WorldStrides Reviews

Lived in Coogee (highly reccomend!) And spent February - May 2008 at UNSW. Amazing expereince, the program was very supportive and I receomend dong the extra trips and breaks and it was great to meet other people throught the program, friends I still have for life!

I have been privileged enough to travel to many places in the world, but Gold Coast Australia was hands down the greatest experience I have ever had traveling. I attended Bond University where I studied Exercise Science, Nutrition and Philosophy of Buddhism. The classes were on a smaller level, which created an awesome learning environment. They were challenging, but extremely manageable considering the amount of traveling I did while I was living there. I was able to travel to the Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia, New Zealand, Fiji and Sydney while I was there. TEAN took a huge part in making all of this possible. From the moment I signed up, all the way through my time abroad to the moment I safely arrived home, TEAN took care of me better than I could have ever imagined. I recommend TEAN to anyone looking to go abroad because one it makes the process of transferring to another school easier than I could have imagined and two it offers so much more than any competitor company does. I was friends with students from all different companies in Australia and even they would agree that TEAN was the best choice. I would go back through TEAN to any of their abroad programs in a heart beat.

I learned that I can survive on my own and that my future activities are not just in America, they are anywhere in the world I want to go. I learned so much about myself, a foreign culture, and even my own culture. I learned to appreciate life. Best experience of my life- thus far!

Most of my favorite memories were in New Zealand, and it was all thanks to TEAN. TEAN’s Orientation gave me a great first impression of TEAN. Fiji gave me a firsthand experience of life in the Pacific Islands. The cultural activities (e.g. kava ceremony) exposed me more to the indigenous culture, and I took in the beauty of the island by walking along the beach and hiking to a nearby village.

I was extremely happy with my living arrangements. My preferences were handled excellently by matching me with the perfect roommates, and my neighbors were friendly. One of my roommates fit my personality so much that we became long-lost friends, and I made mutual friends through my other two roommates. Housing was close to campus and near a grocery store, and the RAs and Kiwi mates were also available when we needed them, especially during earthquakes! Housing was one of the best parts of my time in New Zealand.

The TEAN-organized activities during my time in New Zealand made my experience an unforgettable one. Free front-row seat tickets to the All Blacks game and extravagant dinners made me love TEAN even more. Those activities gave me an artistic feel about New Zealand in general. I experienced the lifestyle of a New Zealander and observed the various elements (e.g. All Blacks haka dance) that made New Zealand a country that is one-of-a-kind.

The TEAN staff abroad made me feel right at home. They were always available and gave prompt responses in all situations. Additionally, they did follow-ups throughout the semester and gave group invites to popular spots in the area. They gave advice on how to make a memorable experience by recommending hot spots or popular events, such as the weekly cultural night markets in Wellington. I personally had fun and exciting times with some of the TEAN staff, and we even became lifelong friends. We hung out on several occasions, and our moments are some of the best highlights of my experience with TEAN in general!

My time at University of Limerick was extremely positive. Faculty, staff and students were helpful and courteous. The academics were challenging and independent but very insightful and intriguing. My professors really cared about me as an international student which was helpful when completing my assignments. The beauty and size of the campus makes it ideal to get out and explore. Located right on campus there are plenty of places to eat and three pubs. There are grocery stores and shopping areas all around the campus. The bus systems runs right through campus so everything is at a simple convenience. Living acommodations will vary but I chose to have an ensuite bedroom. Being at UL gave me the true Irish feel and put me in an ideal location to travel all around Ireland. I absolutely loved my time here, as I feel other students will too.

Chiang Mai is the cultural capital of Thailand, which makes it an incredible place to study abroad. When I was looking to go abroad for a second time I wanted something a little different and the program created by the Education Abroad Network exceeded my expectations. I loved living with a local student and really enjoyed working with the faculty and resident directors. The city is great because it provides a mix of nature and urban comforts. Chiang Mai is a stunningly beautiful place to live and has so many opportunities to explore. The orientation week allowed us to see the city from a unique prospective- from playing with elephants, meeting with NGOs, getting Thai massages to finding the best local restaurants and learning a little bit of essential Thai. Taking the local language while abroad is a huge asset, making it easier to get around the city and feel comfortable being independent. The village homestay was a great taste and immersion into local, traditional culture. The courses were inspiring and relevant. Learning about Southeast Asia when it's right outside the door to explore is really an incredible experience. I was abroad in the Fall and we were giving 2 full weeks of break which was ample time to travel around and experience other parts of Thailand and adjacent countries. I also had the opportunity to volunteer while I was in Chiang Mai and couldn't have enjoyed my experience more. I spent time teaching English at an elementary school and working with mentally and physically disabled artists at the Healing Family Foundation. Overall, I don't think I could have picked a better study abroad program for me!

