The Experiment Digital: International Virtual Exchanges

In my opinion, this trip was amazing in almost all regards. I have made multiple friends, both in and beyond my group, and my group and I have created an unbreakable bond. The sights were amazing, we often partook in the local transportation, and most importantly, we had freedom in where we wanted to go. For example, one time, around ten or so people in our group went to find a restaurant by ourselves, and we all were able to return to the hostel, with no pushback from our group leaders. Another time, we all planned to meet up at the gates of our hostel and head out to a local park, truly one of the best nights of the trip (maybe even that year)! All in all, from the food, to the culture, to the people, the trip truly immersed me in Japan, and I am so glad I chose to participate.

It was an amazing trip. I met so many amazing people and learned a lot of new things. We traveled to a bunch of different cities/towns in Italy. We took a few language classes before we did a homestay. The families were amazing, I felt like I was family. The highlight of the trip was the multiple cooking classes we did with an amazing chef to guide us. We also got to eat all the food after!?

During my Spain 3 week travel, I really felt that it irrevocably changed me for the future. For example, the amount of independence and confidence I gained is something that it didn't necessarily expect. From flying domestically by myself and navigating the streets of busy Spain, I was forced to be able to navigate independently and find my place in a foreign country. My host family was additionally very kind, and truly made me feel welcome in their home. The new Spanish friends that I made I still keep in contact with today, as they made an honest effort to make me feel included. Overall, I would definitely recommend this program to students who want a very new experience and to understand a culture different from their own.