Valencia was an amazing city to study abroad in. It truly is so easy to navigate, and you have the chance to immerse yourself in a culture immediately. There are always random festivals to go check out, and there are many international students. There are many opportunities where you can practice your Spanish with people at coffee shops or even meet people from different countries! A great city overall! Additionally, the airport is convenient to get to when going on those international trips! :)
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I was a part of was celebrating Las Fallas. This is a 20 day festival only in Valencia! It is celebrated with fireworks, fireworks, churros, and buñuelos!
I had a wonderful time studying abroad in Singapore. It was my first time out of the country and I knew I would be doing it alone so I wanted to go somewhere for a short amount of time and was safe for travellers. Luckily Summer in Singapore 2024 was available and I would love to go back one day. It's a diverse country with many foreigners coming and going. There were many cultures to be immersed in beyond Singaporean culture. I met some amazing people and I am very grateful for this opportunity.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Navigating public transportation as an American who is used to driving herself everywhere was a bit of a challenge. Google was helpful during my time abroad and now I wish there was more public transportation where I live. It would make life easier and not so expensive.
My semester in Gold Coast, Australia was about one of the coolest things I have ever done! I got to travel all throughout Australia and to parts of Asia and New Zealand. I saw so many iconic sites, animals, and pretty places while I was there. The scenery is genuinely so breathtaking. I met so many amazing people from all different backgrounds, and made life long friendships while I was there. If you are looking to go abroad, definitely consider going with TEAN as they are a great program to go through! They are so supportive, and help you every step of the way. Overall, I cannot recommend going abroad enough!
Pros
The beaches and the weather
Meeting new people
Experiencing exciting new adventures
Cons
There aren't many trains or buses as ways to travel, so the only way to really travel is by plane.
I was so incredibly nervous to try something new, and studying in a foreign country is about as "new" as you can get. I worked so hard to be able to enjoy my time in Madrid, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I got to travel to a different country or city in Spain every weekend because of my class schedule. My classes weren't incredibly stressful and the professors were lovely. It was so interesting to be taught by a person from outside of the US and to learn outside perspectives as well. I had a lovely apartment in the center of Madrid. I had 10 roommates, some from America, some from Spain, and even from Puerto Rico, but they were all students and it was so much fun living with other young people from different places. The food was remarkable and I would honestly chop off my right arm in order to have some again right now. The support I got from ISA was unbelievable. I had to go to the hospital once for a general problem/sickness and ask for the address from ISA, but Carlos from the ISA Madrid office followed up with me for a few days following my visit and truly cared about how I was doing. It made my experience that much more wonderful and made me feel so much more safe than I already had. I have made lifelong friends and memories that I will never forget. ISA is the program you should go with if you are deciding between two different programs, they'll take care of you.
If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
One thing I would change was to get out of my shell sooner. I kinda stuck close to my American roommates during the first month and a half of the program, which is understandable, but I got to know my Spanish roommates so much more in the end, and I just wish I had made more time to get to know them.
Pros
Incredible support system
Super cool, all-inclusive day and multiple-day trips
Clear descriptions and explanations in both English and Spanish, with no judgement with what level of Spanish you are studying at
Honestly an amazing experience that I can probably say was one of the best eras of my life so far. I got to go to a country I was interested in, meet incredible people that I will probably keep in touch with for a long time, do countless activities all of that while I took classes that were key to my college graduation. I was a little worried about having to figure it all out myself, but I was honestly incredibly thankful to the staff on and off site who were all so nice and helpful. The activities offered are also really great, it really helped to be guided for the first couple of days in a country so far from home where it is easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to do and explore.
Korea was very welcoming, even when people do not speak English, and if you don't speak Korea, most of the time they try to help as best as they can.
There is also so much to do that is easily accessible; pop up stores in Seongsu, idol birthday cafes in Hongdae, hiking up countless mountains, exploring palaces and older traditional neighborhoods... I feel like there are options for a wide range of people and interests.
What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most surprising things I saw was the incredible number of photobooths available absolutely everywhere. There are just so many, often there are multiple ones on the same street. They also have such a wide range of different styles and themes, some very cool ones with high angles, or low angles where the camera is under the floor. Some themes were actually really surprising. I went to a wide variety, I tried ones replicating elevators, subways and even toilets! I found them very fun and now I have countless photos with my friends, and because they are so cheap, we went very often. Anytime we wanted to remember a specific moment or memory, we would go to a photobooth and make fun poses related to that moment. They also tend to have special events and themes when kpop artists have comebacks!
