What inspired you to go abroad?
Ever since I was young, I've been lucky enough to have a family that understands the value of travel.
Going to the Philippines was my first trip out of the United States, and I'll forever remember that as a pivotal point in my life. Experiencing life abroad for the first time immediately opened my mind in ways I didn't realize were possible.
I found that I loved hearing people's life stories and experiences, which to them may just be "how it is," but to me were a background and life that I was completely unfamiliar with. I knew there was (literally) a whole world for me to explore, and part of that world was in the classroom!
Tegallalang Rice Terraces, near Ubud.
Why did you choose the Study Abroad in Bali program?
I chose to study abroad in Bali because it's somewhere I haven't been, and I knew that the cultural experience I'd have there would be significantly different from what I experience in the USA. I couldn't have been more right!
StudyAbroad.com had some really interesting, sort of off-the-beaten-trail programs available at a really good price, and they responded quickly and kindly, so it felt like a really good fit.
I also liked that, since the program was made to include necessities only, I had some money left over that I was able to use on experiences while I was there. I went to a few traditional Balinese shows, some museums and temples, UNESCO World Heritage rice terraces, and amazing restaurants.
I chose to do a short two-week program in business, which wasn't exactly my area of focus, but was extremely informative for someone inexperienced in the field, and has already been beneficial to my work life.
What was your favorite part of Bali?
Although it's difficult to pick, I would say my favorite part about Bali is the laid-back island feel it has.
No one was in a hurry; everyone always seemed to be in a great mood, and getting around the island consisted of hopping on the back of a motorcycle. While admittedly, this part was a little intimidating at first, it became one of my favorite parts of the trip! The beaches are untouched, the spa days unmatched, and there's literally never a shortage of things to do.
Class was extremely valuable and enjoyable, but the lifestyle there was a highlight for sure!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Once again, it's tough to pick, but I would say the accommodation we stayed in definitely contributed to making the trip extraordinary. While we weren't there a ton of the time between school and exploring, it made for the best meet-up point in the evenings.
We stayed in a villa that had a pool, a huge living area, and a bunch of big rooms to stay in. In the evenings after class, we would meet up and make dinner, share stories and our favorite songs, talk about what was different between Bali and our home countries, and so much more.
Being with students who were from all over the world further contributed to my cultural experience while studying abroad, and in a way that I wasn't expecting. Having such great classmates also ended up being like having a built-in support system and adventure group, so I never had to do anything alone and always had someone to talk to.
I think not knowing anyone when you first get to your host country was one of the most intimidating parts about studying abroad, but it seems everyone else felt that way too, and I couldn't have been luckier with my group!
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff helped us throughout our program. We had a program coordinator who kept us updated about any class schedule or site visit changes, and who guided us through each of our days.
There was a WhatsApp group chat created with the coordinator, one of our teachers, and all of the program participants, so all of us students could keep updated and ask questions if we had any. They organized all of our site visits and transportation to and from the school for the visits.
We also had another program contact whom I didn't meet in person, but who helped us over the phone whenever we had accommodation issues or questions of any kind about life in Bali/how to do things, like getting an eSIM, or how best to get to the university.
My StudyAbroad.com advisor also stayed in touch throughout my program, offering advice if I had something that wasn't urgent, and I was given emergency numbers if I were to have needed them.
Participating in a traditional morning prayer on our first day of class
What's one thing you wish you had done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I had done a little differently during my time abroad was planning activities. I think I could have done a much better job at grouping things into certain areas, rather than doing one thing on one side of the island and then going all the way to the other to do something else. This would have saved me a lot of time and money, as Bali is a lot bigger than you'd think!
While the motorcycle rides there are extremely affordable compared to an Uber ride in the US, I still could have been much more strategic in moving around to do things, which could have saved me a lot more money, and probably would've given me the time to do even more.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in my life while studying abroad in Bali started around 7 AM, when I would get up to get ready and eat breakfast. Both of our accommodations were about 20 minutes driving from the university, so I'd order a motorcycle on Grab (Bali's version of Uber/Lyft) and wait outside for them to arrive and drive me to school.
Once we got there, we'd have coffee/tea and a little Balinese snack together, then have 2-4 classes that were about an hour each. Classes were small and very discussion-based, with the same students for the whole program. We became really comfortable with each other since it was such a small group, allowing our conversations to be really open and productive, which I enjoyed.
Depending on the site visit we had that day, we might eat lunch at the school before we go, or eat out at a restaurant together on our way/once we arrive. We'd get into a big van after class or lunch finished, and typically the site visit would take up the second half of our day, with ending times varying.
