The Experiment in International Living Reviews

Mongolia with the Experiment was absolutely fantastic. The group environment fostered, the activities arranged and the casual adaptation they are able to organize is beyond fantastic. I never felt alone and I was was engaged. The added bonus of connecting so deeply with my group members through their activities and share out moments really made, even a person like me who is usually very shy in connecting with others, available and open. I would highly recommend to anyone seeking adventure and a learning experience that will both rejuvenate who you are and make you a better person.

Traveling to Ireland was a life changing experience. It's one thing reading and learning about Irish culture, but going through the experience yourself is truly amazing. The part of the program in which you learn most yourself is the homestay. During the homestay you get to spend a few days with your host family and get a sense of the daily life of an Irish family. You learn more about their customs and culture through their amazing food and getting to know them on a personal level. Another highlight of the program in Ireland is the leadership conference. While you attend the conference in Maynooth University, you get to meet Irish kids that come from all over the country. You make new friends, while developing and putting to practice your leadership skills. The workshops are fun and change the way you view yourself. Overall, you are constantly being pushed out of your comfort zone, so if you want to get the most out of the experience you should ALWAYS step out of your comfort zone. In all, this was a great summer for me and I am glad I was able to be part of this program. If I could go back I would without any doubts!

I really loved my time in Mongolia. I was a little apprehensive at first, but once I got to the country and started experience the culture with my group, I discovered how much fun and beautiful the country could be. My group was amazing - I met people I know I will stay close to for a very long time. The group leaders kept us healthy and safe, but weren't afraid to get dirty and have fun with us, so I think they had the perfect balance. The trip itself was more than I could've imagined, no matter how cheesy that sounds. It will really push your boundaries, but in a way that you to. I did things on this trip I never thought I was capable of, until I was there and I had done it, while still having fun. I felt like that was really special. My favorite part of the trip was our time in Khuvsgul. Playing card games and making buuz with local students and taking morning hikes is something I would do again, anytime. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking for a different experience and a real adventure!

My trip with the Experiment honestly was amazing. I was so glad that I got the opportunity to go to France and discover a whole other part of the world. This trip allowed me to as a person and being independent and doing things myself. Traveling with people you don't really know maybe scary at first but after the first few days you will feel comfortable and feel like you have known them for a while. On this trip you do have a homestay and once you hear that you are going to be staying at a stranger's house but it is not bad. The Experiment will not put you in a dangerous environment and if you feel uncomfortable you can always talk to your leaders about it. Personally my homestay experience was amazing because I felt very comfortable with them after the first two days. I felt like I was home when I was with them and we would have our own jokes and my host sister and I still talk. Not only was the Homestay the fun part but the whole trip like spending time in Germany and hiking in the Black Forest and going to see the Mona Lisa in France. This was truly an experience that I will never forget.

I was not sure what to expect when traveling to Morocco because it was my first time out of the country, but the Experiment in International Living was a very great experience for a first time abroad traveler. The program easily combines cultural experience and learning with exposure and lessons about the culture from the international partners. Having the first few days be dedicated to these lessons really helped me begin to understand certain aspects of the culture that I had previously no knowledge of. We learned about things such as the government, Moroccan costume, and religion. I used this gained knowledge when we traveled to other cities and even more so in the home stay, but there was still so much I learned. Our time spent in the cities could have sometimes been better planned. There was a difference between the amount of time spent and opportunity to experience the culture in each city. In each city, I wish we would have had an equal amount of opportunity; however, each city visit was thoughtfully planned out and had their own experiences to gain. Many things that we did, such as a tour of the city of Fes, felt more authentic than if I were to travel to Morocco by myself. EIL does a great job of immersing their students into the culture by having the in country leaders and keeping the students busy. In addition, the home stay was the most important part of the program for me, as was it the most immersive. It was there that I truly felt myself develop/grow and fall in love with the country. The families I came across were absolutely amazing and always willing to help their host children any way possible. I truly felt like I became a part of their family.

I learned a lot from being in Ireland in three weeks. Not only was I able to learn a lot about myself but if not what a leader is and the importance of being one. I'd have to admit that the things I learned from being in Ireland are things I wouldn't really learn in a classroom such as leadership or going into depth about ones S.M.A.R.T goals. It's not everyday that someone gets an opportunity to go to another country and learn something and I am beyond grateful I got this chance. I was also able to do things I did not think I would do before which is pretty cool. Being in Ireland I was able to sort out my thoughts and I was also able to reflect on things. I got to learn about what my strengths and my weaknesses are. Believe me I love visiting my grandparents out in Mexico but, I wanted to go to a different country and experience something new. Overall I just enjoyed these three weeks , I had the most supportive and amazing leaders and everyone was just really nice and amazing and I may have had a few rough days but I'm glad I was not alone. The thing that amazed me is the support that was within the group.
I really enjoyed going out into Cork or Dublin with my friends for a few hours and just buying ice cream or just food in general. I enjoyed Cork more than Dublin (That's just my personal opinion) I never got bored, there was always something out there to do. We all went to this conference to learn about leadership (Foroige leadership for life) I was able to talk to people around my age or well my age from America, India and Ireland, I was also able to get a bit of an insight on the Indian culture and also see them preform some really cool dances which was also cool! At the end of the conference there was a Gala and it was one of the most amazing nights I ever had, I got to dance with my friends even if our dances sucked. I fell in love with the food especially the tea and the dairy milk chocolate. Everything was just pretty great. Going back home was the most toughest part about the program it sucked but, I can at least cross out Ireland from my bucket list. Honestly I wish the program could have been over more than three weeks.

The few days before the others on my program and I would inevitably meet at the airport to travel to Spain, I was overwhelmed with nerves. I kept wondering: what was in store in the upcoming month? As soon as I met my leaders and peers, my jitters instantly melted away. The leaders made me feel so incredibly welcome and comfortable. Our group would soon turn into a family by the end of the month. Not only was my group amazing, but so were all the planned activities that we did together. I can't even name all of the fun activities that we did! We went on a graffiti scavenger hunt, explored the Alhambra, participated in language classes, did community service in Guadix, and traversed the beautiful landscapes of Castril. What made this trip so meaningful was that I got to do all of these wonderful things with my best friends.

Throughout the month I was in Germany, I learned so much and gained insight I couldn't have gotten elsewhere. The Experiment provided a perfect balance of education, volunteer service projects and free time in which we could split up and explore the cities with a small group. I learned so much and grew as a person and I feel as if I returned home changed by this experience. I made friendships closer than most I have back home, with both the Germans and my group members. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad for a summer in high school.

During my home stay, I had two little sisters. One was seven and the other was three. They both were the cutest little things in the entire world. I've always wanted Sisters, and for a week I got two all to my self. They both were really shy at first, but very quickly they started to get attached to me. We would play jump rope, bike, and play with toys together. They followed me around everywhere I went. I loved having them around me. They filled my day with laughter and smiles, i felt apart of the family. I became very attached to them, and leaving them so was hard on me. My two sisters taught me that even though we couldn't communicate through language, it didn't hinder the relationship that I grew with them. They showed me the power of being carefree and to just enjoy the day.

I went to Thailand expecting to be happy with my summer, but came out with so much more than happiness. I experienced a new way of thinking about life, and overall a new world. This trip was definitely an eye opening experience. I learned a lot about how I deal with new situations and new environments and I think that is going to follow me around when I visit new places. I definitely recommend this program for anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone, its a great country to study abroad to. I met amazing people and tried new foods and I will always cherish my time in Thailand.