When I think of my time abroad there are tons of stories that immediately come flooding to my mind. From the beautiful places I've seen, the adventures stuff I've done, and the interesting people I met during my travels I could talk for days about how much I loved Australia. One of the more unique stories I have is that I went to an amusement park called Dream World, where I got to pet a full grown 800 pound tiger. I also learned about ongoing breeding efforts to help this endangered species out.
What would you improve about this program?
I wish they gave us more budgeting tips or potentially set us up with part time jobs in the area.
When I arrived in the Sydney Airport, I was both excited and terrified. I stood nervously waiting for my bag on the conveyor belt and struggled to pull my enormous suitcase through the airport. When I reached the arrival section of the airport, before I could panic or worry or fear that I was truly alone, I saw three of the brightest faces of the entire bunch with colorful signs that read THE EDUCATION ABROAD NETWORK. These people embraced me in their arms and immediately went from being strangers to friends. Any sense of anxiety I had immediately went away and I felt at ease with these truly genuine people telling me exactly where I needed to go and what I needed to do. I have heard other people have very different stories when arriving in their study abroad country and I could not be more thankful I chose TEAN to go abroad with. Throughout the next five months they were always there if my roommates and I had any questions or concerns. They frequently came to check on us and brought us on an adventure every other week! Working for TEAN is my dream job because I want to create the amazing experience that they created for me.
Going to Thailand for my study abroad was the best decision I ever made. And on top of that, choosing TEAN as my program made my experience that much better. After about a month of getting comfortable in Chiang Mai, TEAN took us on an excursion to the southern islands of Thailand. It was an all-inclusive trip that included the airfare, lodging, food, and activities we did there. They lodged us in the most amazing resort I have ever stayed in, overlooking Railey Beach in Krabi. Every morning, we got to look over the water while eating a deluxe breakfast. For one day, we went island hopping to many different islands and we were able to go snorkeling through huge schools of fish. That was the most incredible thing, being surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of colorful little fish. Because of TEAN, I was able to experience a whole different side of Thailand that I wouldn't have been able to experience in Chiang Mai.
What would you improve about this program?
It's hard to say what would be improved, since I found absolutely no flaws in the program. I guess I could say that I wish we had more excursions to different areas of Thailand-- but having classes hindered that ability.
This was an incredible experience. I was able to travel through Morocco every weekend thanks to the structure of the program and the helpful staff. The excursions really added to the program. I went to the Sahara desert thanks to the help of the ISA staff members in planning the trip. The courses were serious, the teachers were very helpful, and I was able to learn a lot during my time in the classroom. The airport lost my luggage and had to travel to the next city to retrieve it when it arrived. One staff member was very helpful and helped me travel to Fes to retrieve my luggage. It was a program that I would recommend to an adventurous student looking for a safe experience in an Arabic speaking country.
What would you improve about this program?
This program could have been improved by giving the students a little more direction. For example, on the first day there, I was very jet lagged and tired, and the ISA staff told us to go find food for lunch. I was confused on where to go and what to order. However, I learned a lot this way, even though it was intimidating at first.
I could sit here and write to you all day about how beautiful Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are, how good the food is, how my Spanish competency skyrocketed from being in an area with an unorthodox dialect, how relevant and informative my classes were, how great the nightlife is, how many friends and connections (Chilean and otherwise) I made, how awesome my host family is and how I still keep in touch with them... there are so many things I could say, but we'd be here all day. I think the biggest factor is how I still miss it every day, 3.5 years after spending 5 months there. I think of how hard it was to leave, how I could've easily spent another semester or year there if it were at all feasible, how my host mom had to console me by reminding me that I wasn't losing anything by leaving, that I had gained a family. Although I got very close to my host family and they were the highlight of my experience, I think of all the confidence I gained, all the memories I made, how strange it was that I gained a second home. I really felt like home in Chile... so much so that when I was able to sneak back to Viña for a week a year after I left, I had the same feeling of warmth and comfort that I got when I traveled back to my small town in eastern Kentucky from my college town of Lexington. A lot of that is due to Chile itself, but ISA was instrumental in me being as impacted as I was by my experience abroad. From the choice in classes and excursions, helpfulness and know-how of a staff that was genuinely interested in each and every student, the ISA office that was right across the street from the Casa Central of PUCV, down to even just how the program was planned all gave me the freedom and agency to really see Chile for what it was, with nothing logistically or administratively for me to worry about. Chile is phenomenal, ISA is phenomenal, and I would pack my bags and head back right this second if I was given the chance. I wholeheartedly believe anyone and everyone can find something about Chile to fall in love with. Go.
What would you improve about this program?
I would've liked more pre-departure help from my Site Specialist.
My time in BsAs with ISA was the most exhilarating and liberating months of my college career. I got to be independent and adventurous while ISA took care of all the details.
As a student at UB, I got to meet several other international students who shared similar interests. Making friends with expats was easy, but making friends with locals was even more fun. Especially because the nightlife in Buenos Aires is AWESOME.
ISA's tours include many cultural excursions that are both culturally significant and interesting for young travelers. We got to stay at a resort at Iguazu Falls and spend a few days soaking up the absolute paradise of that area. This was a really cool chance to meet other friends in the program and boat under the falls at the meeting of three countries: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
ALSO: Argentinian food is savory and delicious. You will not be disappointed here.
