I loved being in Thailand and having the freedom to explore nearby SouthEast Asian countries as well. Our on-site program coordinator was amazing; she basically was another friend to us! The program excursions were fun, we did a lot of activities and got a good cultural immersion experience. The location of the school was very suburban - it takes about 45 min drive to get into the city, so keep that in mind! The housing also wasn't great - i would have loved to have a kitchen to cook for myself sometimes, but the food nearby was affordable and good! Overall, so glad I did this program.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Our group got attacked by monkeys at a national park!
My semester at Bond University in Australia was an incredible experience that combined learning, adventure, and personal growth. The small class sizes and supportive professors made it easy to stay engaged, and I loved how the coursework connected to real-world situations. Beyond academics, Bond’s location on the Gold Coast meant I could spend my free time exploring amazing beaches, trying new foods like kangaroo and crocodile, and soaking in Australia’s unique culture. I also had the chance to travel to places like Auckland, Sydney, Perth, Uluru, Cairns, and Melbourne which were unforgettable. Living abroad taught me so much about being adaptable, stepping out of my comfort zone, and seeing the world from a new perspective—all while making lifelong friends. If you’re thinking about studying abroad, I couldn’t recommend Bond University more!
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar food I ate while abroad was at our orientation farewell dinner, where we got to try so many unique dishes. Everyone in my program was served kangaroo prepared two different ways, alligator, prawns, and so much more. It was such a fun way to step out of my comfort zone and try things I never thought I’d eat, especially with everyone else doing the same. It turned into this really memorable moment of us all bonding over the experience!
I LOVED my study abroad to Busan, specifically at Pusan National University. TEAN helped me so much to have fun cultural events and supported me through the visa process and the insurance process. I am so grateful for my program coordinator, Chinny Cruz, who helped me and my whole group of students feel so welcomed, safe, and provided multiple fun activities that made my experience in Busan unforgettable. Busans beautiful beaches interesting culture and especially the unforgettable sight of Dadaepo Beach is one to die for!
I studied at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia under the TEAN program. Academics were rigorous and stimulating at UNSW, but I appreciated taking only 3 classes per term since it allowed me more time to explore Sydney and Australia as a whole. Lab and seminar/discussion-based classes were the best way to make local friends! TEAN staff were amazing! They were extremely helpful and so sweet. I hung out with and really got to know my TEAN RD on a personal level while also knowing that they could also help me with any questions or issues I had. Housing was a mixed bag. I lived on UNSW campus and it was mostly fine. I started out living in a unit that had cockroaches. However, my RD advocated for me and the other students and we were moved into other housing quickly. I had friends living in the other accommodations option, living off campus about 15 minutes from UNSW, which was obviously superior to the on campus option. The only real benefit to living on campus was reducing commute time by a couple of minutes. I rarely ever felt unsafe in Sydney, even as a woman. Public transport and walking around at night in well lit areas was also very safe. Obviously, it is still important to apply common sense and avoid danger as much as possible, but otherwise, there was very little risk. Overall, I had an amazing experience and I would totally recommend studying abroad with TEAN in Sydney! I would recommend participating in all of the excursions, especially the surfing lesson!
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most surprising things I did were day trips to other cities in Australia. Domestic flights are relatively cheap out of Sydney and if I didn't have time to fully explore a city, I would just fly there for a day, explore as much as possible, and fly back on the same day!
Another one of the most surprising things about Australia was that I only saw about 4 spiders in total, and one of them was at the zoo!
Pros
Breathtaking hikes in the Blue Mountains, including some leading to natural pools.
Constant access to the ocean and hundreds of beaches.
Perfect mix of big city life and quick access to natural spaces.
Cons
Most places don't have air conditioning, which can get hot in the summer!
Smaller shops and restaurants tend to close early in the evening and don't open on weekends.
I think Singapore was perfect as a study-abroad location. I always felt safe and everyone speaks English, which makes conversations and meeting people easier. I also got the chance to travel a lot in Southeast Asia which was awesome. Our local advisor was great, he was always there if we needed something or had any questions. The housing location was great, only 5 minutes from the university! Everything was reachable via trains. I had great roommates, and the team events were fun, but there could have been more throughout the semester. 5/5
I had the best semester studying at USYD through TEAN. The campus is beautiful, the classes were challenging but interesting, and Sydney was such a fun city to live in. There is lots of fun places to explore and the locals were so very welcoming and fun to spend time with! The TEAN staff was very helpful and always available when help was needed or if I needed clarifications about something that was unique to Australia. I also really enjoyed the orientation week in Cairns because I was able to meet everyone in the program so I got to Sydney and already had a group of familiar faces.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Spend your weekends traveling around Sydney and NSW! There is so much to see, and you are close to SE Asia as well so take advantage of that!
