Orientation was definitely a success! Surprisingly learned a lot in a short amount of time. The orientation leaders made it interactive and I actually ended up meeting my core group of friends after a small scale icebreaker game. Wellington as a city has been nothing short of an amazing place. Besides the big hill from town to Kelburn campus, which is most definitely a hike, everywhere is walking distance. I would definitely recommend studying in Wellington simply because it is the most accomodating New Zealand city for a study abroad student (its between Auckland and Queenstown so its a great fit for travellers during the school year, too!) As for Victoria University, it has been pretty accomodating thus far, although on the expensive side. School work isn't too demanding, leaving quite a lot of time to travel on weekends. I do wish that the school gym was free... that was a bummer. Then again, just getting groceries in town and coming back up the hill is the equivalent of leg and bicep day. Overall, I would HANDS DOWN recommend living in Wellington, especially University Hall housing. I live in a flat with six other students all from different countries. It has been a blast... can't wait to visit Wellington again!
I have had a great experience so far in Wellington. Right off the bat I got to meet a lot of cool people in my program during orientation, which made the whole transition a lot easier. I've made some incredible friends here and have gotten to go on so many fun trips around New Zealand - I feel like I've seen a really good amount of this country! Of course, I have had my ups and downs (all of which your friends will be there to help you through) but I wouldn't trade my experience for anything in the world. I made the best decision in coming to Wellington and I'm already getting sad to leave my new second home. I'm living a dream right now :)
This experience was beyond amazing. Choosing New Zealand as my country of study was the best decision I have made. NZ is so unique, and a lot of times a country that people forget about. It’s just one of those countries that you have to see the whole country to be satisfied. TEAN was a great choice of progam, as they know how to support us in any way possible and make us feel as comfortable as we can in such an unfamiliar place. After talking to others through different programs, it just seemed to me that TEAN really knew what they were doing compared to the others. Studying abroad in general taught me how to adapt to new cultures, how to be way more independent, and how to stop caring so much about what others think and just live my life. I am so greatful for this experience.
What would you improve about this program?
I just wish TEAN had programs in more places rather than just the Pacific.
5 years later - and still one of my favorite experiences!
May 4, 2018
My time studying abroad with ISA in Costa Rica is still one of the highlights of my life, and it's been over five years since I was there. The ISA team was very helpful leading up to my departure, upon arrival, and throughout the three months of the program. I always felt cared for, and enjoyed interacting with the fun, on-site staff members. There were so many great people in my program, too! I've been lucky enough to stay in touch with my best friends from the program, and we've traveled all over the USA to visit each other.
Costa Rica is a fantastic country for people who want to practice Spanish, since Costa Ricans speak a very "clean," easy to understand version of the language. The only downside of studying in San Jose, rather than some of ISA's other options in Costa Rica, is that many locals speak English - and there are plenty of English-speaking students as well. It's not as immersive of an experience as a smaller town would be. Apart from that, Costa Rica is incredibly beautiful, full of outdoor activities, and easy to travel around. I'd recommend this experience to anyone!
What would you improve about this program?
My only (minor) complaint with the program is that some of my courses at Universidad Veritas were not very engaging or challenging. I took Spanish and Political Science courses while I was there. The Spanish classes were excellent, but the Political Science ones left something to be desired. Some of my friends focused more on Biology and pre-med classes, and they were pleased with them.
I happened to break my ankle while studying abroad and the staff was wonderful and supportive in helping me with my situation. I had a great experience in Malaga and built lasting friendships. This experience led me to travel after college graduation and then pursue a Masters in International Education Management. I would love to go back and relive all my experiences and visit with the family that hosted me!
I'd never been to Asia before, and studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea was the perfect place to start! Not only was Korea University an incredible school (both beautiful and prestigious), but Seoul itself was lively, and the perfect mix of old culture and new experiences. The combination of wildly flavorful food, natural wonders, and shopping was amazing! Plus it was easy to do weekend trips to other countries as well!
TEAN made the experience so smooth by taking care of the logistics, and being great with their communication and transparency. I was able to reach out to the coordinators about anything and everything- from details about my visa and class registration, to suggestions of things to do like hikes and rice wine tasting. TEAN was also a great way to meet people, and do activities that would have been more difficult on my own, or that I would have overlooked. Overall, it was a life-changing experience!
What would you improve about this program?
I missed orientation because of my job, but missing that one week made me feel like I missed out on half the experience- so I wish some things were a little more staggered throughout the semester, so that I would have gotten to meet people and do more.
A few months before I graduated I was struck with the paralyzing anxiety that life as I knew it was over and I would soon be entering into a decades long career that offered no flexibility, little vacation time, and zero opportunities for me to travel ever again. Ok, so I was being a little dramatic, but regardless, in that moment I resolved to delay my career for a few short months and instead, I flew to Costa Rica the day after commencement and spent two months studying Spanish, living with a local family and traveling throughout Central America. I chose the ISA Intensive Spanish program because it was incredibly affordable and placed an emphasis on language and culture immersion, something that I value when it comes to meaningful travel experiences. The ISA Staff were very attentive and supportive of my needs but not overbearing or intrusive. Costa Rica is a great country for solo-travelers and people who want to learn Spanish. I found the culture to be very welcoming to outsiders, easy to navigate and friendly. As a female traveler, I felt safe, I felt welcome, I felt comfortable in going outside of my zone to learn new things and engage with new people.
Florianopolis, Brazil was a beautiful place to study abroad. I lived on an island in a little fishing village near the water, and I could walk to the nearest market. One day I met a fisherman who was singing "Sweet Caroline," which was rare because there weren't many people who spoke English there. The fisherman and I became good friends, and we would sit in front of his little fishing shop by the water telling stories. He would fish sometimes, and tell the most extravagant stories I had ever heard. I learned so much from this man, and would have never met him if I hadn't traveled to Brazil. That is one of the best things about studying abroad; you get to meet amazing people and learn from them things that you would never learn in your own country.
What would you improve about this program?
I would suggest that students who want to do this program should test their Portuguese skill level before going to Brazil.
I spent 5 months in a country I can now call a second home. The connections I made there will be life-lasting, and I gained so many useful skills whilst I was there. I have a new-found independence that I acquired whilst abroad. I wouldn't change a single thing about my experience, and I am grateful that TEAN provided as much as they did to make the experience what it was. The intercultural experiences and events TEAN provided facilitated personal growth and connection forming, for which I am grateful for.
Studying abroad in New Zealand is easily the best decision I have made in my college. When I finally decided to do it, I knew NZ would be the perfect place. And perfect it was! Dunedin is always bustling with activity. It has such cute coffee shops on George Street, a bunch of local beaches, and plenty of places to go out at night. I took really cool classes at UOtago including Global Marine Systems, Environmental Sociology, and Maori Society; it gave me the opportunity to learn about topics of interest but through the lens of a different culture. On top of this, I was able to volunteer with two local organizations, and this really helped me immerse myself into the local community.
I also spent every weekend traveling all over the South Island doing tramping trips and sight seeing. I highly recommend Queenstown and Wanaka :) Overall though, the process of studying abroad was so smooth because TEAN helped organize all the logistics. If youre thinking about studying abroad, do it. I promise you won't be disappointed!
