Program Reviews

From learning the history that's shaped the current state of politics in the country, to meeting youth my age and getting their perspectives on personal and national issues, the Leadership Institute South Africa definitely impacted my life. My homestay families were extremely welcoming, and I now text my homestay sister daily. The in-country program coordinators were (and are) some of my favorite people and enhanced my over all experience. My 14 fellow programmers provided a varied viewpoint on every situation, organization and experience we encountered. All of these relationships and interactions accumulated to create a trip of a lifetime, one that I will be forever grateful for.

I had the opportunity to study with the Experiment in International Living: Leadership Institute this past summer. The program was 6 weeks long, and dealt with issues such as human rights and community development. The program began with a week in DC, where we visited several organizations and site visits, all in the context of advocacy and social change. We got to see firsthand how individuals, no different from ourselves, are using the resources they have on-hand to truly make a difference within their communities. It was an enlightening experience and truly opened my eyes to an entirely new side of Washington D.C. Following this portion of the program, we embarked on our journey to South Africa, where we spent 4 weeks studying peace, politics, and human rights, centered around apartheid and the country's history/political climate. We had the chance to travel all throughout the country in studying these themes, and thus got to see firsthand how an individual's background impacts the way he/she views the world. Not only that, but we were also truly able to get a glimpse at all that makes up South Africa. It is a land unbelievably rich in culture and natural beauty, and whether we were staying in the cities, the mountains, or along the coast, this was always evident to us. After returning back to the United States from South Africa, we spent a week in Vermont, where we brainstormed our post-trip projects. The idea behind the program is that once we return, we should take what we've learned to implement a project addressing an issue within our own communities. Vermont was characterized by the brainstorming of these projects. However, we also got the chance to partake in activities such as hiking and berry-picking, which gave us the opportunity to experience yet another place's culture. Through this program, my eyes to the world were opened. I can't overstate all that I learned throughout those 6 weeks, nor the value I gained from the Experiment in International Living: Leadership Institute.

My summer adventures in July while abroad in France were the most amazing experiences I've ever had in my life. I never imagined that I'd have the opportunity to partake in a program like this; coming for a strict Mexican family who rarely give me the chance to be independent. I never thought I'd see the day my parents would let me go away on my own to France accompanied by 'strangers'. I couldn't have asked for a better summer than this year being in France, not only did I get to experience living in France while the Tour de France, Bastille Day, and the winning of the France world cup were going on. But, I got to meet so many new people who were a part of this program, I got to meet people from all over the U.S. from California to New York. I loved meeting and creating new bonds with my group leaders and peers from my group, it made my experience that much better, since I manged to create a great relationship with every one of them. Aside from this, my home stay was also incredible I was able to build an amazing familial bond with my 'dad', 'mom', and a 'sisters'. Before meeting my family I was convinced that it was going to be the most awkward experience while I was going to be abroad but, in fact it was one of the best highlights of my trip. I was able to be creative with communicating in French when it came to it, I didn't just use my french skills but, I also used my actions to explain what I needed to say. Even though meeting all these people along my trip was marvelous I was given the opportunity to also take classes at the Institut Paul Bocuse, learn more culinary termed language in a class setting, and still get to visit many of the touristic cites France has to offer. This is why as I stated in the beginning, was the best summer of my life and it will continue to be as I move into college next year.

This summer, I spent 4 weeks in Vietnam where I profoundly changed the person I am today. It all began in the LAX airport where I was introduced to 15 teens from all across the country. It wasn't easy opening up about myself with people I had never met before; fortunately, once we landed in Ho Chi Minh City, our jet lag and exquisite new taste for food was enough for us to truly connect as a group over the next few days. By talking about our diverse backgrounds, I learned each other’s mannerisms and predispositions, and created lasting friendships that I shall forever cherish. Venturing into the exotic buzz of Ho Chi Minh traffic, bargaining in the night markets, and playing sports with locals I learned to resist hesitation and adapt independently. I saw myself evolve as a more culturally aware person, and become intrinsically adventurous especially with the support from those around me. I saw the mix of Asian architecture blended with French remnants that took years to build at the Reunification palace and Saigon Opera house as well as the ridiculous circumstances the government took to preserve and rebuild its ecosystem during times of war. I learned how amazing Vietnam is, how Vietnam has shaped the world, and how it has shaped me. I learned that Vietnam will always be apart of me and my outlook on life. I was beyond blessed to have the opportunity to find myself in Vietnam’s enchanted environment, and I could not pick anyone better to share my experiences with.

