Program Reviews

Last summer, I traveled on an 11-hour flight to Amman, Jordan. After being accepted for a full scholarship to the Jordan program, I knew that my summer would be full of self-discovery. I am forever changed because of my experience with this program. I felt a different way about every part of my family; my host mother felt like my best friend, my host father gave me a sense of security, my host brother gave me happiness and comfort, and as a whole, including my host grandparents and aunts/uncles, I received nothing but warmth and love. The entire time I was there, I was treated like a sister, daughter, niece, granddaughter, and friend. I always visited and had dinners or spent all night with my host grandmother while she taught me different aspects of traditional Jordanian food. My host mom and I would watch soap operas in Arabic and she’d help me study or do schoolwork. My host father sat with me during breakfast to read my Arabic writing work and helped me to revise it. In the mornings, I took my baby brother to our balcony and held him while listening to music until I had to leave for class. I can’t imagine not having any of these memories now, I can’t see myself being someone who hasn’t experienced everything that I have. Though it was only one month compared to a lifetime, my Jordanian family will always be a part of me. I got to learn a new language, try new foods, dance to new music, sing new songs, and create more memories. So, to The Experiment, my counselors, group leaders, host family, and all of the friends that I’ve made on this trip, شكرا!

This trip is different than a regular vacation to Thailand because of the homestays. You are able to stay in two different villages that have completely different economies and practices within the Thai culture. The complete immersion allows you to view the many different aspects of Thai life and how in varies based on location and immediate resources, such as food and instruments. I am so grateful I was able to participate in the Experiment because I met amazing people and got to live not only as a tourist, but as a local. Over the trip, I developed a love for Thailand's people and customs, from the malls to the rice fields, I will never forget this month. I highly recommend going on this trip because you will never get an opportunity like this again in your life.

On my trip to Italy, I did many different activities and explored many ancient places. I started off in Rome and I explored the ancient city and New Rome. I ate my first pizza in Italy and had delicious pasta. I got to walk around and go shopping and see the beautiful sites. I ate many flavors of gelato throughout the month and never got tired of it. It was a nice snack to cool down on in the hot weather. When I got to my homestay I got to meet my family and connect with them. They took me to their beach house for the weekend and they also took me on their boat. That was a nice way to spend time with my family and also get to relax on the beach. This was one of my favorite moments because the water was so clear and I was relaxing while having fun. My homestay family cooked many delicious foods that I very much enjoyed and I had a blast with them. On this trip, I also took cooking classes which were really cool because I got to learn how to cook traditional Italian foods and it came out great. I was able to take back what I learned back home and share it with the people I know. This was a once in a lifetime trip that I will never forget and something everyone should experience first hand.

When I first arrived in South Africa I was terrified, but soon after I felt welcomed with open arms. I learned so much about the history of South Africa and learned how to appreciate everything that we have. I was able to build long loving friendships and make so many memories with amazing people. This trip was so enjoyable yet education. There were so many breathtaking views. The homestay was one of the best experience I had, it was the highlight of my trip. Getting to know and be apart of a Xhosa speaking family was an experience that words cannot describe. The activities were so amazing, the safari, zip gliding, and the boat rides. I was able to gain more confidence and love from myself and others on this trip. This trip has shaped the way I see the world because everyone can benefit from learning from another culture.

This program allowed me to have the most amazing summer of my life. The leaders were amazing people who were so helpful, fun, and loving. They wanted to make sure we had a great time and they really succeeded. The experience was shared with an awesome group of other teenagers. We all shared our memories together and we became close super quickly. Overall, The Experiment does everything they can to ensure we really enjoy our trip. I highly recommend. Spain is amazing and it is so great to be able to make memories with some of your new best friends. The experience was overall amazing and I would recommend it to anybody who has never traveled overseas. It was my first time travelling overseas and I'm so glad I did it with The Experiment. Nothing could have been better for first travellers.

This is a very great experience for students who wish to see a very different world: Europe. Things are very different when you get to stay with a host family who will for sure be a good match for you. They get to teach you about the French culture, music, and food. The whole program is full of things that are first experiences for you which is amazing. Traveling alone is important by itself for teenagers to get to know what being alone in a country feels like. The only advise I would give is to make sure you go on applications like Duolingo and learn basic French phrases after getting accepted to the program; it will save you a lot of time and effort. In addition, make sure that you talk about your daily life in the letter that goes to your family. You should write this letter as honestly as possible so you get matched with a family who you will be a good fit for.

