WorldStrides Reviews

To describe my experience in Granada, Spain through ISA, I would need a year. Or two. In reality, January 22nd – May 23rd were the best months of my life and I would not trade it for the world. Before coming to Spain, I tried to not have any expectations because I wanted to have an open mind about everything. And that is exactly what I did. Stepping off the bus in Granada was the best feeling ever. I was not aware of all the friends I was going to make, the trips I was going to take, and the experiences I was going to have. When I reflect on everything that has happened, I smile.

The things about Granada that were most valuable to me were my host family, the trips I took, the memories I made, and the ISA staff. I cannot describe the love I had for my family. They truly are a second family. My host dad asked me to help him download Skype for his phone so we could communicate after I left Spain (and we still text every single day). How thankful I am to have lived with these wonderful people. Besides my family, I am so blessed to have traveled to Italy, Ireland, France, and Portugal. I had never traveled outside of the United States and now I can proudly say that I have been to five other countries. These trips have been some of the best memories of my life.

Each day in Granada was unique. Whether I was walking to school, eating gelato at Los Italianos with friends, shopping in the Albayzin, or tanning at Garcia Lorca park, I made the most out of my time in Spain. Even though I am thinking about returning to Spain to teach, I don’t know the next time I will be around that many Spanish people. One Spanish woman who was very special to me is my "intercambio" Virginia who I have already blogged about. I met with Virginia every Monday for three hours and spoke Spanish to her while she spoke English to me. These three hours a week significantly improved my Spanish. Virginia is one of the sweetest and smartest women I know and I am so glad I met her.

Of course, there were hard days here too where I missed my family and friends, but that's where the ISA support and staff felt like home. I would choose to study abroad with ISA countless times because of the extremely friendly and helpful staff that is available 24/7.

I will never feel like I am home again because part of my heart will always be in Granada. That is the price I pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.

The DR is one of the chillest, most relaxing places in the world, and Santo Domingo is no exception. My four months there were the best of my life. I loved my homestay situation! My host mom was great. She was a great cook, and a majority of the other students in my group were either in the same apartment complex as me, or within a block of me. We were also very close to the colonial city, which is the place in Santo Domingo to go for entertainment. The university was good. Classes were pretty easy, and there are a lot of students who speak English, so if your Spanish isn't great, don't be turned away! There were a few students in my group who knew no Spanish going in, and by the end they could understand conversations just about as well as me, and I completed my minor in Spanish while I was there. I'm just gonna let you know about a few of the things that surprised me or that I didn't see coming. One is that Santo Domingo is a really populous city, but it's not a big city. Like, there aren't big buildings with bright lights and all that jazz, but it's still a great place with a ton to do. Also, even though SD is right on the coast, the nearest swimable beach is still about an hr guagua ride away, which is only like 2 bucks. My group and I ended up going every other weekend. The beaches are beautiful. My walk to campus was about 20-25 minutes, but keep in mind the temps will be around 90 and the humidity is always high. Also, be prepared for street harassment if you're a woman. Catcalling, whistling, and staring at women is all very normal in the DR, especially if you're alone or with other girls. You'll get used to it though. It's only dangerous if you're alone at night. How are you with mosquitoes? All the girls in my group were constantly being eaten alive. I don't think I was bit the whole time I was there, though. I hope this helps! Let me know about any questions that maybe I didn't answer for you!

The program was great as it provided a large degree of structure (on-site staff, planned trips, housing etc.) while still allowing us to really make it our own. For example, I knew that I wanted to really get involved with life at Westminster (my host university) so I was able to join a society (club). This provided me with a group of genuine friends who I still keep in touch with today (nearly two years later). Having the opportunity to interact with British Students outside the classroom was great as I was able to get a real sense of Britain and the island's culture. The program with ISA is absolutely top notch and I am so thankful to have been able to study abroad. Time abroad has shaped my career aspirations and has given me the "travel bug" I cannot wait to return to Europe and the UK!

Australia was a wonderful experience. I expected to go to Australia to see beautiful places of the world, not to learn so much about myself... And I did. It's an adventure you have to go on. Why did I pick Australia? I mean, everyone goes to Europe to study abroad, right? Well- I figure I will get to Europe sometime in my life... But to spend time on the beach, to have the opportunity to go to the Great Ocean Road, the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, tropical rain forests with unique and beautiful creatures, cuddle a koala and lounge around with kangaroos, to have the chance to visit other diverse countries like Fiji, New Zealand, Thailand, Bali.... I would regret my decision every day if I hadn't done it. It took so much courage to get through bouts of homesickness, but it sure wasn't hard if I went to any of those beautiful places I listed and realized how unique of a place I was in. I loved going in the Fall because the weather just got warmer every single day, which made it nice to go to the pool or walk by the lake after class every day. TEAN made this experience as wonderful as it was and I can only hope that future students see what a wonderful program they would be entering in.

