WorldStrides Reviews

I knew I wanted to study abroad in Australia but was SO overwhelmed by all of my options! The Education Abroad Network really helped me narrow down my options and plan out everything I needed before I left. They were incredibly helpful with everything from getting my visa to finding housing. Brisbane was the perfect city for me. I loved it because it was a big city with a small town feel. There was always an adventure to go on, day or night! Overall, Brisbane is a great location in relation to everywhere else in Australia. There were so many opportunities to take weekend trips to the coast or to one of the many nearby islands. Within Brisbane, I fell in love with South Bank and West End. I couldn't get over how many cool little cafes and local restaurants you would find just wandering around. Overall, I would 100% recommend studying in Brisbane through TEAN. It was the most amazing experience of my life hands down!

My time abroad in Wellington, New Zealand was incredible from beginning to end. My flat and neighborhood was a great mix of locals and other traveling students from around the world. The city of Wellington was just a stroll away and provided entertainment day and night. Victoria University was also an amazing institution to work with and also meet some new life long friends. During my time there, there were plenty opportunities to take weekend trips and even travel to other countries or islands during spring break and at the end of the semester. I was able to travel to Australia for most of my spring break and then spend the last of it in New Zealand with locals hiking one of the nearby mountains and spending the night at a lodge at the top. Other trips were spent in the south island filled with bungee jumping, ice bars, climbing glaciers and more. The Education Abroad Network made this possible for me. Their enthusiasm and support helped me get exactly where I wanted to go and allowed me to do the things I've dreamed of.

Going abroad to the Gold Coast with the TEAN program was by far the best decision of my life. I was able to meet some of the greatest people in the world while participating in once in a lifetime activities. The TEAN organization set up the most fantastic trip anyone could ever imagine and I can honestly say I wouldn't change anything about my experience. No other program provides it's students with as comprehensive an orientation, or guidance once we got to the Gold Coast. TEAN left no stone uncovered, from airport transfers to cell phones, TEAN made sure we had everything possible to allow for us to have the greatest time of our lives. That is exactly what we were able to do.

I loved Victoria University of Wellington. The school itself was always clean and easy to maneuver. The classes were varying sizes, which was great for me since I was used to variety at my home university as well. Also, although each professor did not have office hours like they do at my home university, they were all willing to make time out of their busy schedules to meet with me when I asked for a little extra help. Wellington itself was the absolute perfect city to be in as a student! It was safe, there were a lot of events that were free or cheap to attend, and there were constantly activities to do all around the area. I certainly never got bored! I left feeling like a true Kiwi, taking part in tramping trips and other exciting adventures on a daily basis.

My time spent with the Education Abroad Network in the Gold Coast was the most unforgettable time of my life. Aside from living in a fully-furnished apartment overlooking the beach, I attended the most beautiful university (Bond) in the world. The only way to describe it: like someone decided put a college where a beach resort should be.
TEAN also provided me with all of the support that I could have asked for and then some. They planned a pre-semester getaway to Fiji and an amazing orientation in Sydney. We were able to climb the Sydney Bridge, enjoy some of the finest dining, and we were put up in the Great Gatsby mansion (used to film the movie "Gatsby")- all planned and paid for by TEAN. They were also there for me in more serious situations, like when I needed to go to the hospital after I injured my hand. Without the TEAN network, I would not have been able to travel with such ease. Their network makes it incredibly easy to connect with TEAN reps/students anywhere. Before I traveled anywhere, I would contact the TEAN people in that area and ask them how to get around, where to stay, and any places I should check out.
Throughout my 4 month stay, I traveled to Fiji, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Whitsundays, Brisbane, Byron Bay, and all-throughout the Gold Coast. I had friends go to Bali, Japan, Perth, Uluru (the outback), New Zealand, Thailand, and many more. Not once, did any of us feel that we were alone. TEAN was there to support us every step of our journey.
I lived in Broadbeach, which was one of the areas in the Gold Coast. There was a plethora of beaches surrounding us, each with their own unique flavor. There was also Surfer's Paradise, where at any time of the week people were out at any of the many bars and clubs. Most importantly I never once felt unsafe in the Gold Coast.
What TEAN does better than any other program out there you cannot put a price on. It's the feeling that even though you're halfway around the world from home, you're still with family.

TEAN made the application process so easy. Taking care of flights, approving courses, and housing situations were so much easier with TEAN helping. Having the orientation in Sydney was the best way to start my semester abroad. It allowed me to meet and get to know other TEAN students who are now some of my closest friends. Once we got the Gold Coast, we had Helen to show us around and give us information about our new home. I lived in an apartment building that was a 5 minute walk to the beach, and a half hour bus ride to Griffith's campus. The Australian students are very welcoming and love talking to American kids. I made a few good friends in my classes.

