WorldStrides Reviews

I went on TEAN's Summer in Thailand program and had the time of my life. I did the 7-week option. I took Buddhism in Southeast Asia the first session and Human Rights in Southeast Asia the second, and in between I went on TEAN's Souhtern Island excursion. I wanted to go to Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai, because of its unique blend of relaxed city life and natural landscape and its heavily Buddhist-influenced culture. Taking a Buddhism class in Thailand was a dream. I still can't believe I actually got to stay the night in a Thai Forest Tradition temple and follow the monk on his morning alms through a village. This is something I never could have dreamed of experiencing, and something that an average tourist just passing through would not be able to do. This is what I think is the greatest value of studying instead of just visiting Thailand: you get integrated into the culture, and you learn quickly to adapt.
Everyone I came across in Thailand was nothing less than welcoming and kind. If you follow TEAN's rules, especially the one prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle (the streets are crazy but the red truck/ tuk tuk/ grab drivers know what they're doing), you should be very safe. I never truly felt reason to fear for my safety in Chiang Mai.
The education was top-notch and the professors are very understanding of the fact that we are only there for a short period of time and desire time away from the actual studying part. I went to class for three hours Monday-Friday, giving ample time to visit places in the morning, afternoons, and weekends. The local TEAN staff members, Nala and Lauren, were extremely kind and always eager to help with anything.
If you're a nature lover, a culture/ religion enthusiast, or an adventure seeker, Thailand is the perfect place to study. There are beautiful nearby hiking trails, waterfalls, tons of museums and temples, active nightlife, amazing food everywhere, many types of markets, and so much more. I am incredibly happy that I did this program, it has truly been the greatest experience of my life so far. I met beautiful friends both from TEAN and local Thai students. If you have any desire to do this, do it!

I didn't want to graduate college without studying abroad, I am so glad I chose TEAN as my program because they made everything very easy and fun. The 5 day Queenstown orientation was packed with awesome activities and adventures, like the scenic Milford Sound tour and bungee jumping! The orientation was a great way to get to know everyone else one the program and made my first few weeks in Dunedin much more fun and comforting because I had already made some friends. One of my favorite aspects of TEAN is their optional mid-semester break excursions. I traveled to Thailand for 9 days which was somewhere I had never really thought of going before and had the best time of my life!
Studying in New Zealand made me really appreciate the Earth and understand the negative impact we have on its environment. I love TEAN because they are environmentally conscious and promote ways to benefit the environment through recycling and other energy-saving facts.
I was really happy I chose Dunedin to study and live in. Dunedin is perfect for college students! The city and campus are filled with historic and beautiful buildings, but have modern touches added throughout. There are so many coffee shops, thrift stores, art displays, and gardens to explore! I also loved how it didn't take too long to travel outside the city and experience nature, whether it was hiking the local trails or driving a few hours to different national parks.
The living situation in Dunedin is slightly different from most other places. Students live in "flats", which are apartment-style buildings or quaint little houses. This is so unique because everyone's flat looks different! Most flats house 4-6 students. I lived with 5 other girls: 2 were Canadian, 1 was American, and 2 were from New Zealand!! I loved living with international students (especially Kiwis) because I learned so much about their culture and differences in language. It was also an amazing way to connect with other international students, so I wasn't always surrounded by Americans.
The Education Abroad Network provided everything I was looking for in my study abroad experience, and more! I absolutely loved every minute and would do it all over again if I could.

To kick off my semester abroad in New Zealand, TEAN treated my orientation group to an amazing welcome week in Queenstown! It was a great way for all of us study abroad students to get to know each other! We adventured in Fiordland, which including a boating excursion through Milford Sound as well as a day hike near Mirror Lakes. In addition, TEAN also hosted information sessions in local, historic venues in Queenstown and helped us get acclimated to the New Zealand way of life. Once we got settled at the university, TEAN hosted a bunch of really fun catch-up events where we could all eat lunch & do an activity together. These check-ins were a really fun way to see how everyone was doing. Towards the end of our semester, TEAN hosted an emotional farewell dinner where we said our goodbyes. Going to New Zealand was an absolute dream. The places I adventured, the people I met, and the experiences I had while abroad were some of the most magical times of my life and it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for TEAN. I'm forever in debt to TEAN for helping me have the best semester of my life.

My time spent studying abroad with the The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand was truly an experience of a lifetime made possible by the TEAN Staff. I spent my week days enjoying my classes, learning about the Māori culture, and exploring everything the wonderful city of Dunedin has to offer. I spent almost every weekend camping, tramping, traveling, and taking in the beautiful country. Although studying abroad is a great way to stay on track with your education while gaining a global perspective, it is not all about studying. Explore, push yourself out of your comfort zone, become a local, and you will have an experience that you will never forget. Before I left for this adventure, someone gave me the advice to say yes to everything. At times I felt a little out of my comfort zone, but I took this advice and experienced more than I could have ever imagined. I now have friends from all over the world that I will always keep in touch with. My study abroad experience was unforgettable, and one that I will cherish forever.

