TEAN: Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia

I would give anything for the opportunity to relive my abroad experiences. The people I met, the food I tried, the places I've seen, and the friends I've made were some of the best parts of living overseas. When I look back to everything I did, I have no idea how I did it all. From skydiving 14,000 feet high over the Gold Coast of Australia, to being hugged by the trunk of an elephant in the villages of Bali, to swimming side by side with an actual sea turtle along the Great Barrier Reef, the amount of things I have crossed off my bucket list is amazing. TEAN provides the ability for you to explore yourself and the world while remaining a student. One of the favorite days was when me and my friends took a boat from the harbor of Whitsundays out to Whitehaven beach (the 8th best beach in the world for it's 98% silica sand). We were all in such awe from what was right before us that we jumped in the water taking pictures and splashing each other like we were 10 years old again, haha.

When I think of my time abroad there are tons of stories that immediately come flooding to my mind. From the beautiful places I've seen, the adventures stuff I've done, and the interesting people I met during my travels I could talk for days about how much I loved Australia. One of the more unique stories I have is that I went to an amusement park called Dream World, where I got to pet a full grown 800 pound tiger. I also learned about ongoing breeding efforts to help this endangered species out.

Most incredible experience of my life. I went into this abroad program not knowing a single soul jumping into a completely unknown experience and that's one of my favorite parts of my journey. At first, it was a little scary going up to a group of people at LAX airport that somewhat looked like they could be going abroad. But once, that first conversation was over, everything else was smooth sail and pure excitement. Met so many incredible, like-minded, adventurous people who were just as excited about their abroad time as me. Gained so much confidence in myself and my abilities to be independent. It feels like I came back to the states with a new pair of eyes! I see everything differently now, gaining perspectives I never imagined. One of my favorite stories to tell is the very first day of being abroad. I was absolutely exhausted after coming off of a 15 hour flight and we had orientation all day, still didn't know anyone. It was one of the craziest, most exciting days of my life. I was so high on excitement though that the exhaustion didn't even matter to me. Even though this first day was crazy, it was so special, because it was the beginning to an experience that changed my life forever. I remember that day more than most of the days. Overall, TEAN was incredible, they were extremely helpful throughout the entire semester, and orientation/excursions were some of my favorite memories of all time. If I could do it all over again I would.

My time abroad at Bond Uni is still something I think about everyday. It was a life changing experience that I'm constantly wishing I could relive! Having the chance to travel to Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay, the Whitsunday Islands, and even Bali was surreal and a huge growing experience. I was nervous about going so far from home, but TEAN made the whole process run smoothly by helping me get my visa, register for classes, picking up and dropping off at the airport, and arranging housing. All the stress of traveling abroad was taken away because of TEAN. The whole staff was extremely helpful. I chose Bond because of the great location and the fact that they follow the same academic calendar as the U.S. I cannot say one negative thing about my semester abroad and would 100% recommend this program!

Studying abroad in Australia was one of the most terrifying decisions I ever made. I had never traveled outside of the country and I felt uneasy about being so far away from home for five months. TEAN held my hand every step of the way, from my application process to the second I stepped on the plane. Contact with TEAN was easily accessible and there was a constantly established line of communication so I never felt lost throughout the process. Once in Australia, I went to the Sydney orientation which was a great experience that helped me quickly become acclimated to my new surroundings. From then on, TEAN was always offering opportunities to indulge in the Aussie culture and to connect with TEAN staff on coffee breaks. TEAN also offers excursions for great prices; I went to Cairns and Thailand and had the time of my life. If you're looking for a program that is organized and effective at communicating, TEAN is the program for you.
As for the actual studying abroad portion, I made the decision terrified and left with a desire to travel the world as much as possible. I experienced a transformation in personal growth and came back a more confident individual. I fell in love with Australia, my second home, and I cannot wait to go back!

People tell you that going abroad was the best decision that they have ever made. Going abroad WAS the best decision I have ever made. Every single day for four months, was the next best day of my life. The locals are incredibly friendly, and eagerly welcome you into your new home, The lifestyle is amazing, and the university will absolutely blow your mind away. You will never want to leave.

One of my favorite days during my time abroad was when I explored the Gold Coast for the first time. I hopped on the city bus (public transportation is SO easy and convenient) and rode down to Currumbin beach. I spent the day talking to local Aussies in different beachside stores and cafes, laid on the beach and watched local surfers, and then I stopped at Burleigh Heads on the way home. I hiked up to the top of a cliff and watched the sunset over the Gold Coast skyline. This was such a simple day, yet so memorable. And the thing is, this ended up being a daily occurrence during my time abroad. I went to classes, I went downtown, I hung out by the pool at my apartment building, I socialized with new people, but everything about being abroad in the Gold Coast was simple and easy.

TEAN was absolutely wonderful throughout the entire process, from beginning to end, and made me feel excited and comfortable to be going on this amazing journey. Everyone in Australia is extremely laid back and it really opened my eyes about American culture and how rushed and fast-paced we always are. The cultural immersion I experienced while living in the Gold Coast was priceless and I cannot wait to go back someday.

I could ramble on for pages and pages about all the amazing experiences I had while abroad! One of my favorite stories is meeting my Australian friend Scott. We shared all of our classes together and he told me all the fun and cool things I should be doing while in the Gold Coast. He really gave me a better idea of their culture and knew what things I should do beyond what most tourists are looking for. We still talk sometimes and I'm so thankful to have met him!