Program Reviews

It was honestly one of the best experiences a person could have. Not only do you get to know yourself a lot better, but you get to learn about other people who you might not ever get to meet again. I come from a town that's about an hour away from Chicago and there's not much that happens here. Being able to be there and meet dutch and american people who become family is something I would never give back. The food was great, the weather was lovely (they said it was rare but honestly it wouldn't even matter if it was raining all the time), we were able to travel in our groups of 3 to explore Amsterdam and make memories with each other. The 16 people I went with could not have been more perfect. We were all so different and similar and I fell in love with each of them a little bit. If I could go back I would.

My trip to Mongolia was the first time I've left the East Coast of the United States. I was so scared, but as soon as I met the 15 other teens who are sharing the same fears as me I was at ease. The country was unbelievably beautiful and unique. I felt truly welcomed by the leaders and in country partners. This trip was truly the best experience of my life and I wish it could've lasted longer.

In Argentina, I learned Castilian Spanish, built better communication skills, became comfortable with the unusual and felt gratefulness. My group was very supportive when it came to one of us being homesick, having our first horse ride, and going water rafting. We all stuck together as a family and got to know each other pretty well within the time we were together. I enjoyed this program so much not only for the adventures held, but also for the community service we did in Argentina. From remodeling a school to helping out in an orphanage, we all spent an amazing time among ourselves and the people in the community. As a group, we shared our home stay and new culture experiences every time we reunited. One of the moments I will always carry with me is when my group and I agreed to creating a GoFundMe towards the orphanage and how our families voluntarily donated towards helping out the children. On the last day of our community service at the orphanage, we bought toys, groceries, new kitchen utensils and art supplies with the money we had from the fundraiser. This trip was full of friendships and memories. Revisiting Argentina is definitely on my bucket list for its welcoming culture and delicious meals. The Experiment of International Living set me with the best people out there and I cannot thank them enough for this amazing experience!

France was phenomenal experience. The time spent their was splendid. There was an abundance of activities from kayaking to celebrating France's World Cup Victory with our host families. I met some of the funniest and amazing people. I always felt safe thanks to our group leaders. The first few days were hard because it was difficult acclimating to a new culture and a different time zone (especially if you want to keep in contact with your parents). Personally, I feel more confident in myself.

Throughout my life I have always been eager to meet people who come from a multitude of backgrounds different than my own, and learn about their way of life. I never wanted to hear just the surface, but rather obtain much deeper levels of understanding. There’s an old saying that goes, “life is like a book, and if you don’t travel and meet new people, you only get to read one page”. I wanted to listen to each person I met in every place we went so that it wasn’t just a sight-seeing trip or a trip where I only talked with the other Americans in my group. I was there to ask questions, to laugh, to smile, and to soak up as much culture and information as I could every moment of the day. That is what travel is about to me. And what better place to explore diversity and how it affects culture than in Morocco? It is a country characterized by migration, multiple languages, merging cultures, and pure beauty. Morocco was its own unique entity all together. Each region was very different, yet the country felt, to a significant degree, unified. This feeling of inter-connectivity and just being there for each other as a way to express pride for their country was undoubtedly beautiful. It was like nothing I have ever seen before.

The first thing I became aware of was the wave of kindness I felt. Whether it was from the bus drivers, airport workers, hotel clerks, street merchants, or children out playing soccer. Everyone I had the privilege to speak with was welcoming. Each person I met said “welcome to Morocco, you are welcome here at any time and in any place”. It truly made the trip special, and made me realize how much of an impact friendliness and an open mind can have on a person, because how much it affected my own personal travels. Upon first arriving in Rabat, and after a few Darija classes, I was soon bargaining in English, French, and Darija. In the restaurants I would greet the waiter in Arabic, order in French, and thank them in English. The whole experience of learning how to communicate with people and get to know them while using multiple languages was fascinating.