Being able to go to Japan, through The Experiment, was one of the most life-changing experiences of my life. The Experiment offers a safe space to explore your interests individually while still supporting every aspect of your journey. Before The Experiment, I had never traveled in my life. Going to Japan for the first time seemed scary, but all the traditions and activities this program allows you to explore abroad help you not miss home, and feel comfortable even when you're across the world! Additionally, all the people you meet on the way from the students to the locals are people you will never forget. The students are open-minded and have the same drive to explore and learn as you do! My Group Leaders were extremely hard-working and really cared about the well being of their students. This experience really left me feeling like a matured student.

I am incredibly grateful that I received the opportunity to further my academic interests, see more of the world, and meet amazing new friends through the Experiment's Germany program. There are several experiences from the program that stand out. As someone who has long admired Angela Merkel's leadership and transition from a chemist to German chancellor, seeing her office in the Reichstag Building was surreal. In Luxembourg, the tour guide took us to the European Court of Justice and showed us the work locations of EU translators. Being able to stand so close to these pivotal centers of European politics was inspiring, to say the least. Additionally, the workshops were thought-provoking and interesting. One particularly powerful workshop that we attended was in the city of Passau. Mo, a refugee who had fled Syria, spoke of attempting to raise awareness about the atrocities that occurred during the Syrian war, his experiences in prison, and his ultimate escape across the Mediterranean Sea to Germany.
Apart from the many things I learned, I will forever cherish the wonderful people I met on the trip. First, my host family, who kindly took me into their home and spent several nights talking to me about life philosophies, politics, and our love of cats. Secondly, several individuals in my group who brought me out of my shell and who I look forward to staying in contact with.
July 2019 passed in a blur, but many of my most wonderful memories will come from this month. I hope The Experiment continues to bring world learning to young adults!

I believe that the experience is always full of surprises, all you have to be is open-minded and everything will go smoothly. I enjoyed the friendships that I have created along the trip, I thought it was special that everyone was themselves and didn't create a certain persona to feel more liked or appreciated. It's also important to know that individuals shouldn't force themselves upon others if it seems that the relationship between another individual isnt working cooperatively it's okay to not force yourself fon anyone else. Also, the culture was of great beauty, the people, the animals, the plants, the biodiversity, and the lifestyles were so interesting to observe, and being accepted so openly allowed the participant to feel even more comfortable.

I can't stress enough how wonderful of an experience I had. Before leaving, I didn't want to have any expectations, and I am glad I didn't. I went into the trip with an open mind and got so much from it. I was introduced to 17 other people (including two group leaders) that made the experience beautiful. Our time in India was eye-opening and filled with indispensable lessons about ourselves, each other, and the beautiful people and earth around us. Our trek to the other side of the world, despite being tearful, painful, and tiresome, has left us with beautiful marks that will never leave us.

The blend of narratives and identities of all of us, including our leaders, added to the way we absorbed the experience; we all contributed in our uniquest of ways. We cried together, laughed until we cry, and most importantly, pushed through the challenges as a unit. Among these low points were having to ride an overnight train, battling homesickness, and living amongst tropical bugs and animals in a rural village.

However, our battles were made close to insignificant after the countless moments that made everything worth the struggle. We danced and sang in colorful dresses with schoolchildren, shared intimate moments over dinner with local village families, received the warmest of welcomes from the people of the Baraich and Tharu tribe villages, and simply enjoyed nature and the company of the beautiful people around us.

For many of us, our metropolitan lives are close to the opposite of the lives of people we have been honored to meet. Nonetheless, it has been made evident that our souls reflect the same light: one of immense curiosity and love for those to whom we felt so different from.

The journey has made us thankful for what we have at home. It was an eye-opener to see how a civilization can thrive without the things we deemed necessary in order to live. Thus, we also adapted some of the lifestyles that we encounter. Our complaints have become almost nonexistent while our eagerness to go further beyond barriers of differences has increased.

We all felt privileged and overjoyed to have been sharing the same space and time on this earth, and holding each other up through all of it. We have been touched by the open arms of India and it’s beautiful faces all throughout.

As far as safety and accommodations, we were very well taken care of, from physical health to mental health. We had to check in with group leaders to make sure we were processing and feeling okay. Lodging was always up to liveable standards, and the wonderful staff is always careful to make food that is less likely to upset our stomachs.

Goutam Gi and Archna Gi, the in-country leaders, are some are the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life. They will care for you like children. Learn from them as much as possible, they have so much wisdom to impart.

“I felt so loved and appreciated by people who did not even know me. This clarified so many things in my life and made me a better person in many different ways“ – anonymous entry from our group journal.

“My eyes are opened more and more each time to the vastness of India. No matter how much time I spent here I find myself increasingly confused – a never-ending collection of people, stone, cultures, languages, and lands. But isn’t home the same way?” – Anonymous entry from the group journal