Greenheart Travel

My experience studying abroad in Costa Rica was truly unforgettable, and I am so grateful for the support and opportunities provided by my program. From the very beginning, the agency made sure I felt safe, supported, and prepared. They genuinely cared about my experience and my individual needs. Anytime I had a question or needed assistance, they were quick to respond and took action right away. Throughout my time abroad, I had countless opportunities to explore Costa Rica both within the city where I lived and beyond. The program provided many cultural activities that allowed me to better understand the country, experience new traditions, and practice my Spanish in real-life situations. These experiences helped me grow more confident and connected to the culture. My host family was another incredible part of my journey. They were kind, welcoming, and made me feel like a part of their family. They included me in everyday activities like grocery shopping, family game nights, and other moments that allowed me to experience authentic Costa Rican life. This program gave me memories, friendships, and personal growth that I will carry with me forever. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful and supportive study abroad experience.

Going to Saint Malo was one of the most memorable experience of my life. Everyday was packed with events and joy. Although it was just three weeks, I left Saint-Malo with incredible gifts in my heart - more confidence in speaking French, friends and a new family. I was very lucky to have had such a supportive host family. She was very thoughtful and entertaining, and she was the one who supported me linguistically and mentally throughout the stay. She even introduced to me a game that I fell in love with called, “rummikub” which I bought for myself as soon as I get back home. I met so many new friends from around the world, who I still stay in touch and FaceTime. I cannot speak fluent French, which lead to so many miscommunications, but still as I spoke more, it naturally started to stick to my brain. I had so many challenges, but looking back now, that all became a part of the amazing memories I have. I would highly recommend this program to any high schoolers who is eager to push themselves out of their comfort level to learn a language while having fun! One advice I would give is to bring card games. It can be a conversation starter even if your not good at the language. I felt my improvement in French the most when I interacted with my host family. It doesn't have to be card games, but anything that you can bring to the table and have fun with is a must-bring.

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As a first time solo traveler, this program fit my needs perfectly. We had engaging Spanish lessons and ample opportunities for me to practice what I had already learned in my previous Spanish classes. My host family was super helpful and kind, and I met such amazing people from all around the world. The city of Alicante has many things to do and sights to see, as well as a multitude of delicious restaurants.

Before coming to Argentina, I was excited but also nervous because it was my first time living in another country for such a long time. Looking back now, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. My host family welcomed me from day one and quickly made me feel like part of their family. They introduced me to Argentine traditions, food, and everyday life, and I built memories that I'll always carry with me. Attending school in Argentina gave me the chance to improve my Spanish, make friends from around the world, and experience a completely different education system. Outside of school, I loved traveling, exploring new places, going to football matches, drinking mate, and learning about the country's culture and history. There were definitely moments when I missed home, but those challenges helped me become more independent, confident, and adaptable. I learned that growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. I'm incredibly thankful to Greenheart Travel for making this experience possible. They were supportive throughout the process and helped me achieve a dream I had for years. I would recommend this program to anyone thinking about studying abroad. You'll make lifelong friends, gain a new perspective on the world, and come home as a different person in the best way possible.

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This is the first time I have ventured out by myself and left the country, which was a little scary at first but also thrilling and exciting. Leaving my home country, I knew culture was going to be different in Spain and it was, but I loved every second of it. Every culture difference I saw in Spain was awesome and interesting. I had many great experiences that helped me get fully immersed into the true spirit and culture of Spain. I loved the medieval history, Tabarca Island, and many other experiences I got to do. I made many friends and the program was absolutely amazing and worth it. My host mom was great and very sweet. She worked hard to make many meals and create a comfortable place for me to stay. My place was perfect for me and all my needs. Being a first-time traveler and going somewhere you've never been, you will experience homesickness either on your first day or your second day, which is completely normal. I know I did. I had to look past it and instead get out of your apartment and go out and explore the city- go to the beach and experience the beach, make friends. Making friends is crucial to curing culture shock and homesickness. I had homesickness my first and second days until I met my roommate Kai and we became friends, then my culture shock and homesickness just went away. I soon made more friends and then it definitely went away. It came back every once in a while, but that was just because I missed my family and I missed my home, which is completely normal being a first time traveler. However, because of my host family and friends, I got through it and had a great trip.

My year abroad was an experience filled with highs, lows, and surprises. Looking back, my experience was mixed, it didn't fully meet my expectations in some areas, but in others, I was pleasantly surprised. The good parts were incredible, living in a different country allowed me to experience a new culture, meet people from different countries and backgrounds, and gain a greater sense of independence. I enjoyed exploring new cities, trying local foods, and learning more about how people live and study outside of my home country. These experiences helped me grow personally and become more adaptable. However, there were also challenges that made the experience difficult at times. Adjusting to a new environment was harder than expected, and there were moments when I felt disconnected from my new life abroad or frustrated. I faced challenges I wasn't prepared to confront by myself, such as sudden loss, anxiety, and homesickness. While I had my host family and friends to support me, I was sure being at home with my family would help me with my problems. But, even though I struggled with these things, it added to my experience here and helped me learn how to rely on others, myself, and trust in the process. One of the most unexpected parts was noticing how my behavior changed in a new environment. In America, I tended to be louder and more active in class discussions. In Italy, I became more observant and passive, spending more time listening, translating, and noticing my surroundings. While this was not a change I anticipated, it taught me that growth can happen in ways you don't expect. I wouldn't count this as a positive or negative aspect, because in ways I feel like I lost a large part of who I am by being quieter, but I also just learned how to express myself in ways that I hadn't in my home country. Although my experience was mixed, I don't regret it. The challenges, lessons, and memories all contributed to a chapter of my life that helped me better understand both the world and myself. Overall, this year made me face problems I never expected to deal with, especially on my own; but I learned more this year than I planned to, so I am happy I went out of my comfort zone, tried a year abroad, and learned about myself.

