Program Reviews

The Experiment placed me in a program that I abouseltly loved and adored. The people I spent time with made the experience so much better for me. I made life long friendships and I was able to experience things an average person wouldn’t have in just a plain trip to japan. We learned how to be independent, travel alone, explore and test our language skills.

Our host families were amazing, and I created an incredible bond with mine. Our leaders took the most care of us, and made sure we were on our right tracks. I learned how to style with animation and how to become an greater artist and person.

I would definitely recommend The Experiment to everyone I know!

The Experiment is a program that many people at my school who are interested in this sort of program choose. During the entire application process, I had some one to help me who could respond quickly to emails and questions. They make the program very accessible. There wasn't any sort of language prerequisite to the program, but even people who were particularly interested in China enjoyed the program. The leaders were very flexible and offered any help we needed as well as listening to any input we had during the trip. If we as a group decided we could change something to make the trip go smoother or make people enjoy things more, they were receptive and did what they could. I did so many amazing activities like hiking mountains, riding horse, and bargaining in the markets of Shanghai. We had a leader who was from China and knew the areas well. He helped guide us through difficult situations and gave advice in how to handle things like overpriced scams. Going to China and being offered to practice my Chinese speaking and listening comprehension with native speakers had improved my Chinese Immensely. We were also given many chances to take charge and choose where we wanted to visit in cities as well as some guided tours. This has helped me gain confidence in navigating public transportation and time management. EIL has made this awesome trip available to so many through scholarships and I made so many memories thank to that.

I had the most incredible time on this trip, it's hard to put into words. I loved my group, my leaders, my homestay, and last but certainly not least, I loved the country and their incredible cultures. We did so many fun activities such as learning to cook Paella or biking through a park in Valencia to the City of Arts and Sciences. Every minute of this trip was amazing and if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would.

Going away for four weeks did require some adjustment, but the leaders and the community made everything easier and much more exciting. Each day was filled with a new adventure, apart from community service the group was able to see a lot more of the country. We were able to be part of the culture, especially during the 10 day home-stay. The group went horseback riding, white water rafting, hiking, and biking. Not only did the kids learn about a new culture, but we learned about independence and responsibility. Definitely an unforgettable an amazing experience! I was exposed to so many amazing people, this was a great way to make new friends and even family across the globe.

The Experiment in International Living Leadership India program will always remain as one of the best memories of my life. I can not think of a better way to spend my summer. The program is fully funded, so there was no economic burden placed on my family. The programs theme of Public Health and Community Development is seamlessly woven into everyday life of the program. The format of the program is incredible. The first of the six weeks is spent in DC learning about leadership skills and social justice. Each day was packed with activities, site visits to local organizations, and group bonding exercises. The next four weeks of the program is spent in India, where we traveled across the northern region while really focusing in on the theme. My favorite part of our time in India was the Homestay in the foothills of the Himalayas. During the homestay we learned about the work that a NGO is doing there and had the ability to see what daily life is like for people living in the village. I will never forget the time spent with our wonderful homestay mother learning how to cook , specifically Bread Pakora. I also loved playing UNO with our 12 year old host brother every evening before dinner. The program does a good job of weaving in many different cultural visits in India, without becoming too touristy. The final week was in Vermont working on our post program projects. I am looking forward to continuing my project work throughout the coming year. The staff does an amazing job of guiding you through the process. Overall the program was transformative; it has changed my life. I met the most incredible people and know that I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. I would 100% do this program again if I could.

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.