We also got to do a lot of traveling. Getting to know the TEAN kids in orientation helped out because we had places to stay in other cities. It was great going to Melbourne, Sydney, or Cairns, because other students had either been there already or lived there, and could give us some good information on what to do there.

It was pretty easy to adjust to the culture there. It is very different, but at the same time there are a lot of similarities. The biggest thing was probably how laid back everyone was. It was a great change of pace.

I've always had the desire to travel to Oceania, but as my academic career wouldn't allow for taking classes abroad, I decided to apply for an internship. In my 21 years of life, I feel that this is easily one of the best decisions I have made.
GlobaLinks worked with me, and my specific interests, to find an internship that perfectly matched the experience I was looking for. As a Chemistry major, I told them I wanted to do something that involved Biomedical Research. Within two weeks, I got a call from the program coordinator, offering me a spot in a natural products lab that tested marine life for compounds that have use in medicines in Wellington, New Zealand. It was perfect!
I immediately began finalizing my plans for the trip. To be honest, the two months leading up to my departure seemed surreal.
Upon landing in New Zealand, the other interns and I were greeted by a GlobaLinks coordinator, who was in charge of us throughout the six weeks I spent in Wellington. The first few days were an orientation that introduced us to the country and its culture.
I spent four days a week in a research lab at Victoria University, and I was given the other three days to travel and explore the country.
The internship itself was everything I could have asked for and more!I was given a project with a species of algae. I extracted compounds from the material and spent the subsequent weeks separating and testing the compounds. I went into the internship with absolutely no organic chemistry knowledge, but the staff in the lab gave me a crash course in the subject and helped me every step of the way. I gained an incredible amount of experience throughout my six weeks in the lab. Most exciting, however, was my last hour in the lab; in the last set of tests I ran, I discovered two compounds that had never been seen before! The entire lab was standing around me as the result popped on to the computer screen. I watched in elation as the lab director jumped out of his chair and cheered, and my lab mom smiled and hugged me. I nearly cried from excitement (in fact, I'm tearing up now just thinking about it!).
The travels were amazing, as well. I have countless stories, way too many favorites to write about here. However, I will say, if you end up in New Zealand, travel to Taupo and do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. I went during the New Zealand winter, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. I fully plan on traveling back to New Zealand during their summer to do it again.
Overall, the six weeks I spent in Wellington could not have been better. It was easily the most amazing thing I have ever done, and I consider it the experience of a lifetime. I grew academically, I grew professionally, I gained an incredible amount of independence, and most of all, I've been able to step out of my comfort zone and have become much more social than I have ever been before. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
If you are even remotely considering an internship overseas, do it. I promise it'll become the best decision you've ever made.

TEAN is an incredible education abroad program. They helped make sure that everything was in order from start to finish. They aid in the academic application process, flight scheduling and housing accommodations. I lived in the city of Brisbane in an incredible apartment with a balcony overlooking the Brisbane River into South Bank. TEAN also provides an exhilarating five day orientation. My day to day in Brisbane was always a mystery, ranging from taking a ferry to school, hitting up the markets in South Bank, enjoying the nightlife in Fortitude Valley, or taking quick train trips to the Sunshine and Gold coasts. I can't think of a better way to study abroad!

There's so much to learn about yourself and the world living in another country. You learn how to use public transportation to get around and travel, you learn to cook and enjoy different foods, you get a new appreciation of different cultures by meeting new people and so much more. My program directors went out of their way to make sure that everyone accomplished everything they wanted to and more while abroad. I had the time of my life traveling all over Australia doing things that I will never forget like holding koalas, skydiving, scuba diving, kissing kangaroos, hiking, surfing and of course enjoying the nightlife. I definitely want to go back one day soon!

While abroad with Globalinks, I interned at a petroleum company. Not only did a learn about chemical engineering in the workplace, but I also had tons of fun vacationing and seeing Chile. I even went to see Brazil, but thats another story! The other interns and I would do things together, such as a weekend trip to the Atacama Desert or skiing for a day. We went to Patagonia for a week all together and it was a lot of fun!

I really enjoyed having Globalinks help me because I always knew I had support should something go wrong. Luckily nothing went wrong and my internship was great. I had great fun with my coworkers and we even had a big going-away party for me.

I would definitely go abroad with Globalinks again!