Simply listening made me more conscious of the things happening around me, and it was the best way to learn. It is obvious many people ask questions and then do not make an effort to listen to the answer. But my entire purpose of traveling, and the purpose of traveling as a whole, is to stop and listen. Listen and be in that moment. It made me appreciate the differences between the cities we traveled to, and hearing the sounds of the various environments is what made each place unique. In the Sahara, the wind blew and the sand glided across the dunes as the men leading our camels laughed into the night and spoke freely with joy amongst each other. I heard the men selling orange juice in Marrakech in the Jemaa el fna square calling and beckoning each onlooker over to their stand. In Rabat, I heard music played by groups of boys playing soccer, and in the village of Brachoua, the donkeys and chickens clucked and called all day. I listened to every word of each tour guide we had, and of all of the random people in the streets I spoke with. This to me is the best way to learn and digest all of the things another culture has to offer because there is no book equivalence. Everyday I was amazed by what I was able to discover, and every opportunity I had to experience something new that increased my understanding I took.

My time with my host family was a very special part of the trip and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was fortunate in that my host brother spoke English. However the rest of my family did not, yet I developed relationships I know will last a lifetime. I realized that a smile can go a long way. I helped my host sisters cook, clean, tend the garden, wash clothes, and more. I was able to observe their household dynamics, and I loved our late night dinners and time spent just sitting with each other, enjoying the day. The village we stayed in had so much kindness. Every family was close to one another and were incredibly supportive. This taught me so much about life and how money, a big house, cars, clothes, and lots of stuff are not indicators of happiness. All of the people in the village were always happy, even though they did not have a lot in the material sense. Each day was slow and no one ever became frustrated, angry, or was in a rush. There was patience between all people, regardless of age. The village taught me about another way of life and allowed me to become fully immersed in Moroccan culture. This to me is what life is about, developing relationships and bonds with people and places. This cultivates true happiness and love.

While in Morocco, I slept under the stars, saw the oldest university in the world, traveled through the desert, listened to traditional music, learned about Islam and Muslim culture, stayed with a welcoming family, drank lots of mint tea, appreciated artwork, and watched the waves of the Atlantic oceans crash to shore while the sun set in the distance. Every moment had something beautiful to offer. I bonded with a very diverse group of other students from America who especially made the trip remarkable. I traveled with an open mind and felt I had more cultural competency, intercultural and interpersonal skills, and awareness by the time the trip ended. It taught me to just appreciate what life has to offer and be happy and thankful in the present rather than focusing or being consumed by materialism. I learned about myself and experienced ample personal growth. Although I have always be resolute in what I wish my future endeavors to be, my experience abroad solidified this even further. Much of my experience in Morocco is difficult to articulate in the right words, because words do not do justice for some of the places I traveled. Life is not also measured by number and statistics and averages. Instead, everyday has a story, and every place has a purpose that is uniquely its own. Morocco had a little bit of everything, and the moment I had stepped off the plane I fell in love.

One does not go to France to become vegan. I, a former meat-lover, certainly didn't intend to do that. After our first couple fabulous days in Paris, full of bonding, museum-visiting, and chocolate-eating, I was fully ready for French cuisine. Then in Pierrelatte, where we completed the homestay portion of the program, we discovered scores of street markets with fruit, cheese, and friendly vendors. We worked on our French, learned how to get along (and sometimes not always get along) with our homestay families, and spent time together, beating the heat by swimming at beautiful lakes and even the Mediterranean. We spent the World Cup finale and Bastille day in Pierrelatte, where we encountered fireworks, street fairs, and much excitement in this rural town. Some of us had more fun with our homestay families, and some of us had a lot more down time (I was one of those students); if you get a family that doesn't love going out, try to get invited to your friends' houses, and you'll have a lot more fun (that's what I did!).
Next, we went to Lyon, which was my favorite part of the program. We learned how to cook and spent plenty of time exploring the city and getting to know one another--and, unfortunately, some crawfish we were made to kill in boiling water. That experience led me to become vegetarian, then vegan; I had plenty of delicious dining options in Paris, with which I fell in love when we returned for two days of free time (and gourmet dining). Overall, a great way of getting to know people from a different background--there were kids from all over the country--and a great way of getting fat. TIP: work out every day.

