Program Reviews

This was my first time traveling to another continent. My first traveling over seas and my experience was great. This trip will be unforgettable because I learned all about a country I did not know anything about, not even where it was on the map. Not only did I learned their culture but I also lived it. My favorite part of the trip would be the homestay. Even if it was hard to communicate and the food was completely different, I loved it. I also made lots of friends from all around the U.S. and from Morocco. I do not regret choosing Morocco and I wish I can go back. For those people studying abroad I really recommend you do. My advice would be to take risks and always walk into everything open-minded and with a positive attitude. Do not choose a country you are comfortable in, choose a country that you have never heard of!

The Experiment In International Living created a program in which students can experience every part of Japanese culture. Our group leaders were kind, caring, and amazing. They helped us when we needed it, but also allowed us to do some things on our own in order to truly indulge ourselves into the culture. We participated in many activities and we took Japanese classes. We talked to college students, high school students, and elementary school students. We lived with a host family that taught us about daily Japanese life, which even then wasn't uniform since each family was unique in their own way. Of course, there were so many beautiful sights to see and moments to share, but we also discussed parts of Japan that we weren't quite accustomed to. However, this helped up grow into more open minded people, and it helped me open my heart to differences between cultures all around the world.

Signing up for this trip just seemed right I used reviews as a main source to make sure that I was making the right choice. I was the very first to leave the US and go to another country and my mom was very worried. We decided it was a one in a lifetime opportunity and how it would help me become more independent preparing me for college.(just to add on it really helped the juniors in my group write their college application essays) I recommend this trip and for the parents the leaders always took the best care of us and constantly would check in privately with us emotionally and would ask physically how we were feeling just incase we were feeling sick to make sure that we would be okay. I recommend the Morocco program it was amazing and I definitely made my group my second family we are extremely close.

The Experiment in International Living gives me the opportunity to enrich my knowledge about Human Rights and discover some prestigious American Universities in a program called: “USA: Human Rights & College Discovery”. My experience starts in JFK airport where I have landed, met my Leader and my new friends from USA, and all over the world. After that, we’ve gone to the motel, relaxed, eaten some delicious American pizza and gone on a scavenger hunt in order to familiarize ourselves with surroundings. Also, we explored different sites such as «Times Square »,« the Empire State Building »,« Central park», « United Nations Headquarters», « Liberty Island and Ellis Island » . We were really in love with skylines, stores, food and culture. Moreover, we have learnt a lot about the human rights’ history whether it was LGBTQ rights or workers’ rights through many interesting galleries, and organization for instance: « Bronx » which is a public defender nonprofit that helps people tackle their issues and the theatre of Oppressed that taught us techniques to better understand this topic. I have been taught that the amazing NYC is a fruit of a hard work of ambitious people that tried hard to achieve their hopes for a safe, just, and peaceful world that couldn’t be realized only when there is universal respect for the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family. In addition, we visited my dream University, one of the Ivy Leagues Columbia University where we learnt about the admission process. Furthermore, we visited the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital, where we have learned about the city’s unique human rights’ issues and settled into our dorms at George Washington University after we had toured it. We roamed the National Mall, visited famous monuments of esteemed leaders Martin Luther King, Jr…and explored the Smithsonian Museums. After that, we road-trip to Charlottesville, Virginia as a first stop to the south. We toured the University of Virginia. We continued learning about human rights at Emory University and stayed on the college campus while learning about the college process. Finally , our homestay of six days begun in ATLANTA, with different activities with my host family who helped me a lot and let me spend the best time. The experience I had, exceeded my expectations, develop a deeper understanding to my identities from a global perspective. Also, through this journey to the United States I could think outside of myself, came back with a lot of confidence, inspiration, curiosity to acquire different experiences and the best of memories!
A big thank you to all of you !

This program was an amazing experience which gave me the opportunity to talk to locals from different cities, the countryside, and even as far as Inner Mongolia. I got to try all the local foods in each location and while I went to some famous tourist locations, we were also able to go further than that and got to see first hand some of the more interesting and hidden sites without the commercialization. The group dynamic was very positive and the leaders were highly enthusiastic and enhanced the experience. The local tour guide was also very helpful in navigating the different locations and fixing any difficulties with travel as well as remaining very optimistic and funny. It was overall an everlasting memory that I would do again in a heartbeat.

I was very excited to start the trip just from exploring and getting threw the airports by myself. When I first met everyone i was not sure what to expect but my group became family to me by the end. My home stay went very smoothly it was a amazing experience in it of itself being able to learn the day to day of a average family. My host family also became actual family to me in just 10 days they would take me to do things from basketball to exploring parts of the town and the outskirts. My group leaders where vary knowledgeable to they already had some understanding of the culture. The leaders also would help us with most anything from us needing help with our Spanish to writing post cards and if one of us would scrape our knee or roll our ankle.

