TEAN: Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia

I studied at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia. I could not have had a better experience and I owe a lot of that to The Education Abroad Network.

We were housed in 'beach housing' which was a beautiful hotel just a block from the beach. This housing was also just a short bus trip away from Bond Uni. The location of this housing was perfect. We were walking distance from shopping, tons of restaurants, bars, night clubs, you name it!

We were also very close to bus stops, and these buses could take you all over the area and also to the airport and train station. We took bus trips to Byron Bay, Burleigh Heads, Currumbin, Brisbane, just to name a few! The tickets were very reasonably priced, too.

The TEAN staff was unbelievably helpful and made planning schedules and any other trips really easy. They planned a pre-semester trip to Fiji and this was a great chance to meet the rest of the students on the trip. It was also an amazing trip in general! Delicious food, beautiful beaches and hiking!

This program made it very easy to make a ton of new friends. I had three random roommates from all over the U.S. and they soon became my best friends. TEAN plans different activities during the semester, which is a good opportunity to check-in with staff and make sure things are going well.

All in all, I could not have had a better trip. TEAN was fantastic.

One of the best decisions of my life thus far seems to be my study abroad experience in Gold Coast, Australia. I attended Griffith University and lived in off campus apartments that overlooked the beach and beautiful coast line.

Upon my return home, many asked what my favorite part about studying abroad and to be honest, I could not pick one thing that was my absolute favorite. I did so many things, saw so many places and met so many amazing people.

I decided to choose the Education Abroad Network to travel abroad with from the beginning. They seemed to have the most amount of activities and support for the best dollar value. Overall, yes the trip was expensive, but I wouldn't have changed any bit of it.

Our program started with a 5 day orientation to Sydney, Australia. Here we climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, fed kangaroos and ate dinner aboard a cruise ship along the Sydney Harbour. We watched fireworks after dinner and soaked in the evening breeze.

Next, we were offered a trip to Cairns and of course, I decided to experience the trip. We flew from Sydney to Cairns for 5 more days of fun. We went white water rafting, bungee jumping and scuba dived along the Great Barrier Reef. I was only in Australia for less than two weeks and I had already seen one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. I had no idea what was in store for the next 4.5 months.

We finally ended up in Gold Coast, Australia and moved into our on campus apartments. The bus ride to class about 30 minutes, but I enjoyed the time to myself to listen to the music or read while listening to locals talk about their everyday lives. I took 4 classes, all of which had over 50% of Australians in them. I had two group projects where I had to work with locals and got to know each of them personally. It was great to be welcomed into their Uni (what they call a University there).

My apartment was completely furnished, including kitchen ware and linens. It was two bedroom, two bath and I shared a room with one of my roommates. We lived around travelers from all over and sometimes locals. The living was absolutely 5 star.

While there, we travled as much as possible. We rented a car and road tripped to a place called Byron Bay and Nimbin. Then we planned a week trip to Melbourne and Alice Springs, where yet again we saw another Natural Wonder of the World, Uluru. Everything we saw and did was amazing.

There were plenty of things I could not experience simply because I ran out of time! I continually ask myself, when can I go back?

The Education Abroad Network was great through every experience abroad. They were never more than a phone call or text message away. One particular experience happened when I arrived in Sydney. My luggage was lost and I was on the verge of a nervous break down. My director took my paper work from the airport and took care of everything. I didn't have to sign one form, or talk to one representative. He had my luggage waiting for me at our hotel when it arrived in Australia. It was such a relief knowing he was there to help me during a time of high stress.

Overall, my experience was a chance of a lifetime and I wouldn't have changed a thing. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me! I love talking about my time abroad and if you go, you will too!

Alright well I do not even know were to start..I might cry writing this. This was an experience of a lifetime. I will never forget all the memories I made during my semester abroad.

First off, Bond University was so incredibly beautiful. The classes were extremely interesting and the professors were so friendly and nice. Living in the beach housing was a dream. It is about a 20 minute bus ride from Uni but a two minute walk from the beach. Everyone who worked at the Meriton were courteous and accommodating. It was a real treat. Broad Beach was such a nice town.

The Beach Hotel Bar directly next door to the Meriton had live music all the time, happy hour from 4-6. We would go to the beach all day then go there at 4 for an early pre game. Monday nights were low key, across the street at the casino was always an option. A few kids I knew won like $1500 so you never know. Tuesday nights were the nights to go to Bond. It'll be all Bond Uni kids so it was fun to meet everyone outside of class. CBD was the bar to be at. There's also a bar inside the casino called Prince Albert's thats a blast on tuesdays. There it was mostly locals which was fun to meet.

