Program Reviews

One can definitely see Frances exquisite culture while roaming through the city of Paris. The city is made up of beautiful monuments, street art, cafes, and most importantly welcoming people. Seeing the Eiffel Tower at night felt like something out of a movie, I was star struck by a monument. The special part about the nigh was that I got to share it with multiple other students that also had shared the same dream as me.

I have always wanted to travel abroad my dream place to travel to was Brazil. This trip exceeded my expectations it was the best trip I have ever been on. My group was amazing we all bonded and sang songs throughout the trip. This trip exposed me to the beautiful culture in Brazil and their sense of community. Everyday of the trip we did something and interesting wether it be going to the planetarium, learning capoeira, seeing bioluminescent plankton on the beach, or learning Portuguese. These are just a few oath things we did along the trip not a moment was wasted and I enjoyed all of it.

On this program we learned a lot about different cities in Spain and what changes they have been through and are currently going through. From this information, we brainstormed and came up with many ideas on how we change these cities for the better. On projects we used 3-D printers, laser cutters, models, etc. We also had tons of fun throughout the trip too. We did things such as travel to beaches, bike rides, tours around the city, to staying up late playing cards with each other, and etc. Over all this trip was amazing and it's the people that I met that made this trip so amazing.

The trip does a fantastic job of making you feel like you're actually living in the country and not just visiting. It's focus on ecology and conservation fits perfectly with the area and the different excursions that we went on during the trip. Leaders and staff based within Vietnam were extremely accomadating and were a wealth of information during our stay. I would definitely recommend this experience to others and I hope one day I can go back.

Being in a foreign country with people you don't know can be challenging at times, especially when it's your first time travelling outside of the country. But I was able to meet so many amazing people that made me feel comfortable and loved. From gaining new friends to family members, I did not feel out of place at all. I enjoyed the program so much that if I had a choice to stay longer I would gladly take it. Though I did not know Mandarin my family still treated me like one of their own. Everyone was so kind and courteous to me. My idea of what China was before the trip definitely changed afterwards. I learned so much regarding China's education through my host sister Ann and one of the teachers from Tian Tian. I witnessed different methods Chinese students cope with the stress they endure from life. So many amazing experiences happened to me that it is hard to just talk about one, but my top favorite was when everyone played games with each other in the rural village. It was awesome. Some of us played basketball while others cheered from the sideline. Even people that didn't really want to do it at first joined once they saw how much fun we were having, even children from the village joined us. It was so much just running around and a cool day.
I would definitely recommend this program to everyone. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that everyone should experience. Going abroad through The Experiment in International Living is way better than just going to the country. You get to live life with them by being in their home and eating what they eat on a daily basis. You began to break the assumptions you had before going by actually being there. Learn things I wouldn't have known if I had not gone. The Experiment not only unlocked my love for traveling but allowed me to appreciate my culture, China's culture, and the many friends and family I have gained.
Also, before going to china make sure you caring toilet paper or some kind of tissue paper.

My trip to Morocco was fantastic. My program leaders navigated the line between safety and fun exceptionally, especially towards the tail end of the trip, when were all aware enough to manage ourselves in groups. The 15 other members I shared my experience with were among some of the most remarkable people I have ever met. I couldn't imagine a better group to explore Morocco with. Furthermore, the home stay experience was highly enlightening, as it showed me the hardships and benefits of living a rural life in Morocco. It was undeniably challenging, but the payoff was worth it. By the end, I was dreading the idea of returning home.

Reflecting from my whole experience, I realize how vital it is to visit different countries. The culture, lifestyle, history, and language made me appreciate Spain and life outside of the US. When the trip was over, I told my family that I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I miss siesta, my host mother’s seafood and chicken paella, strolling through Las Ramblas in the middle of the night with my friends who I’m still in contact with, and my group dinners where we were always laughing. These moments shaped and made a stressful year into one of my most memorable. This trip inspires me to continue learning Spanish and to take advantage of the study abroad opportunities in college. I was also thinking about pursuing a career where I get to travel to different countries. Even though I dislike long flights, I love being exposed to new cultures and meeting people. My goal for this trip was to find myself and have fun, and this experience exceeded my expectations.

It was really interesting to see for myself how countries have different governments from ours, and how people are affected by the customs surrounding politics and speech. Unlike in the states, in Thailand people don't have freedom of speech. In Thailand, natives and foreigners alike are not allowed to speak negatively about the crown or what he decides to implement as law. People can be incarcerated for up to 15 years for even being perceived as being disrespectful. It's essentially treason. What was especially interesting was that we visited Thailand in a period of "mourning" because their king has recently passed. His son, the king-to-be, is not as well-respected as his father was, so it was intriguing to hear in on why people are not as appreciative of him.

The trip to Tanzania was an amazing experience that I will always remember. The trip gave me sight into my future career of becoming an international English teacher. The time I spent teaching the students at the schools inspired me and gave me the little push to see that this is what i truly love doing. I made many connections on the trip that I will never forget, and I even got offered a internship there which I will definitely take up on in the up in coming years after college.

Overall a great experience. I've made life long friends both in the United States and in France. I learned quite a bit about using a camera. The painting part was fun to, it was a more for beginners though. But there was a lot of freedom to do what you would like to do. That is what I liked most.
The family I stayed with was amazing. They were very accepting of how I was. We spent time at the zoo and went to the museums. That was by far the best part of the trip. I made friends across the world that I will never forget. Even though they may not have had a child my age with them at the time it was still a fun experience.