The 6 weeks I spent traveling this summer to Washington D.C, South Africa, (Swaziland), Mozambique, and Vermont were like anything that I have experienced or will ever experience in my life. Our program was very educational but also allowed a lot of time for freedom. We stayed with 2 host families, met with Gandhi's grand-daughter, and many more!! From doing a game drive to shopping at the mall to hanging out on the many beaches to hanging out with the younger kids of our home stay families, there was never a dull moment. We also got to meet with a lot of non-profits and activists within South Africa and Mozambique. The biggest highlight for me, though, is the 28 friends I made across the country and even abroad. We have gone through things together that most people cannot relate to and that makes our bond unbreakable.

This program is such an immersive and amazing experience! I would recommend this program to anyone looking to culturally immersed, build connections and communication skills, and/or looking for a great time. Every day is packed with something new. There are so many interesting and exciting things about this trip. My homestay experience was extremely eye-opening. I have learned how to be more accepting and open to new people and new experiences. A family who has never met me accepted me in their home, fed me, trusted me, and boosted me up to help me grow as an individual. My homestay mother even reminded me of my own mother. Before I knew it, I was calling her mom in Thai as familiarly as I would my own mom. It felt a little weird at first. Then I realized that you don’t have to be related by blood to have a “family connection.” After all, she looked after me like her own son--- so why not? Every day I woke up with breakfast, smiling faces, and knowing that each day would be different from the last. The positivity that each experience gave me is difficult to fully describe. Even though we were foreign and could barely speak their language, they were so warm and welcoming.

I applied to the Experiment in hopes of going abroad to learn a new culture and further my Arabic language. However, I not only achieved my goal but I gained much more from the experience. From the first day in the airport to the last day in Rabat, my group has stuck together. The group went from a group of strangers to family that stuck together through thick and thin. We helped each other when we were feeling homesick, ill, or upset. We made every moment in Morocco count with our jokes, memories, and amazing conversations. The team leaders were a part of our family; they made sure we were always safe, comfortable, and enjoying our time. Orientation made the adjustment to an unfamiliar country easy. Orientation was about a week long and it made our trip very clear, while addressing our concerns and goals from the trip.

My goal in The Experiment was to step out of my comfort zone. I was always scared of farm animals, but staying in the village allowed me to familiarize myself with sheep, goats, donkeys, and chickens. I also was able to go hiking, a sport I never thought I would feel comfortable enough to try. I don’t know how to swim, but I learned how to float and swim with a floatie. I believe that everyone in the group was able to accomplish this, especially during the homestay. We all learned how to communicate without being fluent in a language. We also had to use bathrooms completely different than the ones in America. The program definitely made me feel safe while I was stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things. The leaders checked in with all the students and made sure everyone knew the difference between unsafe and uncomfortable.

My favorite part of the Experiment was the host family stay. Each person was given a family in a small village. My family was very friendly and tried to learn about me. They would ask me about life in New York and my visits to Egypt. My family took me out to the main part of the village to shop and visit their friends. We also got to go to a different part of town for the weekly souq (market) day. It was amazing to see how culture plays a role in the groceries that buy and in the relationships between the seller and buyer. I also enjoyed going out with my group and their host siblings. We went out to the cafe to watch the African Cup games. We raced in the field, we went for small walks, and we visited each other for tea time.

The Experiment has opened me up to taking study abroad courses in college. After learning Darija and talking to my group leaders, who are fluent in multiple languages, I have decided to minor in Arabic. The Experiment has also allowed me to work in a group, showing me that I am a team player and a leader. The four week study abroad program, Morocco: From the Medittereanean to the Sahra, was the best summer abroad I have ever spent.

It's not everyday you're given the opportunity to go study abroad in a whole other country with 14 other people who have similar goals. I was given the chance to visit different kinds of schools and discuss with other teenagers about their experiences as students in South Africa. From visiting NGO’S to lectures about the South African and Mozambique culture , I was able to learn a lot of valuable information. There are a lot of things that I didn’t learn in my past history classes and being given the opportunity to dig deeper into South Africa’s history and Mozambique’s is something that I am grateful for. I was able to grow as a leader and was exposed to different situations that allowed me to learn about the kind of person I am. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn and grow as a leader! This has been by far one of the best summers and would do it all over again if I could. Coming back home, my mindset and goals for the future are more clear.