Wednesday Nights were another low key night. Usually we would just rest up for the weekend. Thursday Nights Bond had a ton of parties/ pub crawls the start at the bar on campus called Don's Tavern. If somethings going on there, definitely buy tickets and go. If there's nothing, clubs in surfers, or broad beach. Friday and Saturday night go to clubs in surfers (the drink, bedroom, beer garden, sin city, Melbas, Cocktail and dreams, shooters, ruby tramp. Or in broad beach thats literally a 1 minute walk from the meriton.. East night club was a blast for ladies night, and platinum night club was packed on Saturdays. There are usually Bond Uni events at platinum so there's not cover for students and free drinks. Sunday Surprisingly one of the biggest drinking days of the week. Go to Fish-O's in surfers during the day.. there are always a ton of DJs, the place is huge, and its right in the harbor which is really pretty.

By the way.. the Kebab stand below East is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. I literally crave them all the time and had two a day way to many times. It was open late which is very convenient. Doner kebab with hot chile and garlic sauces is the way to go.

We went on a trip to the Whitsunday Islands (the sand is 99% silicon, and you sail throughout them. We went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef! Finally, we went to New Zealand to Queenstown. It was only a $20 plane ticket to stop over so a group of us went. Definitely the greatest "vacation" inside a vacation i've ever been on. Queenstown is the coolest town I've ever been to... absolutely beautiful. Thats were we went bungy jumping, it was the second largest in the world called the Nevis Bungy. You can do so many things there. Queenstown is like an adrenaline junky town with people from all over the world coming in a out.. seriously from everywhere. People come and find jobs to work for like months at a time then travel somewhere else. Fergburger is open till like 5am and there are always lines, but the best burger I've ever had and I think it is voted best burger in the country! Definitely go to franz joseph or fox glacier and climb it. We got rained out but I know people who went were not disappointed.

Last but not least we went to Sydney for our orientation. Sydney is amazing. You stay in the World Tower on like the 86th floor which is the tallest building in Sydney. The apartments are like 1.3 million dollar places.. they are unbelievable. Don's miss any of the activities you do in Sydney.. like the zoo, tour, and absailing (repelling), and the dinner cruise on the Harbor Bridge. The good places to go are like bondi beach, manly beach, and Circular Quey. The Sydney Gestival was there when we were which is insane!! There were tons of stages, performances, DJs, everything for a whole night.

One of my favorite things I did was go to the Currumbin Rain Forest. It was a natural, open habitat for animals. I held a Koala and sat with kangaroos in the grass! Brisbane was also a cool city and close. The Robina rail was really cheap for students and you can use your transit bus pass. It only takes like an hour to the city or you can go directly to the airport.

Byron Bay was were Bond did a sky diving event. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Byron Bay is a pretty neat town it was a good day trip.

We also made it to Melbourne, it was colder there so a change of weather and an artsy city.

I'm sure this review was all over the place but I wrote what came to mind as I thought back on my experience.

Good luck mates,
Your Tour Guide Leslie

During my Junior year at Colorado State University, I was fortunate enough to take a break from the chilly January temperatures in Fort Collins, Colorado and venture halfway across the world to the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.

Shortly after the new year I took a long, but much awaited plane ride across the international date line to a whole different world. Through the Education Abroad Network I immediately bonded with other students in my program starting in the airport in San Fransisco. Once we arrived in Sydney for orientation the bonding and excitement had more than just began. Orientation in the beautiful city of Sydney included guided walking tours around the city, visiting an animal park with native Australian animals, a trip to the Blue Mountains, and a dinner cruise around Sydney Harbor including amazing views of the harbor bridge and opera house.

Although orientation was a great way to be welcomed into the country, I was excited to get to my housing accommodations on the Gold Coast. Upon arrival in Broadbeach I was introduced to the Meriton Hotel where I would be living for the next 4 months. It was better than I could have imagined: 2 blocks from the beach and living in a four star hotel that was completely furnished and boasted an amazing indoor/outdoor pool, full time front desk service, as well as a gym. Living in the Meriton required a 25 minute bus ride to the Bond University campus but was in close proximity to the beach, two shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.

