WorldStrides Reviews

My internship in the media and communications department at AgForce Queensland couldn’t have been any better. It’s hard to land a good internship here in America, and I fully believe my internship could compete with some of those good internships here. The first week I was there I was doing telephone interviews and writing articles for Envoy – the member magazine produced at AgForce. Not only was my trip to Australia a great professional experience, but a wonderful personal growth experience for myself. One big difference in Australia and America is the way of thinking. In America, we live to work. Meaning, everything we do revolves around work. In Australia, they work to live. Meaning, as soon as they leave work they try not to think about it until they arrive back at work. For American’s, it’s very hard to flip the work switch off. We also aren’t afforded the opportunities like they are. Typically, American’s get a two-week vacation time off from work. Australia gets a three-week vacation time off. They’re also a much more laid back society.

One of the worst programs I have ever been through. I'm not sure what is worse: the lack of communication and willingness to help you in necessary situations, or their horrible fake persona. They are scammers. They care more about the money in this situation than helping you out in a foreign country. Say they offer you advice, but never make you feel at home. Not recommended. Half of the staff are cold individuals who don't seem to care about your well being and overall happiness.

I studied abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand with TEAN this past spring 2013 semester and had an incredible time. The classes were enriching, the TEAN led trips were awesome, and the staff was very responsive. I loved living in Chiang Mai, Thailand with a Thai roommate. Thailand is a very special country and TEAN did a great job administering the semester.

I believe it is an opportunity to mix traveling and studying and turn them into a much more rewarding experience. My study abroad experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I got to study in one of the top 3 Universities in China, learned about the SouthEast Asian cultures, politics and economic structures, traveled, and lived in the best street to live in near the university.

If anyone is considering study abroad choosing the program is one of the most important decisions to take. The program you apply for can make the difference between a good experience and a great one. Having studied abroad with another program before and from what I learned from other students in other programs in China, I can say that not all the programs focus as much as TEAN does in very important details like housing, orientation, and just making sure that everything you need is easy to obtain. For example, some other international students would fight about who would get a shower first because the roommate who showered first would be the only one getting hot water, this never happened in my room. However, the most important aspect that differentiates TEAN with other programs is the very open communication with of the residents assistant and the program manager since you start applying until the end of the program. They show that they really care and do everything they can to solve any issues.

Studying in China is an amazing opportunity, just do it!

I completed the Thai Dance class offered during the semester. The class, which was 3 hours/day for 3 weeks, involved learning dances representative of different regions of Thailand with the class culminating in one final performance (in full makeup and costumes!). It was a fantastic learning experience and a great way to travel, immerse myself in another country/culture, + complete my visual/performing arts requirement for my college. I stayed in the Uniloft Dorms near Chiang Mai University which were modern and in close proximity to everything (food carts, stores, the university, etc.) I loved Chiang Mai so much, I wish I could have stayed longer! Additionally,TEAN always provided excellent support/communication as well. I would highly recommend the program!

My ISA-ELAP experiences were great. Each day, I went into work and enjoyed learning what went on in the employees daily lives. It was great to interact with them through my language skills and talk to them about how it differs in America. Overall it was a great experience.

I was fortunate enough to spend my spring semester in Dunedin with several other students from the Education Abroad Network. I felt at home in Dunedin by the end of my 4 months there, and really came to love the entire country of New Zealand. I was happy with my decision to live on the South Island because there is so much to see there, and most sights are pretty accessible by bus or car. TEAN did a great job at introducing us to New Zealand and everything it has to offer, and was supportive throughout the application process and any help that we needed throughout the semester.

I lived with a family in Cusco for 4 weeks during my internship at an orphanage for girls. Throughout my time in Peru I was able to practice Spanish on a daily basis with my host family, staff and children at the orphanage, and local Peruvians. Prior to the internship, I tried to keep my mind open as to what that would be like. Although I loved spending time with the girls, the roles and responsibilities were a little unclear, the orphanage lacked resources, staff didn't communicate well with each other and the coordinator of that home was on vacation for almost the entirety of my internship. These were daily challenges that forced me to be patient, flexible, and maintain a positive attitude so that I could make the most of the experience. I enjoyed learning how to use different forms of public transportation (taxis, combis, etc.) and trying a variety of traditional dishes. One of the best parts of the experience was being able to explore not only the culture and history of Cusco, but also other places in Peru such as Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. My host family was helpful and supportive of my needs. The on-site staff, although disorganized and sometimes unprofessional, helped me to solve different problems that arose. The off-site staff are excellent resources for preparing you for the abroad experience, throughout the internship, and after. This was an unforgettable opportunity to meet people from all over the world, visit World Wonders, try new food, give back to people in need, and grow as a person.

I participated in ELAP in San José, Costa Rica, and I had an amazing experience.

1. My Spanish language skills drastically improved during my time at my internship, simply interacting with people.

2. I used what I was learning to gain internship credit at my university, which looks great on my transcript.

3. I got to put the internship experience on my CV [résumé], too, which looks really impressive.

4. My experience at my internship became integral to the topic and research matter of my undergraduate thesis.

5. The ISA-ELAP staff in Costa Rica are unbelievably great. They are encouraging, supportive, compassionate, helpful... the list goes on.

I loved my experience as an ELAP volunteer in Cusco, Peru. I worked with young adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 17 at a local refuge and taught them a health lesson every other week. The best and most valuable thing about ELAP is that it allows students to see a culture for what it really is, rather than just a group of Americans taking classes together in a foreign country. ELAP forced me to use Spanish on a daily basis, communicate with different members of the community and challenged my comfort level. I had an overall amazing experience and would be more than willing to recommend it to someone in the future.

The staff is wonderful, but not the most organized. But I think this is something that one must learn as part of Peruvian culture. Yes, organizations and businesses may be unorganized to an extent but that doesn't mean that they excel in other areas. I think you will notice that they devote time to other parts of customer service.