitely go for it! It's okay to be nervous and scared at first, but I PROMISE you'll soon come to relax and love it so much that you'll promise yourself you'd come back!
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I'd definitely let myself wander outside more. When I was there, I did go out often, but I'd be too nervous to go without a friend. It's good to be safe, but I find myself thinking that I should have went out more on morning or afternoon walks just to really soak the view in for myself.
Pros
Beautiful weather (winter)
Everywhere you look is just gorgeous!
Pretty decent prices (groceries especially)
Cons
hard to communicate without Spanish (obvious, but make sure you know some)
pickpockets are common so be careful
stores tend to be closed during the holidays so be aware
Studying in Malaga was truly an unforgettable experience. In the 'Summer 1' program I met extraordinary people and visited the most beautiful places in Spain. Malaga is a beautiful city. The city center offers amazing food, shopping, social life, and more. Additionally, outside the city center, the rest of Malaga is beautiful. Near UMA, El Palo beach was the best. My professor was amazing! Overall, I think this program was 100% worth it in every aspect, and I HIGHLY recommend taking up this opportunity if it's possible.
I went to Colombia to experience a culture and language different from the one I had grown up with in East Tennessee. From the coast with the oldest surviving city in South America to the south with the largest rainforest in the world, you can experience one of the most diverse cultures in the Latin world and come to love the people and way of life in Colombia. I also can't forget my favorite city, and home for nearly 5 months, Medellín. There you will find a city with the kindest people, diverse activities, perfect weather, and the greatest salsa dancers in the world. I got exactly what I wanted. You will truly get to see and experience a different culture, language, and people than anywhere else you can travel. Along with this, I gained a greater understanding of business on an international level that I would not have found elsewhere. If you want a unique experience different from the rest, you will surely find it here. I hope you will soon find yourself, as I did, in my second home. ¡Amo Colombia!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give is to be open to try, do, and learn new things. Most likely many of the things you will do and experience will be different. I also would say learning or knowing some Spanish ahead of time would help a lot.
Pros
Very different culturally
Learning Spanish
A lot to do
Cons
It parts it can be dangerous (same as any big city)
There are parts of the country you most likely cannot go
Very little english speakers outside university (better if you know or learn Spanish)
My experience was unique because I had never been to Europe before studying abroad. This was my first time for everything in Europe, and I think that’s really special. I had never been so far from home before, and it definitely made me very independent and develop new helpful problem solving skills. I ended up having so much fun in my classes abroad, and with my new friends that I am now inspired to help others through the study abroad process. I also didn’t know a single person studying abroad and that was a little nerve racking for me because I didn’t know what any one in my program was like or even who my roommates were. However, I think that my program did an amazing job at pairing me up with girls that are like me, to make living with strangers a lot smoother. A note I would leave for someone studying abroad in Florence for the semester is to say yes to everything, and do as much as you can. The semester goes by so so fast it almost feels like a dream when you come back, so you have to make the most of your time and enjoy every moment.
What was your funniest moment?
The funniest moment I remember was when my friends and I had a family dinner at one of our apartments, and we were all laughing about something, per usual. Amidst the laughter and fun, my one friend loves to take photos and she ended up taking a really silly photo of me eating. And of course, she showed everyone and we all hysterically laughed.
Pros
amazing food
found cool friends / travel buddies
interesting and fun classes
Cons
waited about 5 hours after landing to be driven to the apartment
I went abroad on a four week intensive program in Barcelona with ISA, and it was wonderful. Regarding ISA, they are organized and very personable. Using their site and portal was also so simple. The process seemed to be as easy as possible. On the trip they had three ALL inclusive trips provided and they were all so much fun. I met so many new friends and professors through this program. The courses were also challenging but fun; you could tell the teachers were into their content. The experiences I had were endless, and I would 100% recommend this trip to any college student looking to improve their Spanish drastically.
This Study Abroad experience was a dream come true. An important goal of mine was alway to study abroad and thanks to ISA, I was able to accomplish it. I chose Paris, France because I wanted to immerse myself in a new culture and continue my studies with the French language. The staff at the ISA PARIS office made me feel welcomed. They provided us with so many activities and opportunities to experience and learn about Paris. My homestay family was also very welcoming. We would talk over dinner, I practiced my French, and I learned so much from them. I had great professors at the Institut Catholique de Paris who helped with my written, oral, and comprehension skills. I visited dozens of museums and exhibitions abroad since I am an art lover. This was my first time traveling outside of the U.S. and though I was nervous, I learned that I love to travel. I visited many places in France and Europe. This was an eye-opening experience and I learned so much about myself. I really encourage people to apply if you can.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Traveling by myself was very nerve-ranking, especially since it wast my first time traveling to a foreign country. I was nervous but I knew I had to overcome that fear and anxiety if I truly want to enjoy my experience. The way I overcame my fear was just by doing it since this, for me, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I traveled to different countries and different parts of France. I met a lot of new friends from all over the world and made great memories. I am glad that I was able to overcome that because now, I have no regrets.
I went to study abroad this summer alone and was scared of not being able to make friends. ISA did an amazing job in hosting a get to know each other-like dinner to meet new people. That night I was able to meet my four closest friends! ISA provided so many resources and support to all their students to help them with navigating the new city and other cities within Italy during our field trips. Additionally, when I was sick the Italy ISA staff took care of me. I am so glad I picked ISA for my first time studying abroad!
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The non-capitalist mindset. People are there to work and then go to dinner after work to socialize. They do not revolve their life around working.