Saying I found my study abroad experience to be very rewarding and valuable would be an understatement. Studying abroad and having the opportunity to live and learn in a new country was an experience that I will never forget; I made friends and memories that I will cherish for the remainder of my life and enjoyed traveling meeting new people, and embracing the adventure that each day brought. Academically, Bond Uni required a great deal of school effort which was initially challenging but the classes I enrolled in there were some of the most rewarding of my life. Classes were definitely not "a walk in the park" as often expressed by study abroad students. On a side note, it is quite difficult to focus on class when your backyard contains beautiful, endless beaches and sunny weather! My classes brought new perspectives and insight and I believe enhanced what I learned and studied at my home university. I chose The Education Abroad Network, commonly known as TEAN, program for their outstanding reputation that they hold and their connection with Bond University. Choosing TEAN as a program was one of the best choices I have ever made and I have the utmost gratitude for my study abroad experience and have nothing but fond words to say about my experience in Australia and with TEAN; I believe that their services and expertise in all areas are unparalleled. The company is very organized, always accessible, and, what I found to be the most valuable, is the sincere interest they take in their students. They created trips throughout the semester, had the best living accommodation options, a week orientation, and free coffee "breaks" and cultural events that never felt boring or like they cut corners. Everything they did was of value and of high quality. The TEAN staff did a wonderful job preparing us students culturally, academically, socially etc. about what were to expect in Australia in a fun and efficient manner especially during orientation and the pre semester trip to Fiji. I believe every company should adapt their approach of finding a great balance between business and fun. By studying abroad, I believe I have received a holistic education with a diverse range of approaches, settings, and dynamics. Throughout my experience I am confident that studying abroad in Australia has allowed me to grow both academically and personally. I am forever grateful for the experience I have had and I have TEAN to thank.

The Education Abroad Network was immensely thoughtful in the way everything was organized from the time I applied to the program to this day. Choosing Newcastle as my location was a great decision. It was more affordable than living in some of the bigger cities, allowed me to befriend locals, and it was conveniently located near the city, the beach, and campus. My favorite three pieces to my time abroad were the pre-semester trips (orientation in Sydney and the pre-semester excursion in Cairns), the Uni soccer team that I joined, and living with Australians which provided me with a cultural experience I feel some of my friends that studied elsewhere did not have the opportunity to meet as many locals on a personal level.

Studying abroad in Australia with The Education Abroad Network was the best decision I have made to date. I fell in love with country and I learned so much. I learned about myself, the Australian culture, and academically in the classroom. A lot of the experiences I had and learning opportunities abroad I owe to TEAN. TEAN organized many trips and events and allowed me to explore the Australian culture in ways I would have never done on my own. One of my favorite memories abroad was the pre-semester trip to the Great Barrier Reef that TEAN organized. TEAN really made sure I got the most out of my short time abroad and really enhanced my experience. While talking to other students abroad who went though other programs, I learned TEAN was the best. Going through TEAN, you are truly spoiled and getting the best experience possible. I am so happy with my decision to go abroad to Australia and wouldn't change a thing, looking back. I am forever grateful to TEAN and recommend this program to all!

Studying abroad at Bond University through TEAN was an experience that nothing else can compare to. Before the semester even began, TEAN provided the opportunity for us to go on a pre-excursion to Fiji. Going to Fiji was such a unique experience that I would have never had to chance to go to had it not been for TEAN. Also, TEAN planned so many fun activities for our orientation in Sydney like climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge and going on a night cruise in the harbor. Bond University has such a beautiful campus that is a quick bus ride away from the beach. I spent four months laying out on the beach, eating great food, and learning a new and amazing culture!

Kiwis are pretty quiet, so you have to go out of your way to make friends with them. There's a big drinking/party culture, so if you're into that it's an option. I preferred to get outside and go tramping (hiking) and adventuring, so I joined my local church's tramping club. It's pretty easy to travel around New Zealand, but it can be expensive. Bookme.co.nz is a great option to get discounts on adventures like hang-gliding, kayaking, and ziplining. I would definitely recommend bringing lots of outdoor gear, since tramping is the best way to get to know people and see New Zealand's beautiful landscapes at the same time.

Choosing TEAN as my program provider for my semester abroad was the best decision I made. From the start of my application process through the end of my semester, I received help with everything I needed.

Academics: Due to my major, I took a lot of businesses classes and one beginner Chinese class to help me immerse myself within the culture. I had classes with many students from across the globe! The classes weren't too hard or too easy. You should be fine as long as you study and take notes.

Housing: I lived in an off-campus apartment five minutes away from Fudan. I found the location perfect because It was close enough to school and still in the center of the social scene. There were many restaurants and bars on the streets I lived on and a metro stop nearby if I wanted to go to other parts of the city.

Staff: The on-site resident director helped us with everything we needed. Responded to our questions in less than 24 hours! You don't realize how beneficial this is until you need help.

Social: There is ALWAYS something to do in Shanghai! You'd have to try really hard to be bored. Smart Shanghai is a great website resource to find things to do!