Program Reviews

I was very pleased with my experience in France and Germany. It was amazing to see how much cultures can change in one country and around the borders of that country. Also, it was cool to see how Freiburg and Strasbourg were so similar but a part of different countries. I won't change my experience for anything in the world; I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see Europe and with amazing people!

When your trip begins by sleeping in a historic Dutch castle, you can already tell that this will be a truly unforgettable experience. At least, that's the way that I felt during my once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Netherlands through the Experiment's LGBTQ+ Rights and Dutch Culture program! Through this program, we were immersed in the Dutch life (primarily based in Amsterdam) while maintaining a keen focus on human rights and intersectionality in the context of Dutch history, culture, and society. During the day, we participated in activities including a black heritage boat tour and an LGBTQ+ tour of the Artis Zoo, profound lectures discussing topics such as trans* issues and the African diaspora, and excursions to cities such as Utrecht and Rotterdam. In the evening, we had the opportunity to explore Amsterdam's various diverse neighborhoods, try new restaurants, go shopping at local establishments, and converse with locals on the tram ride to our host family. The Netherlands program was structured/organized enough for us to truly learn and get a taste of Dutch culture, while it gave us enough freedom to take risks and explore! Overall, I learned so, so much, both in the classroom and on foot, and would definitely go on an experience like this again. I highly recommend the Experiment, and specifically the Netherlands program -- you will bond with a great group of people and remember this trip for the rest of your life!

This program provided a truly unique and valuable experience. Jordan is a country with experiences, viewpoints, and social structures so unique in the world, while also being a society which is overall very accessible and welcoming to outsiders. Westerners are likely to find little trouble in adapting to life in Jordan. There are several once in a lifetime experiences to be had in Jordan. Some of the best are all nighters in Wadi Rum, balcony-top gatherings above Amman expressways,dead sea photoshoots, buying matching clothes from mecca mall, climbing roman ruins in Jerash, record breaking cafe visits, lewd jokes in arabic class, lock in pranks, as well as countless laughs in the SIT common room. Go to Jordan. Do it for The Culture.

If you are a person who enjoys spontaneous adventures, India is the place for you. While in India, every day brought new wonders. One of my favorite moments during this was the homestay. This is the time when the Experimenters start to get some more freedom and choose how they spend most of their days. During the less rainy nights in McLeod Ganj, I could see a million stars from the rooftop of my Tibetan home. Stargazing became a favorite evening activity of mine in the evenings along with journaling. This trip is one that will push you out of your comfort zone. You will see the unseen and face the unknown. Also, if you are an animal lover, you will love the cute kittens that come by your home, the monkeys that climb up and down your balconies, and the cows that stroll by your streets. India is a lively and vibrant country. You will be amazed by the various ways of transportation throughout the country, many being very eco-friendly, and the lively Indian music during car rides. Many of the people I met were so welcoming to our group. Before you go or apply, I would recommend that you do a lot of research on some of the social encounters foreigners face to understand how comfortable you will be with the new challenges. My trip to India was the first trip I ever had abroad, and the first time I ever was on a plane. I was very scared about the new risks I expected to experience, but I was also very much excited about facing these expected and unexpected risks head on. By the end of the trip, with all the difficulties I did face with this completely different atmosphere and culture, I can definitely say I learned various new lessons which better my understanding of the world today. I am now more vocal about my struggles, difficulties, and experiences. Overall, this was such a meaningful trip, and I would definitely go back. Namaste!

Every minute of my time spent in Mongolia was beyond special. We woke up every day under an endless blue sky and set off on another adventure. Through this trip I met people I will always share connections with and did things I never thought possible. My group made it so there was never a dull moment, and our leaders were always there for us no matter what we needed. This trip taught me the power of immersion and the beauty of adventure, from sunrise hikes to herding with my host family I gained a life time of truly incredible memories. I would recommend this trip to anyone seeking a once and a life time adventure, with the willingness to try a boat load of new things.

Going to Argentina was one of the most life changing experience for me. It was the first time I would be away from my family for so long and just be among my peers mostly. I loved every moment of the trip because there were so many things I could discover due to the fact that I do not know anything about Argentina.

I really loved my host family as well. They treated me well and shared all their special dishes and love for me. I was always happy with my host family because we did a lot of activities and there was never a dull moment at home.

The rest of the trip was amazing. I made some really great friends and had life changing experiences.

The program helped me become more aware of the ever growing issues regarding not only the LGBTQ+ community but also those pertaining to human rights as well. Throughout our three week stay in the Netherlands, we participated in lectures by well-versed instructors about topics that ranged from Black diasporic music and literature to Trans* Issues in Netherlands and visited organizations such as The Hangout, a safe space for LGBTQ+ teens, in Rotterdam. My sole experience does not determine the one you may have, but I know that there will be certain sentiments that will remain the same, such as missing the glistening canals as you make your way through the city, the feeling of bliss as you walk past that one bakery on your way to the office that resembled the ones you saw in Disney cartoons, and understanding that being around individuals with the same sense of motivation to make the community they live in a better place is rare and should be cherished.

I participated in The Experiment in their French Culture and Regional Identity where I visited cities in France (Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar, Metz, Nancy, and the Alsace-Lorraine Region) and in Germany (Freiburg). Those three weeks were the best and most rewarding time of my life. I felt really immersed in the culture and life of France, so much so that I miss everything about it. (The part I miss the most is eating cheese and bread at every meal.) The program allowed me to see the beauty in everything, from a simple wall art in Paris to great views of the city of Strasbourg. Our first few days in Paris was really hard for me because the environment was quite different from San Francisco. However, when we got to our homestays, everything settled down. I love my homestay family! They were so kind to me, and I really felt accepted by them. The week and half I spent with them was not enough, and I very much plan on visiting them again. (I still talk to them!) After our homestay, we headed to Freiburg, Germany and visited the Black Forest! It was so much fun! We went hiking and boating! It was also here that I faced my fear of heights and rode a ferris wheel for the first time! Then, we went back into France, stayed in Colmar where I really fell in love with France. We ended in Paris, and it was the hardest goodbye I've ever had to do. But this whole trip is really unexplainable, no words can accurately explain what I experienced. The program itself was so amazing! My group leaders were very kindhearted, accepting, and I knew I could trust them. They made the whole trip easier to handle. I felt very safe in every place that we went to, and that's a major part of why The Experiment is very, very good. Overall, my experience was really one-of-a-kind. I would definitely do it again with The Experiment!

It sounds cliche, but this trip made my summer the best I've ever experienced. The friends I made both within the program and in Argentina are ones that I'm still in contact with and are some of the coolest people I know. The leaders were incredibly competent and always made me feel safe, understood, and interested in what we were doing. The program itself taught me a lot and gave me constant opportunities to practice many kinds of photography. The homestay experience taught me so much about a different culture and independence, and introduced me to a second family. I highly recommend this program to anyone and everyone looking to go abroad and has an interest in photography and experiencing new things!

This program has been the most amazing thing I have ever done. I made so many friends, not only with the group I went there with, but with the Vietnamese students we did activities with and with my homestay families. The homestay experience of this program is one of its most important features and for me it was a super positive experience. I loved both of the families I stayed with, I did so many awesome things with them and felt like I was really part of their family. I am still in contact with them now, and my first homestay family even invited themselves to my college graduation! The trip overall was fabulous in every way, the people, the scenery, the community service, and everything else. This trip was super meaningful to me and I would 100 percent recommend it.