There is so much to tell about my experience! But I'll keep it to the major things.
Overall, Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai University were amazing and if I had the chance to go back tomorrow, I 100% would.
The Thai people we met along the way were so helpful and kind and happy to have us around.
I took the Buddhism in Thailand course, and it was the most eye opening and informational course. I learned so much about Thai religion, and subsequently culture, tried meditation for the first time, visited numerous temples, had chats with multiple monks and nuns, and got to experience an overnight stay in a forest temple in the Li district.
I think having the opportunity to meditate in a forest temple was a truly once in a lifetime experience. I had a moment of solitude, sitting in front of this 50 foot Buddha statue, attempting a meditation, where I realized that this is probably the only time in my life I will get to do anything close to this. It was humbling and I feel lucky to have experienced it.

The experiences outside of class were amazing too, especially the elephant nature park and our trip to Krabi, Thailand. Seeing the elephants in their natural habitat was breath taking and seeing the enormous cliffs in the southern islands rising out of this beautiful bright aqua water was absolutely mesmerizing.

Overall, I cannot recommend this trip enough. If you have the chance to do it, do it.

I applied to TEAN's Australia Summer Internship program for summer of 2018. I interned in Cairns, Queensland for two months at Rainforestation Nature Park, Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. As a biology major, working at these three parks solidified my dreams of becoming a wildlife rehabilitator. I was able to work with the animals everyday, learning everything I could from my supervisors. I am so glad that TEAN actually took my interests and future goals into consideration when looking for a placement for me; it felt so amazing to finally be able to take that first step towards my future career and help exotic animals. TEAN was always keeping in contact with me to make sure that the internship was flowing smoothly and that I was safe and content with my overall experience. Working with TEAN staff was never a hassle and they were always willing to help out if need be. I had a wonderful time interning abroad with TEAN and I recommend it 100%!

Before studying abroad, I knew almost nothing about Thailand. Now I feel like I am (almost) an expert! This country is amazing. From is history, to it's people, to the amazing scenery, I loved everything about this trip. I had the opportunity to participate in a village home-stay, spend a day in the Elephant Nature Park and even climb up waterfalls! I can't wait to go back someday, and hopefully bring my family along.

Because of my experience in Australia through TEAN, I fully believe every student should study abroad at some point in their life. No matter who you are or where you are from, studying abroad changes your perspective of the world and increases your independence and confidence. TEAN did an amazing job at helping me through every single process. From the very beginning such as buying flights and getting my visa up until the very end when I returned home. Every single staff member was amazing. They were always willing to assist me whenever I needed it. Through TEAN, I was able to meet friends that I will have for the rest of my life. I loved the girls I roomed with and our apartment was incredible. Brisbane is an incredible city and I highly recommend studying at the University of Queensland. If you have any nerves or uncertainties before studying abroad I can promise you that you can trust TEAN to make every transition seamless.

I am so happy that I was able to study abroad and spend everyday trying new foods, exploring beautiful architecture and practicing my Spanish truly made for an incomparable experience. I feel as if I became even more independent and appreciative of the small details that are important for a daily life. I woke up excited for the walks to class, and the walks to grab tapas with friends after a busy day of class. I challenged myself by speaking in Spanish both outside the classroom and in every class. That was definitely a change from my coursework incollege in the United States.
experience and through a graduate program I will have great success.
Many of the experiences I’ve had help in terms of understanding the cultural differences
between Granada and where I live in Massachusetts, but when asked to think of one specific
thing, I remember the first time I went into a tapas place and was completely overwhelmed
with the level of social interaction that was occurring. Everybody was standing up and talking
loudly while drinking their beer or wine and waiting for the tapa. My friends and I were the only people who found it strange that everyone was standing and that there was very little room between various groups. It was in this moment that I realized how heavily the culture in
Granada relies upon social relationships and the way that food and drinks are represented in
these circumstances, both with family and friends. That is truly unforgettable and no city compares to its antiquity and beauty.

My experience in China is one I will never forget! From the friends and peers I met to the epic and legendary sightseeing attractions, China is the place to go study abroad! Throughout the four months, TEAN has helped me greatly whether it was helping me search for a new tourist attraction or simply telling me about a delicious local restaurant. My favorite restaurant is the dim sum place on Da Xue Lu; the restaurant offers a variety of different dishes at reasonable prices! Aside from all the yummy treats and dishes I have eaten, I have discovered milk tea bubble tea and have drank that drink almost everyday! Although there are franchises here in the US, the drink does not taste the same! If you stumble upon Yi Dian Dian, I recommend you purchase a drink from there! It is my favorite place to buy milk tea bubble tea! Other than going on food tours, I have made unforgettable memories in China and made friends with whom I continue to keep in touch with til today! I will definitely go back to China again in the near future!!