My name is Jadie, I did one highschool year abroad in Italy with the help of Greenheart. With the experience I had using Greenheart travel, I am very happy and satisfied. If I ever had a problem, issue, or anything that I was stressed out about, they were there. If i sent an email they would respond almost immediately, and if the time change didn’t align they have a 24/7 hotline. I am very pleased with their company and would highly recommend this program to anyone who is wanting to go abroad for however long. My parents can confirm this, as Greenheart always updated them even if I didn’t. I would one hundred percent recommend this program to students trying to get out of their comfort zone and grow their future.

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This experience has been the best most educational and formative of my life. It has changed me as a person and permanently altered my mindset for the rest of my life. If you choose to do this it will be something you never forget. You will gain memories, friends, and a new home no matter how long you stay.

This program was everything that I had hoped it would be and more. The food was delicious, the culture and history of Spain was magnificent, and my host family was super kind and accommodating. Madrid itself was also very clean, full of friendly people, and the safest city I have ever lived in. You don't receive much guidance from the program in regards to teaching, navigating the city, or making friends, but I was able to overcome most of these challenges myself or with the help of my host family after sometime. Would highly recommend this program if you are looking for a change of pace.

My time as an exchange student in Costa Rica has truly been such a great opportunity and experience. Living with my host family made me feel truly welcomed and part of their home, and every day gave me a chance to learn more about the culture, the language, and myself. From the beautiful nature and exciting adventures to the small everyday moments, I gained new perspectives and made memories I will never forget.

Green Heart, to put it shortly, has truly opened my eyes to an experience of a lifetime. Allowing me to see things and have experiences that I believed I would never bless me in my years of living. To put in into simpler terms, it was as if about 20 angels came down from the sky and gave me an oppurtunity to go overseas and live out the daydream. Thank you truly!

I had an amazing time studying abroad in Quebec City. I was apart of a amazing school community and made plenty of friends. I had the best school director and my teachers were nothing but kind, supportive and amazing.

This was my first time traveling alone and overall it was a very positive experience! I left feeling confident traveling on my own and realized I very much prefer handling my schedule than letting others handle it. I was not amazed by the school. The teachers were nice but the class work was very similar to your average Spanish class. Communication with GreenHeart was great but the communication from the school wasn’t the best. Overall I think this is a good program if it’s your first time traveling abroad. You’ll get a good mix of structured activities and the freedom to explore and very safe and welcoming city.

Green Hearts Travel’s Teen Language Camp is an amazing experience for young learners. The camp offers a fun way to learn a new language while exploring different cultures. From the start, it’s clear that the camp is all about making learning enjoyable and engaging. The language lessons are interactive and interesting, with activities like cooking classes, field trips, and games that help students practice the language in real-life situations. Instead of just memorizing vocabulary, campers get to use the language in everyday contexts, which makes it much easier to understand and remember. The camp also focuses on building friendships and confidence. Teens from all over the world come together, and the small group sizes make it easy to connect with others. The staff is friendly and supportive, always ready to help students with both learning and personal growth. The accommodations are comfortable, and the food is great, so campers feel at home during their stay. Overall, Green Hearts Travel’s Teen Language Camp is a perfect mix of education and fun. It’s a place where teens can learn a language, make new friends, and have an unforgettable adventure.

