Beyond Expectations

AIFS was an amazing experience from the beginning. After leading us on an organized stop in London, we were welcomed at the airport by amazing staff and transportation making travel easier than ever. One of my few disappointments was the dorms we were living in. They were small and not very welcoming, but we came to find that it was more of a reflection of the culture itself rather than poor accommodation of the program. Throughout the entire semester the faculty was beyond accommodating and extremely supportive. AIFS not only provided staff to help us acclimate to a new culture, but they offer many opportunities to emerge deep into your host country's culture (and often for free) such as a night out at the ballet, an afternoon in the cafe, or a day out touring different parts of the city. Affordable excursions to other countries through AIFS were also well organized and extremely entertaining. One of my most memorable experiences was the trip to Moravia with the staff. We traveled through the Czech countryside seeing towns, churches, wine cellars, and even going touring a cave. Another great aspect AIFS offers is volunteering in schools, or at an animal shelter. Spending one day a week teaching elementary level students english was extremely rewarding, and made my bond with Prague even deeper. Prague is an amazing city, but AIFS made my experience beyond anything I ever expected.