After this, we were free to return to the school with our teachers, or we could leave from wherever we ended up that day and do whatever we wanted for the rest of the day! Weekends were free, and we had a few extra days off to explore since it was New Year's holiday.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
During my free time while studying abroad, I did a lot of exploring! I had made a big list of all the places I wanted to go in Bali before I left for my trip, and then made a sort of itinerary of activities once I knew when I'd have class and what kinds of site visits we'd be doing.
Some highlights were Uluwatu Temple (make sure to hold your belongings close or else the monkeys will steal!). The Tegallalang Rice Terraces, cultural shows, the beach (Nyang Nyang was my favorite, but be prepared for a hardcore hike!), ate delicious food, enjoyed the next-level wellness spas, and went out at night with my classmates to see the vibrant nightlife and celebrate the New Year. There was truly never a shortage of things to do!
Participating in a traditional morning prayer on our first day of class
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in two different accommodations while I was in Bali. The first week, five other students in the program and I stayed in a big villa with a pool and an indoor/outdoor living area. We had plenty of space, and each had our own beds, but shared three rooms total. Someone came to clean it every day, which was also pretty nice!
The second week, we switched with the other half of our program group into a hotel in a different part of town. We each had a room with two beds, so we shared with a roommate here as well. This accommodation was also good, but was a little small and in a sort of loud part of town.
This didn't really matter, though, as we were mostly just sleeping and showering here. By this point in the program, we were all friends, so a lot of our evenings ended at the villa regardless of where we were staying because there was space for us to all be together (And a little bit because there was a pool!).
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
A couple of things for every future participant to know about this program before they begin: it would be good to come prepared with a backpack rather than a tote bag, and buy bug spray only after you've gotten to Bali! I had a tote bag for my school materials, which ended up being super inconvenient and in the way.
Between riding on motorcycles to class and going on excursions where we had to take our things with us, having a backpack over a tote sounds like a ridiculously tiny issue, but it would have seriously improved my experience daily.
As far as bug spray goes, the bottle I brought from the USA did absolutely nothing and was a total waste of luggage space. One of my classmates suggested we try the bug spray available in the shops in Bali, and it completely changed the game. I had almost no bug bites after using that kind instead!
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
I would absolutely recommend this program and this provider to others. I was fully supported in every sense of the word from the time I expressed interest in the program to the time I returned home to the States.
The program met and exceeded all of my expectations, and there was never a point where I felt like I didn't have the information or resources I needed to be successful.
My advisor was responsive and kind, and the university itself was also fantastic. It was a great taste of Bali, and I would 100% do it again!
Bajra Sandhi Monument and museum, which we visited in class
What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?
I think the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is exposure.
There are so many things that I'd never know existed, so many traditions and places I'd know nothing about if I hadn't gone to see them myself. And because of these experiences, I've become a much more empathic, open-minded person.
When you're confronted with the reality that life can look entirely different from what you're used to, and yet still be meaningful, joyful, and rich, it expands your perspective in a powerful way. You quickly learn that your way isn't the only way, and while that realization is kind of humbling, more than anything, it's inspiring.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I'm home, studying abroad has impacted my life in many ways.
Mostly, I find I have a lot more confidence taking on "adult" tasks I've never done before. For example, the biggest issue we ever ran into while in Bali was the power going out at our villa one day because the homeowner's electricity payment hadn't gone through. Normally, this is a problem I wouldn't even know where to start trying to solve, but since there was no other option, I had to figure it out. And I did!
Reflecting on situations like this, which might have felt a little bit like the end of the world in the moment, I can now look back and have a laugh at their insignificance. They've helped me feel a lot more sure of myself in situations of all kinds, and generally in life. If I can figure out how to get power in a house all the way in Bali, I kind of feel like I can do anything!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel means approaching every journey with a sense of respect, curiosity, and humility. It’s about stepping outside of your own experiences and embracing the world with an open mind and an open heart.
When I travel, I do more than just visit new places—I listen, learn, and reflect. It’s easy to go through life seeing things only through the lens of your own background or culture, but traveling with a purpose challenges that. It reminds you that your way of thinking isn’t the only way, and that there are countless people with lives, stories, and perspectives entirely different from your own.
Meaningful travel is about connection, taking the time to learn from others, to understand traditions, and to come face-to-face with both the beauty and the complexity of the world. I also think it’s a lot about how you handle those experiences after the trip ends.
There's so much potential for them to shape your worldview, your empathy, and your actions moving forward. Meaningful travel isn’t just about where you go, it’s about how you go, and how you're changed by the experience.