The Bond campus is absolutely breathtaking with beautiful planters, glorious fountains, and school facilities that would amaze anyone. The semester I spent at Bond was something I will never forget. From the school organized parties, to my warm and welcoming professors, as well as my Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday school schedule that made traveling during my semester abroad much easier.

I would recommend studying at Bond through The Education Abroad Network to anyone.

Studying abroad through The Education Abroad Network was absolutely amazing. From the beginning, they were helpful and friendly. They were always there to answer the million questions I had prior to leaving. I went to Griffith University in the Gold Coast which was so much fun. I met some of the best people. TEAN provided me with great housing options. I stayed at the Meriton which was a beach housing option. It was a brand new apartment building just two blocks from the beach. There were pools, hot tubs, cleaning services, and fully furnished apartments with balconies over looking the ocean. The staff there was great. Even while in Australia, TEAN staff was there to assist us whenever we needed it. I highly recommend going through TEAN as well as to Griffith University.

I would most definitely recommend this program to anyone. The Education Abroad Network set all of the students up in a 5 start hotel that overlooked the ocean. The town that we lived in was nothing but safe and was a 5 minute bus trip to surfers paradise. Griffith is amazing, nothing like any school in the US. The teachers are interesting and classes are fun. I can't stress this enough if you are going to Australia you need to go through TEAN. They made my trip unforgettable.

My study abroad experience was so unique and memorable, and there are a variety of reasons why I believe it has changed my life. We lived in the Meriton Hotel located in the heart of Broadbeach where we were in walking distance of the nightlife, restaurants, shopping plazas, food stores, and the beach. Because the beach was only a block away, we were able to utilize the parks and jogging paths throughout our stay. Our location allowed us to become fully immersed in the culture, and make connections with the locals. The classes I took at Bond University corresponded nicely with my home university, and credit transfer was effortless because of the guidance we had before, during, and after our study abroad experience. One of my fondest memories of my study abroad experience was the travel opportunities I was able to take. As part of the Education Abroad Network's pre-semester trip to Fiji, I spent my first week of abroad on an island with 40 people I had never met before. To say this trip brought us closer together is a complete understatement. I met many of my lifelong friends on this trip, and was truly inspired by the natives of Fiji and their way of living. My trip to Thailand during the semester was also an eye-opening experience, as I became fully appreciative of the Thai culture, food, spirituality and way of life. We also were able to visit an orphanage while in Thailand, which changed my life and still has effects on me now that I am in my home country.

Studying abroad is not just about living in a different country for four months. It is about making lifelong friends and seeing the world, opening your eyes to so many situations and opportunities that you have never seen before. By studying abroad at Bond University through the Education Abroad Network, it has changed my life and career path. As a Health Policy and Administration major, I am now taking a serious look at other country's health care systems and am considering a career in the global health field. I strongly believe that studying abroad will provide you with an experience that has the power to change your life and give you meaning and purpose that you have never felt before.

At first, traveling to the other side of the world seemed crazy to me. Getting on a plane for 14 hours to Australia and immersing myself into a culture for four months was something that I was not comfortable with. With the Help of The Education Abroad Network, it made my transition from America to Australia not only a smooth one, but an extremely enjoyable one as well. Right from the beginning The Education Abroad Network kept me organized from what I should expect and pre departure materials that were necessary for my success with my transition. If I ever had any questions before or along the way, The Education Abroad Network staff was always a phone call or a prompt email response away.

Once I got to the airport and was ready to take off I was immediately accompanied by other students who were in my program and would soon become my best friends on the trip. Sitting with other students from all over the country and talking over our worries and excitements definitely made me feel comfortable as I understood that everyone was in the same boat. Once we got to Australia, Staff Members of The Education Abroad Network were extremely knowledgeable and enormously helpful once we stepped of that plane in Sydney, Australia. Staying in five star hotels and having a one week orientation in Sydney where we went rappelling, tours of the Sydney Harbor and other things which made bonding with other students would prove to be the beginning of our journey that changed our lives forever.

Traveling to the Gold Coast was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Again, with the help of The Education Abroad Network in putting us in these stunning five star hotels and living right on the beach, I thought I was in paradise. From there I was more than eager to get my semester underway and see the wonders of the Gold Coast, Australia. It is safe to say that without the help of The Education Abroad Network my experiences would not have been the same. I am so happy that I chose the Education Abroad Network to help me with this very important transition that would prove to be the best experience of my life.