I was nervous right off the bat; picky eater, fear of heights, not a fluent speaker (actually, not even close), and never been out of the country prior to the trip. From the moment I applied for the program to the minute that I'm writing a review post-trip, the Experiment has been there for me, maintaining contact to ensure my well being and satisfaction with the entire trip. Start to finish, I was comfortable in what I was doing, and found myself reaching out because of that comfort. It's easy, when you're not worried, to try new foods, hike higher than you were willing to before (I have to say, the Pyramid of the Sun was amazing and totally worth the stairs), create friendships (I'm still chatting with the people I went to Mexico with, especially my host family), and just ultimately immerse yourself in the culture. My parents were pretty nervous about me going, too, but the Experiment also made that easier on them with articles and updates before and throughout the trip. I feel confident saying that my Spanish improved by a mile, as I lived with six triathlon athletes during the home stay. There was never a dull moment, and I found myself fully involved in my family's daily life. Mexico wasn't my first choice of program; it actually wasn't on my list at all. But because I applied early, hoping for the scholarship (because I couldn't have gone without it) I was asked about my program flexibility. I believe I said something along the lines of, "I had such a difficult time choosing in the first place--any Spanish-speaking country would be unbelievable." So, I ended up in Mexico, and that July was easily the best July I've ever had. My host family was incredible, and while I am biased to say they were the best ones around, the host families of the other kids were equally amazing. Our activities took us from Mexico City, to Cozumel, to Cancun, to La Paz... In each location, a stunning amount of people were welcoming, were coordinating our activities, and understanding that we were learning the language. My group leaders and fellow group members were some of the best people I've ever met--honest, to the point, and fun. It was such a diverse group, and we got along so well. Cave diving, hiking, swimming with sea turtles where National Geographic photographers work, snorkeling (on program or with my host family), shopping in Cancun, eating in authentic restaurants, riding in boats to see sea lions and kayaking to see dolphins in La Paz... This Experiment Abroad revealed to me that I would love to travel abroad in college, and especially stay with host families, because the immersion is where your language skills and cultural understanding really come together. I've realized that I want a job that'll involve travel, because that's the happiest I've ever been. Now, I'm hosting an exchange student from Chile, who will go to school with me this year. The Experiment truly opened doors for me, and I'd recommend the program to anyone considering traveling abroad during their high school years.

When I was over in Peru for about a month, I always found myself being in shock for being in the place where my roots stem from. Being in the Experiment allowed me to not only gain new friendships among my own group, but new family members among my host family. I appreciated my group because we all came from different backgrounds and we created a group where we were free to embrace our cultural backgrounds. I have alot of favorite memories of my trip, but one of the main ones would have to be when I was homesick and my host family acted so quick to make me feel better. To be specific, I was not able to speak on the phone with my mom for a while because of the time change and right when I heard her voice - the tears started flowing like a river. My host mom and host sister quickly came to the rescue and hugged me. They reassured me everything was going to be okay, my real mom and my host mom even got to speak on the phone. That moment was pivotal for me because it just demonstrated two strong peruvian woman connecting across the world which was unreal to wrap my head around. Overall, shoutout to the Experiment for giving me the opportunity to create and have these unforgettable experiences.

My experience with the Experiment has taught me a lot about myself. I now realize not only do I love traveling and exploring, I need it. Before I would be okay with wasting a weekend stuck inside, but now I’m pushing myself and those around me to get out more. I’m only now fully appreciative of the city that I live in and am dedicated to exploring as much of it as I can. I’ve also learned more about my leadership style and expanded my problem-solving skills through my experiences.

We did many activities that put us out of our comfort zone. Whether it was hiking, camping out in the cold, or riding a horse for the first time, it was a challenge you had to push through. The group leaders were really helpful. I remember at first, I didn't want to do the bike ride. The last time I rode a bike was in fifth grade so I was a little hesitant. However, the group leaders really encouraged me to at least try it. In the end, I pushed through the doubt and uncertainty and went for it. The home stay was eye opening. We really got to see how people live their everyday lives. My host family was very welcoming and kind. They did their best to make me feel comfortable. My host sister helped me improve on my Spanish while I helped her with her English. As a group we were really close. This is mainly because of the little exercises our group leaders had us do. We would get paired up and have to talk about our challenges, goals, and things we overcame. We also had to say one thing we admired about each other. This way we got to know the people we were spending time with a little better. Overall, I grew a lot from this trip and got to meet many wonderful people.