Pros
Everything is very affordable! Like food, transportation and activities
Public transportation is very reliable (only downside is that it stops at night)
Felt so safe
Cons
Very long flight of you fly from places like Europe or the United States, pick a comfortable seat if you can!
You will probably spend all of your money (like I did) because there are so many interesting tings to do
Studying abroad with ISA was the best thing I ever did for myself! I had so much fun and got to meet so many amazing people, all while furthering my education. My classes were interesting and developmental, but still allowed me plenty of time to explore the city and travel to many other countries. The ISA staff was so helpful whenever I needed answers to questions or simply just support in stressful times. I miss my program directors already! Doing this program helped me to grow so much as a person through so many new experiences. Cultural immersion is an invaluable form of education that can’t quite be replicated in a classroom. I wish I could study abroad over and over again!
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers is to not be afraid to do things by yourself. You’ll be in such a cool, big, new city with so much to do and if there’s something you’re interested in and no one else wants to do it, do it anyway! It’s never worth missing out on an amazing experience just because you have no one to go with you. Some of my absolute favorite memories were alone and it’s a beautiful thing to be comfortable spending time alone. Some of my very favorite people I met were other solo travelers I met while on solo trips. Doing things alone can help you grow so much in your sense of self and allows you the freedom to not miss out on new experiences.
The program's staff was very supportive before and throughout my entire study abroad trip. When applying for the program, I would send an email and they would respond right away on any questions regarding the application process. While in Korea, the staff was very friendly and willing to help me out when I had any questions or needed their assistance, they consistently made themselves available and supported me throughout my study abroad experience. They organized many activities and it was evident that every staff member was genuinely eager about connecting and engaging with the students.
Studying abroad even for only 3 weeks with ISA was such a good experience. I was able to see so many sights in Barcelona and meet some amazing people. The program offered a trip to Valencia and Peñíscola that was included in the price of the program which was an unexpected surprise. I ate the most delicious food and had the best time on my trip to Barcelona with ISA. I was even able to use my study abroad experience to kickstart my travels throughout Europe once my program was over. This program and my time in Barcelona changed my life, I can't wait to go back and visit again.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of every single moment you have because once you come home, you'll be wishing you were back in Barcelona
My 2 week study abroad experience in Salamanca, Spain
Sep 5, 2024
Before I studied abroad, I didn’t really understand why everyone who had before loved it so much. My 2 week program took place in Salamanca, Spain and I stayed with a home stay. I absolutely loved the city; it was safe, beautiful, clean, full of history, and overall incredible. The ISA staff on site was so incredibly helpful with everything, and my host abuela was so welcoming and loving. I had not a single complaint throughout the whole program. Now I really understand why students love studying abroad!
Studying in Sydney at USYD was the best decision I could've made. Australia is one of those regions where you need a good amount of time rather than a 2-week vacation where you can plan a mid-semester break to New Zealand or a weekend trip down in Tasmania. We were placed in a great and safe part of the city which is at the outskirts of the CBD, but also near a shopping centre and 10-minute walk to campus. It is such a vibrant, multicultural, and touristy city that you'll never run out of things to do. While the courses at the insanely beautiful University of Sydney's campus are pretty vigorous, the professors, TAs, and students are kind enough to help and many resources are there to help.
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
During our program's orientation in Cairns, I had the opportunity to try a tasting platter with 4 native Aussie animals such as kangaroo, crocodile, emu, and smoked salmon. Surprisingly, the emu was the most delicious to me, followed by the salmon, kangaroo (which doesn't have a particular or funny taste), and crocodile, which wasn't my favorite since it was too smokey and rubbery tasting.
Pros
Resourceful and caring staff both in person while on the program and online.
Sydney is an extremely safe city with impressive public transportation.
There is a mix of city, nature, and beaches.
Cons
The front desk staff at our student housing wasn't the greatest or useful.
Courses at the University of Sydney are doable, but hard and set at higher expectations.
It is a bit hard to explore outside of Sydney if flying isn't an option and trains don't run in that path.