BE WARNED: After a trip to BsAs, you'll catch a mad case of the travel bug and you'll never be able to get rid of it! :) <3
ISA's program in Lille was absolutely perfect for me. It was a summer program that allowed the option for a back to back 2 months, and I'm so happy that I stayed longer! By staying in Lille (vs. Paris for example) ingot to experience a non-tourist infected, beautiful city where I got to practice my French language so much! The locals are so sweet and Lille is a university town, so it was nice to immerse myself with the locals. One of my favorite memories is going out on the town during La fête de la musique, which is basically a holiday all across France where locals share music with their entire city outside every bar, restaurant, and main square within their city. Three of my friends and I hit the town traveling from bar to bar just hearing the music of the city we had come to love. The locals in Lille are just so talented and it was so humbling just to partake in a favorite holiday of theirs. We danced with locals our age, learned some new dance moves, and we're even asked to karaoke some American songs they were singing. It was a night full of fun, laughter, and friendship. I wouldn't trade my experience in Lille for anything; it taught me more than I could've ever dreamed of.
What would you improve about this program?
Better dorms for ISA participants; better 'breakfast' served by that dorm, and more psychology/sociology courses offered from the university
My year abroad in Prague was honestly the best thing that could have happened to me. ISA created a program that let me explore both my new city and the country and continent around it, while supporting me both academically and throughout the process of moving to a new country. I loved Prague more than anything, soaking up all of the culture and history I could in the short nine months I was there. The classes I took through ISA were fun and challenging. My apartment was beautiful and right by a metro stop, so I was always able to hop on and go anywhere I wanted. The neighborhood I stayed in was far enough away from the main tourist center that only locals really hung out there, but so close that I could be in Wenceslas Square in five minutes by metro. The staff were fun and supportive, especially when I needed to get my student visa renewed, and we could always go to them for advice on what to do in the city or where to travel to. Bottom line, Prague is the best place in the world and I couldn't be happier that I decided to go through ISA.
What would you improve about this program?
I wish we had more contact with non-Americans. We lived with Americans, took classes with Americans, and hung out with Americans. It would be great to feel more integrated with the locals, or at least other international students. I was also a little blindsided by their lack of second semester Czech lessons. They helped me find a tutor so I could improve my language skills, but I entered the program thinking that they would be provided if I wanted.
If someone were to ask me was studying abroad worth all of the hassle, the money, and leaving your family and friends for a bit I would definitely respond: ooooohhhh yeahhhhh. It cost me a fair amount but it was totally worth every single 5 cent piece (Australia doesn't have pennies). Studying abroad will literally be the best time of your life so just do it! I really learned how to experience and appreciate other cultures and other people. I learned how to handle whatever was thrown at me, and believe me there will be a lot of crazy circumstances you will go through while abroad. I learned that everything will be alright in the end no matter how bad things may seem. I learned how to constantly live out of my comfort zone and I loved it. Most importantly, I learned how to be an Aussie!
What would you improve about this program?
For the program to really push the students to be immersed in the local culture even more than they already do.
My name is Bram Blackwell and I am a junior accounting major and I just finished up my semester abroad at The University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic. This semester abroad I have traveled to 15 different countries, made some great new friends, and learned more skills and life lessons in 4 months than I ever imagined. Studying in Prague is rewarding and extremely challenging. Going to the local market and trying to buy groceries for my apartment proved to be one of my hardest tasks. Only about 1/5th of Czech people speak English and although I am taking language courses it can take 5-10 years to learn the Czech language. Every day is a new adventure in Prague. The people in Prague are full of surprises and still learning how to live without communist government. Many of the local students I have met still remember what it was like during the era when soviets forces controlled Czech lands. Learning about their lives and their parents helped me better understand the people of the Czech Republic. Even today most Czech people don’t smile in public and struggle to adapt to a democratic system. A typical week for me in Prague is usually very busy. The week starts with classes and a tram ride to the nearest Grocery store to buy some food for the week. Usually after my classes end on Tuesday and Wednesday I will go out and explore different areas of Prague. Prague seems like a fairytale land filled with medieval buildings all untouched by WWI and WWII. Most evenings my friends and I will get together to do something. Whether that is having a potluck, going to an AC Sparta soccer game, or taking paddle boats out on the Vltava river there never seems to be a lack of things to do during the week. For me the weekends meant travel time. On Thursday night I would pack for my next weekend trip. After traveling across Europe on trains, planes, and busses I have decided train travel is my favorite. My friends and I would all load up into a coach car close the door and be whisked away like we were off to Hogwarts for the weekend. Traveling for me was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to study abroad: I wanted to see as much of Europe as I could in my 4 months. I loved everywhere I traveled and all the experiences from climbing mountains to visiting some of the most famous cities in the world. Traveling on the weekends was exhausting, long travel days, sleeping in hostels, and walking up at least 10miles a day was the normal schedule during a weekend of travel. My goals: leave each city with no regrets, spend money of experiences not comfort, and most importantly see and try everything that city has to offer. As Sunday rolled around it was time to gather my things from the hostel and head back home to Prague. Everyone referred to Prague as “home” or “our city” so every weekend when I traveled as was just as excited to return home as I was to leave because I knew I had another week of brand new experiences ahead of me. The experiences I have had abroad are once in a lifetime opportunities and I truly feel studying abroad has been the best decision I have mad in my life. Even though it is sad to leave Europe, studying abroad has rekindled my passion for Indiana State, my academics, career path, and my involvement on campus and in the Networks program. Upon my return I hope to use the skills I have gained studying abroad to be the best Sycamore possible.
What would you improve about this program?
The building I stayed in was great but there was what seemed like never-ending construction. Be careful not to place students in buildings under construction.