My time in Auckland was sureal and it's something I will never forget. TEAN was very helpful in finding accommodations, and my RA was easy to talk to whenever I needed help. She planned fun excursions, and most of these excursions ended up being my favorite things during the entire semester. We went to Queenstown for orientation, and Cathedral Cove as the semester started to close. We also had lunch dates, coffee catch-ups, and comedy nights. My RA was also very straight forward in this being "an edu-cation experience as much as it is a va-cation experience" and that stuck with me. I may have focused more on my academics than having fun, but the classes I took genually interest me, so I was having fun while studying. Overall, this was a great experience, and I could not have done it without TEAN!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don't be afraid to go out on your own. This is your study abroad experience, and it's okay to do stuff alone! I had the most fun doing things alone, and I feel like these experiences helped me grow in independence more. I went to Rotorua and Australia on my own, where I stayed in hostels, and I did and saw things that I wanted to do and see. I went to the Skyline (went on the sky swing and luging 100% recommend) and Zorbing in Rotorua. In Australia, I went to the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and Albert Park (the Formula 1 circuit). I was able to spend as much time as I wanted, doing the things I wanted and I feel like I was able to appreciate it so much more because of this. In the end, I just highly recommend you do things for yourself, and don't be afraid to go alone.
At first, I was nervous going into the Study Abroad experience. I decided on it all rather quickly as well, after one visit to my Study Abroad office, I had my heart set on New Zealand and started applying almost immediately. Fast forward six months later, I am on a 13hr plane ride to New Zealand. I was traveling for the first time on my own and yet I didn’t feel alone. The TEAN program helped me every step of the way and they made my experience unforgettable. I can’t thank them enough. When I arrived there, they showed me kindness and support and I never truly felt alone. Then we had a marvelous time exploring the South Island of New Zealand and immersing ourselves into the Kiwi Culture.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go into this experience all the way. It’s so easy sometimes for us to want to stay in our comfort zones and avoid the unknown but by applying, you’ve already taken a step out of your known world. So embrace it even more. Do things you’ve never even imagined doing, meet new people, and embrace the experience with full confidence. Remember that differences in this world is what makes it exciting and learn it all with an open heart and mind.
Pros
Learned a lot about a new culture.
Learned more about myself.
Gained experience in solo traveling, sustainable living, and much more.
I had the best summer studying Abroad at Hanyang University through TEAN. I met excellent students from across the US who participated, and they made my experience wholesome. I never felt alone since I had kept company with them. Also, the onsite team were amazing. Euisoo, Hwang, and Chan ensured that we lacked nothing. They were a text away and supported us throughout the program. They also sent out any weather notices or alerts, which I found super helpful. TEAN and Hanyang University's immersive cultural activities allowed me to engage with Korea's traditions and lifestyle. The highlight of my study abroad experience was my classes. I took a "Studies of Korean Society and Culture" class, and I encourage anyone studying at Hanyang University to enroll in this course. It was very insightful; there were lectures and discussions of ancient and modern Korea, among other topics. It allowed me to view Korea objectively and understand why things worked as they did. Also, I loved getting crafty in my ceramics class. That was fun. I am grateful to TEAN for the best summer ever.
I absolutely loved my time abroad in Rome, Italy with ISA. I went in Spring 2024 and was pleased by the weather, cuisine, and attractions Rome had to offer. Rome is a city like no other with a vast range of activities to do and neighborhoods to explore. I never found myself bored and was able to travel to 12 countries throughout my semester abroad. I found traveling out of Rome to be affordable and relatively easy which I loved. I attended The American University of Rome, which was incredible and enhanced my film studies scholars. Both the professors and staff were very accommodating and offered resources whenever I needed support. ISA was extremely helpful in my immersion to living abroad and I formed close relationships with the staff that helped eliminate feelings of homesickness. I would highly recommend studying abroad in Rome with ISA!!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would advice future travelers to get as involved as possible in their program and school abroad. It is truly a time to embrace yourself and try new things. I became more extroverted, free-spirited and open to new adventures after my time in Rome.
Pros
Rome has incredible culture, history, and people. The city is just as romantic and enchanting as the language, and locals encourage you to learn Italian.
The ISA program's staff is responsive and proactive in any situation involving their students.
ISA's excursions are both fun and relaxing as they are completely pre-planned. It is a great time to bond with the other students in your program. I still talk to all my friends from abroad every day!
Cons
Rome is a big city which can feel overwhelming to someone who is not a fan of crowds or noise.