WorldStrides Reviews

As a returning student and traveler to Shanghai, China I can only reflect back on so many highlights of my trip. From traveling to attractions such as the great wall to just exploring the community where a resided in the Yangpu district. It was eye opening to see so many different features of life in person such as the architecture, culture, geography and lifestyle. At first I was a bit apprehensive about how my experience would unfold because of the my uncertainty. I asked myself if the cultural adjustment would be to great, notably things like the language and customs. Then after awhile, I grew more comfortable and confident being out on my own because I started to become really familiar with my surroundings and I could fulfill the day to day agendas I planned.

Fudan, was a great university to attend especially because it was very laid-back, but also very intense. Being a international I feel like one worry we share going into a traveling experience is the depth of the education we'll receive abroad. Fudan provided a huge amount of resources but it was interesting to explore a whole school database written in another language.

I can't stress enough how much TEAN has contributed to my experience with the inclusions and 360 degree support from start to finish. Highly recommend choosing to travel with them.

People tell you that going abroad was the best decision that they have ever made. Going abroad WAS the best decision I have ever made. Every single day for four months, was the next best day of my life. The locals are incredibly friendly, and eagerly welcome you into your new home, The lifestyle is amazing, and the university will absolutely blow your mind away. You will never want to leave.

One of my favorite days during my time abroad was when I explored the Gold Coast for the first time. I hopped on the city bus (public transportation is SO easy and convenient) and rode down to Currumbin beach. I spent the day talking to local Aussies in different beachside stores and cafes, laid on the beach and watched local surfers, and then I stopped at Burleigh Heads on the way home. I hiked up to the top of a cliff and watched the sunset over the Gold Coast skyline. This was such a simple day, yet so memorable. And the thing is, this ended up being a daily occurrence during my time abroad. I went to classes, I went downtown, I hung out by the pool at my apartment building, I socialized with new people, but everything about being abroad in the Gold Coast was simple and easy.

TEAN was absolutely wonderful throughout the entire process, from beginning to end, and made me feel excited and comfortable to be going on this amazing journey. Everyone in Australia is extremely laid back and it really opened my eyes about American culture and how rushed and fast-paced we always are. The cultural immersion I experienced while living in the Gold Coast was priceless and I cannot wait to go back someday.

Study abroad in Newcastle, Australia was the best decision of my life! From the food, to the people, to my classes, to the beaches-- there isn't a single complaint I have about my time abroad.

I loved attending the University of Newcastle! The classes were interesting and challenging, but not at all overwhelming, which allowed for time to explore such a beautiful part of the country. There are organizations on campus for international students, too, that allow students to meet other students and explore the country. One of these organizations brought us on a wine tour in the Hunter Valley.The region is so incredibly beautiful and I was thankful for the opportunity to do something so fun! The campus was beautiful, as well, with lots of trees and wildlife. I was able to live on campus in a dorm, with 5 other Australians, and it was a blast! I truly was able to learn about and immerse myself in Australian culture.

Going through TEAN was also the best decision I could have made. The staff are super, super supportive and helpful through the entire process, before you leave, when you're abroad, and even once you return! They made the process of studying abroad a lot less stressful and made sure that everyone had an incredible experience!

My biggest piece of advice is to just GO FOR IT! Study abroad, and go to Newy! It will be the best time of your life, I promise. I didn't believe it when people would tell me study abroad changed their life. But I can say for certain now, it absolutely changed my whole outlook on life, and it's worth it to go abroad!

I had a great time while I was in Christchurch. I learned so much while I was there. While I was there, I was able to work with other people who are passionate about the weather. The hands on experience that I gained is invaluable and beneficial.
I enjoyed the laid back nature and being able to communicate what I found to many people. I felt like I could accomplish a lot before I left, and I did.

This was an amazing experience. The staff are incredibly helpful. The professors are knowledgeable and also understand that a lot of the learning and growth during a semester abroad take place outside of the classroom. The student housing was an amazing 9th floor apartment with a stunning view of the city. I loved living there however I wish there were more home-stays available so that I could be even more immersed in Moroccan life.
Meknes is a great city to live in. It is historically and cultural significant without the tourist traps and touts that other more visited cities have.

The staff at ISA was incredible. Every program says their staff will be there for you, but will they really? About two months into my program I came down with a fever. It wasn't a big deal and my host mom took me to the doctor immediately. Three days later, ISA staff called me and asked me how I was doing, if my asthma was effected, and if I needed any further help or treatment. I didn't even tell them I was sick, and never had any asthma issues. Yet they knew, and were kind enough to reach out to me before I may have needed help instead of waiting until after I had a problem.

They checked in one more time a few days later and this showed me that they really do care for their students and are there to support them.

These four months were a BLAST! ISA does a great job at ensuring that all of the participants stay safe and have a great time. The classes were a good challenge but not too time consuming. I never felt like they were getting in the way of my study abroad experience.

I had the opportunity to do an amazing internship with Fundacion Rahab, an NGO that helps women who were the victims of sex trafficking. This is a field that I have always been extremely interested in, so getting this opportunity was pretty big for me. I did a lot of fundraising for Fundacion, in addition to working on their budget. I became pretty close with the founder, and one day after my work was done she took me along to meeting she had with the Chilean ambassador and his wife!

ISA plans a few included weekend excursions which were a little nicer than our other weekends, which were usually spent in $15/night hostels (completely our choice). The included excursions were at three or four star hotels, and were a good way to get to know other students on the program.

I would have liked more activities that helped the program immerse more in the Costa Rican culture. In retrospect, I wish I had made more local friends but wasn't quite old enough at the time to have the confidence it takes to branch out like that. Additionally, I had a pretty tough home stay situation that I wish had been fixed earlier. My roommate and I reached out to ISA about our complaints, and no serious steps were taken to address them. Finally, we were moved out our final week for a few days. The good news is I don't think they'll be using that host home anymore, and no one else seemed to have any issues with host homes.

Overall, such a fun four months. ISA definitely understands the types of students that are coming to Costa Rica for a semester abroad and does a great job catering the experience to them.

I originally signed up to do a program in Spain with one of my college friends. She backed out a few months before we were supposed to go. I thought about backing out too, but decided to just go through with it. I was nervous, to say the least. I didn't know anyone and my Spanish wasn't that great. Thanks to ISA, I had the experience of a lifetime.

The ISA program put me in positions to meet other people. I made friends that I still talk to today. They helped me review areas of Spanish that were weak so I could keep up with my classes. More importantly, they helped my build the confidence to enjoy living in another country.

One of my favorite memories while studying abroad was going to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest. I went on this excursion during my second week in Australia and I am forever grateful that it was one of my first experiences with the amazing atmosphere there. While there I stayed in a small cabin immersed by the rainforest. Walking outside in the morning along the dirt path to the beach was eye opening. A bunch of us had decided to wake up around five in the morning to watch the sunrise and see if we could sea if any of the sea turtles would come to shore. Sitting on the beach watching the sunrise was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. The way the dark orange light began to shine through on the beach was like nothing I had ever seen before. Going to the Daintree Rainforest and being able to see such beauty was one of the trips I am most thankful to have taken while in Australia. This excursion also allowed me to see the true beauty of Australia and disconnect with the outside world. I was able to just sit and take in my surroundings and appreciate how truly lucky I was to be spending a semester in Australia.