The education abroad network (team) was the best decision I did to go to Auckland. I knew exactly where I was going, but how and through which program was still in contemplation. Finding TEAN at my study abroad fair was simply fate and so happy with my decision to apply with TEAN. With TEAN I was more than satisfied with everything it had to offer. From the people I met, the helpful staff, and the pre-excursion trip to Fiji was just the few things I loved about going through TEAN.

Every day in Melbourne was different, diverse and yes, delicious.

You may have heard that Melbourne is the "Most Livable City in the World" or the "Food and Drink Capital of Australia," but I can tell you after living here for six months, is that Melbourne is a melting pot of all things awesome, controversial, and energetic.

Although I was a study abroad student taking a full course load of four classes, I always found time in between my classes and waitress job to do some solo exploration around the nearby suburbs, buy that delicious $2 borek from Queen Vic's market, or go out for a night of fun in the clubs with my European friends from RMIT University. As an independent soul, I like to say that Melbourne seemed to find me with its creative atmosphere full of gritty street art, never-ending mazes of alleyway (and super cool hidden bars), and independent, sustainable cafes and cozy restaurants. The city is always filled with goings-on and even after five months of living there, I still never fully explored Melbourne city, whether that be the CBD, Fitzroy, or St. Kilda, just to name a few! You will never be bored in Melbourne, especially since everything is within walking distance or a tram's ride away.

The enriching atmosphere provides for all sorts of individuals from the theater lovers to dessert connoisseurs and the athletics fanatics! Like I said before, you will never be bored, and as a result, you might find yourself learning new things whenever you walk around. I can proudly say that I ran my first half marathon into the MCG, feasted on a three-course Moroccan meal, felt classy while wine tasting in the Yarra Valley, volunteered on one of the sunniest days in a North Melbourne event, and watched a play in ACMI that used a bloody cow as a prop, all in Melbourne.

Never did I expect to go through all of these wonderful and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but now I am back in the States thankful, renewed, and even more thrilled about the future and what it holds.

Words cannot begin to describe my experience, but I'll try...
I came into going abroad not really knowing what I was looking for out of the experience. I was stuck in a rut in life, stuck in my routine, and knew I needed to get out of it. I left having gotten more out of it than I ever could have imagined.
First, New Zealand itself was a dream come true. Everywhere I turned, I saw incredible landscapes, and it felt like the sky itself was the image on a Windows computer. I spent my weeks in class, but because I had no job or other obligations, I had a lot of free time. I'm someone who has NO free time at home, so this was a weird change for me. But it was really what I needed to enjoy NZ to the fullest. I got to travel so many places and meet so many people! I met Kiwis in classes and in the tramping club, and made friends I know I'll have for a while despite the distance.
New Zealand itself would have been perfect any way, but TEAN really was the icing on the cake. From the beginning, they were so helpful with paperwork and processing and getting everything sorted, and I didn't feel too stressed because of their help. They took us to Fiji and Aukland, so by the time the semester started, I had traveled more than most of the internationals. Throughout the semester, we had a few get-togethers, we all went and saw a Rugby game, and had a final dinner. They treated us like adults rather than just college students. I couldn't have been happier. I highly recommend TEAN in whatever country you decide to go to (though I'm biased and think New Zealand is the best).
I came back having such an appreciate for life that I've never had before. I was a driven student prior to studying abroad, and had an impressive resume. But now that I'm back, I value the simple things more. I have the travel bug, and my desire to see new cultures and travel the world has gone from a small "that would be cool" to a "you HAVE to do this."
Adventure is out there. No matter where you go, you will have such a life-changing experience

My typical day in the Gold Coast of Australia was waking up looking out my balcony window, and seeing beautiful mountains off into the distance. Since it only rained 7 times while I was there (yes I counted) it was perfect weather. With that being said think about a minute walk to a beautiful beach to relax before/after or your day off from school. The grocery store was only a 3 minute walk down the street that had everything you needed. I attended Griffith University in the Gold Coast, and had class 3 days a week. I had Tuesdays & Fridays off. Getting around in Broadbeach was easy the bus system was very easy to get on and find your way. The bus drivers were very nice letting you know if you were on the right bus. Aussie loved talking to you about anything they thought our accents were really hard to understand.