This program was very rough. Overall, there was an overwhelming lack of support from the program and not many experiences to engage in the culture outside of your host families resources. I did not have a horrible time, I still made friends and learned the language alright, but my experience was pretty limited in comparison to the amount I payed for this program. The only part of my program that went really well was the time at the high school I was placed in. However, the high school was an entirely different entity than Greenheart Travel, so Greenheart earns no points there. The biggest problem was the huge variability in the quality of host families paired with the lack of in country support. While I did not expect to be placed with a very rich family, I did expect my family to be financially stable and to have the time and resources to care for me. This was not the case. My host family had barely enough money to get by, especially with me added to the family. They often asked to borrow money from me or to borrow my credit card. I found this highly inappropriate. In addition, most of the time I was on my own or only with my host sister (who was younger than me). Food situations were often tricky too, it was always awkward to ask for food. A lot of the time I did not get breakfast. The only method of transport in the host family was a motorcycle, so they were not even able to take me to and from the airport. I had to do most public transit on my own. I understand some people live this way and that is fine, I don’t mean to be disrespectful. However, the program did promise regular meals a day and a stable host family situation. On top of the unstable family situations, the lack of in country support also made my experience very difficult. The staff in country knew nothing about exchanging money in Argentina and often recommended illegal methods. This is unacceptable. The staff tasked with selecting, interacting, and monitoring host families did not meant standard.They did not provide a lot of resources to me when my host family situation became volatile. The opportunity to swap families was mentioned but never presented as a real option. In addition, I found that the host families were not well prepared to accept exchange students. EduQuality staff members had not done a good job communicating with host families about expectations on meals, help with the language, etc. The Greenheart program’s support back at home when I applied and when I returned were not admirable either. They often took weeks to respond to my emails and several mistakes were made during my payment process including pushed up deadlines and extra charges. While all of these problems were resolved it was troublesome. In addition, after returning in country I was not awarded my scholarship for several months. I was supposed to receive it while in Argentina or shortly after, however I took several emails, many phone calls, and the help of my parents to obtain the money. I was very disappointed in this. The last thing I would like to say is that these problems did not only happen to me. The cohort I went with faced similar problems with food, housing, and completely unaccepting host families. They also experienced Greenheart and their companion company in Argentina take away in country support from them while they faced significant problems. I sincerely hope you will think twice before sending yourself or your child with this program. I was not impressed and it was quite expensive. You could have a much better experience with another company. A better option might be the rotary program.

I did a high school semester abroad in Italy with Greenheart Travel this year (2024-2025). Before I left, I was looking into other programs but none of them made me feel as excited and secure as Greenheart did! Greenheart has a bunch of stundent-written blogs on their website that were helpful to read and made me feel like I knew what I was getting into. Our coordinator was so lovely and helpful, she was always encouraging and honest and open to answer all of me and my parents questions. Greenheart matched me with the most amazing host family and my host family made my whole experience soo amazing! (It seriously makes all the difference!) Greenheart takes your hopes and worries into consideration and strives to give you the best experience possible. If you are looking into studying abroad, I HIGHLY recommend going with Greenheart Travel as your program!

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Studying abroad in Ireland with Greenheart Travel’s High School Study Abroad Program was a valuable experience, though not without its challenges. I spent a semester in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, attending Transition Year at Monaghan Collegiate School. While there were many positive moments, the program’s partner organization often lacked adequate support, which created unnecessary difficulties. The program began with a stressful arrival. As a first-time solo traveler, I was told staff would meet me after customs, but no one was there. I spent over an hour searching for assistance, which could have been avoided with better communication. Fortunately, the orientation camp at Maynooth University helped me settle in, offering a fun and welcoming introduction to Ireland. My host placement was one of the best parts of the experience. I lived with a single woman who was incredibly kind and supportive, providing a safe and comfortable home. Not all students were as fortunate, which made me even more appreciative of my situation. School was a mixed experience. Transition Year focused more on activities like work placements and trips than academics, which had its enjoyable moments. However, the school environment was not always welcoming, as I witnessed some of my peers facing discriminatory behavior that wasn’t addressed. Living in Monaghan had its challenges. The small-town setting felt limiting, and with so many exchange students placed in the area, it sometimes seemed the program prioritized filling spots over thoughtful placements. Traveling to iconic Irish landmarks was expensive and difficult, which was disappointing. Another issue was the lack of support from Greenheart’s partner agency, Educatius. Beyond the airport mishap, the local coordinator wasn’t approachable, and concerns often went unresolved. However, the trips organized by Educatius were highlights, especially visits to Giant’s Causeway and Belfast, which provided opportunities to explore Ireland’s beauty and culture. Overall, my semester in Ireland was a mix of highs and lows. The friendships I made and the personal growth I experienced were invaluable, but the program’s organizational shortcomings were frustrating. For future travelers, I recommend researching placements and support thoroughly. Despite the challenges, the experience was worthwhile, and I’ll carry the memories and lessons with me for years to come.

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I loved my program and I do not regret going. I had a lot of fun engaging in school, sports, community events, and traveling. I had a fair amount of opportunities in my town even though it was small and people were very willing to accept me into their community. I grew to love the culture and found it easy to make friends, learn the language, and live a new lifestyle even though I am typically a reserved person. I struggled with my host family and also had several problems with staff members and these are the reasons I would not recommend the program. I found the staff were not mindful of the best interests of exchange students and did not prepare host families well to accept a student. For this reason, I would not recommend this program even though I did have a wonderful time despite the many rough spots.

I have had an overall positive experience with Greenheart Travel. I applied for their program to complete the 1-month TESOL course and find a 7-month teaching placement in Thailand. Greenheart was helpful throughout the application process, but I have been in very little contact with them since. After I was accepted for this program, Greenheart connected me with a partner agency based out of Thailand to take over my placement. I would recommend Greenheart Travel as a stepping stone to find out more information about the program you are interested in, but beware that they may not remain as your go-to agency once you move further along in the process. However, if any questions come up that Greenheart is unable to address, they can connect you with someone who can!

It was such an amazing experience that I would trade for the world. Because of this trip, I now am able to travel abroad on my own without fear. This experience opened up so many door for me and my future. Traveling with the program made me value change.

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