The Experiment in International Living Reviews

I had a truly amazing time on this trip. I think about it everyday, wishing to be back in such a beautiful place surrounded by a great group of people.
I met many new people: my groupmates, Vietnamese high school and college students, families and friends through my homestays, and many more.
Everyday was an adventure, whether we were exploring the city, hiking, snorkeling or swimming on the beach, or doing some form of community service. There was a great blend of scheduled activities (such as listed above), free time to bond and explore, and time that focused on the thematic focus (ecology and conservation), which generally consisted of talks from professionals and visiting environments and other educational places.

I would highly recommend this program!

My experience in Korea over this summer was just a magnificent experience. This program was filled with amazing peers, great leaders, and an incredibly humorous in-country leader. Each stay was so unique in its own way, so that we were able to experience all aspects of Korean culture. From visiting the Blue House Museum, to the Demilitarized Zone, to a Buddhist temple stay, each experience was immersive and spectacular. Although some accommodations required us to sleep on the floors, it was completely bearable, and somewhat easy to get used to. Overall, the accommodations were wonderful, and all of the owners were incredibly kind and welcoming. To top it off, the food was always wonderful. There wasn't a day where our entire group wasn't eager to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My experience in Korea was simply unforgettable, and I'll always be grateful for this opportunity to tour and learn about peace building in Korea.

My trip in Argentina was truly fantastic. I loved the places we saw, the people we met, the food we ate, and even the weather and climate we lived in. I was also one of the lucky ones; I had a host family so amazing that I didn't necessarily want to return home to my own. (A very odd emotional dilemma, but it's true.) I do think I learned a lot about photography, but not exactly much about photojournalism. We were taught camera angles, depth of field, lighting, and a lot of good qualities that I as someone who sees photography as a serious endeavor hadn't yet learned. But, it goes without saying that the program description leads one to believe they will be studying photojournalism, and to me that meant going into scenes of the world and snapping what we could for that perfect shot. Instead, we talked to subjects we found in the street and were encouraged to pose them how we needed. The program was truly one of the best I've come across, but I believe a little tweaking of the program's title and description could go a long way to be truer to form.

Going to India with the Experiment in International Living (EIL) has easily been one of the most memorable experiences of my life so far. This experience was a like heaven to a curious mind. Coming from NYC, "the city that never sleeps," where life moves fast, its hard to find time to sit and wonder. It's hard to find time to ask the questions, let alone get answers. But in India, with EIL I was not only given time to develop these questions but instead, I was encouraged to ask. I recommend this program to anyone with questions, anyone who wants to further develop their own voices, and most of all anyone who wants to have fun. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world and look forward to continuing as a world learner!

I loved every part of this trip! The team over in Jordan truly cares for their students, they get us fully emerged and a lot of personal growth happens! I learned the language, culture and history not just through lectures and class but also through first hand experiences! The home stay is one of the most amazing parts of the trip, making you feel like you belong! I highly recommend this trip to future travelers!

This is a year that I will never forget. I met a lot of people I consider family or very good friends on this trip that I did not know going into this program and became very good friends with. Also, the experience itself was amazing. From the eye popping murals, architecture, and in general immersion in the country I got I felt as though I was a regular citizen in the country, everyone I met was so nice and relateable that I am glad I got the opportunity to go. I like my homestay family it was really humbling to say the least that what my parents have taught me really helped me in this program and made my bonds with my host family even stronger and with the people in my group even better. For any of you deciding on where to go do this program and don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things because sometimes being adventurous can be very gratifying and not everyone has this opportunity so don't squander it.

The Experiment trip wasn't just any regular trip, it was experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. They were very organized and ensured that we were fully prepared prior to leaving. I traveled with sixteen amazing people from all over the United States and one from Costa Rica, making this expedition fun and enjoyable. In Morocco, we were introduced to an entirely different society at work. We learned about the Moroccan culture which included the clothing, food and customs. I was also able to learn Arabic, barter with vendors, and rode camels. The Experiment leaders made sure we were safe and comfortable. As part of the experience I stayed with a very hospitable family in a moroccan village. There we also taught children english, weaved, and learn to cook the native foods. We did fun group activities such as dancing and painting the local school. Overall, this Adventure has contributed immensely to my personal growth and I would recommend this program to every student seeking the same.

My experience living in japan was amazing. My animation got along with each other pretty well. The food over there was delicious! The architecture were outstanding. The program was great because of my leaders in my group. They made sure we were safe. They made each day of our trip fun! One thing to prepare for this trip is being out your comfort zone. At one point you will taking bath in a public bath. Also, you will be walking a lot. I got to learn more about the language and culture. The animation classes were super exciting. Looking at your drawing skills improving gives you a great excitement. My homestay family was amazing. I got to participate in the shrine festival and walked around the forest with the family. Overall this trip is 100 percent worth it and safe.

Overall this was such an amazing experience I'll always cherish with me. I've gotten to make new friendships with people I never knew before the trip. The homestay experience was integral to the cultural immersion, and it was an experience I'll never forget. At times there were random itinerary changes, which was sometimes frustrating. Regardless, this was truly a trip I'd do over again if i had the chance to.

The Brazil program was everything I expected, and so much more. You cannot go wrong by choosing to participate in this program. Immediarely, when we arrived to Brazil, we were greeted by wonderful staff members, and from there on out we were all treared with the upmoar care. There is one day in particular that will always stand out to me as one of my favorite days while on the program. While in our sustainability section of our unit, we embarked on a 12 mile hike through a mountain and on a beach. This experience tested my physical and mental strength in a way I thought I couldn't. It helped me learn that I could go past my limits and challenge myself even more. Later that night, as we made our way back to our meeting spot for our boat to pick us up, we had to wait a couple extra hours because the tide was not cooperating with us. As it was getting dark you'd expect a sense of worry to start, but our leaders and local leaders were well prepared in any situation. Eventually we made it on our boat and enjoyed a wonderful ride on a boat while looking at millions of stars on that clear night. It was truly memorable.