This was honestly the best experience I ever had. I got to learn about things I never knew about. The most exciting thing was that I got to see animals in there natural habitat. This experience really opened my mind to think about how much we are damaging the environment. It changed the way I am. I am a more open person. At certain points it was really tough for me because we did things that I would never do. For example we would go trekking and hiking. I’m from the city so I never did those things. But I appreciated every moment of the trip! Overall it was an amazing experience I definitely would recommended this trip to anyone thinking of applying.

The South Korea program was such an exciting trip and experience. The culture in the country is something I have never experienced. To learn about how this small country went from being so poor to now thriving and a technologically advanced was mind blowing. The trip showed me that old traditions and new modern trends can come together beautifully. The Korea trip is in the summer so it gets quiet hot so i recommend packing light clothes and keeping water on you at all times. It was supposed to be their rainy season but it barely rained. Coming home from the trip I hope to tell my experience to whoever will listen in hope to spread the idea that there is a whole world out there beside our country worth learning about.

This trip showed me what really matters to me and what I need things I truly value. It changed how I see myself; I now see myself as a leader. I know that I can push through any challenge put in my way and I know that with people at your back, no challenge is too big. Weather the challenge is eating a meal to make your homestay mother happy or if it’s solving the world’s climate issues I am confident in our ability to do it as long as we do it together. Nothing will ever compare to the friendships and memories that I made on this trip. The worst part about the whole thing is that it's over and that I'll never have that exact experience again.

A large family. Dutch pancakes. Public transportation. The sound of the canal as I walked to school.
I never knew how much I wanted to travel abroad until I did with the experiment. My program was breathtaking, captivating, and utterly resonates with anyone identifying in and around the LGBTQ+ community. I was the only cis-straight gendered person in attendance of the program, but that made it all the more special to me. The trip was fantastic, educating, and breathtaking at every turn. I can't pick a best part. There was absolutely too many to choose from. The friends I made, the connections I created with our group leaders will stay with me forever.
You not only get a rich education, but also a cultural immersion that will leave a lasting impact on you. You get freedom, you get family, you get everything you could have ever wanted in a study abroad trip.

My experience was amazing as I was able to be in a great amazing country where I learned the different culture of other people. I explored many different places all around Vietnam that were amazing. I also got to stay with the best host family in Ho Chi Minh City where they were treated me great and took me out to learn more about the culture and life in Vietnam. You might experience a bit of culture shock at first but later you will meet great people to interact with and that was something great for me as I was able to connect and create amazing bonds and friendships that will forever stick in my heart.

Similar to what my peers have said, this experience was so unbelievably incredible. In our time in London, we worked with a nonprofit media organization called “WORLDwrite,” where we learned to use professional camera equipment, conduct interviews, and direct news shows. We even took our skills to the streets and interviewed Londoners on the cost of living in London. It was an amazing experience! In the evening, we were given a lot of free time and a bunch of us spent it going to Shakespearean plays, dining in Italian joints, drinking tea, exploring the scenic parks, visiting museums, or shopping in bookstores or music shops. It’s safe to say we spent a lot of time riding the tube. We also visited Bradford, which was unlike any other place we had gone to in England. It is a very multicultural city with old, vintage architecture and a growing immigrant population. More specifically, religion plays a huge role in the city and we got to visit a Hindu temple, a Sikh temple, and a Mosque which was so transformative in the way I view religion. I felt like this because the people of these religions were so kind and welcoming and accepting of us: they answered our questions with an open mind, they took us inside where they do their prayers, and even fed us their holy food. It seems like a common trend in the trip (as well as one of my favorite aspects of it) was having in-depth conversations with people we met over there, in terms of American and British political and social issues. While the "What do you think of Trump?" question was very common, the conversations were much more complex than that due to our perceptions of England as well as their perceptions of America. Ultimately, as a wise person once said: positive experiences are the best form of diplomacy and I’m so grateful I got to experience what I did with the people that I did.

Regarding the group leaders, if there is only one thing I could say about this trip with absolute certainty, is that I felt one hundred percent supported by my group leaders. From the very start, I grew to trust them so much without any fear of judgment or punishment. They stood up for us, they listened to us, and they always reminded us that if we needed absolutely ANYTHING, they were there. I miss them so much.

I'm still processing the significance of this trip and how to move forward with everything I have learned and with everyone I have met. I feel different. I feel less anxious and more confident in my ability to lead and exercise the values I have. I have a better idea of what I want from this world and it definitely includes traveling and telling people's stories.