The Experiment in International Living

I traveled to Tokyo, Japan for the Anime and Manga program. It was an amazing experience. I met new people along the way. Our leaders were very informed and experienced. I was able to not just learn the anime and manga but also the Japanese culture. My host family was welcoming and I enjoyed my time with them. A great life experience.

I loved visiting Germany so much that I wish to visit again when I am older. I had a lot of fun embracing the new culture and participating with students my age. The best part of the whole trip was trying new food and seeing how different each fast food shop was from those in the U.S.

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.

I had so much fun on this trip abroad and felt that I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams which was to go and explore France. This was something I never would’ve expected I’d do in high school but its truly an unforgettable experience.

Last summer, I spent three weeks in Spain, and it honestly changed the way I see things. Being in a totally new place pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way. I had to figure things out on my own, try new foods, get used to the language, and adjust to a completely different lifestyle. What I loved most was how social and laid-back everything felt. The people there really take time to enjoy life, food, and each other. I met so many kind people and learned a lot just by being present and open. That experience helped me grow more confident, independent, and open-minded. It wasn’t just a trip for me. It was a moment that helped shape who I am now. Hopefully I can go back!

I had a great time in France. I felt very safe, and The Experiment took so many precautions that I barely worried. The people were amazing, and all the setup for the trip was so helpful. I truly recommend this program to people who want to travel!

The study abroad trip was an extraordinary experience to learn about culture and immerse myself in the community I spent time with. The activities throughout the day and the scheduled day make it fun, with the sights, places, and foods to get to see and taste. Truly bonded with the family I spent time with, who made it so special. It's an unforgettable experience that I 00% recommend to those interested in traveling, learning more communicative skills, and are ready to get a little uncomfortable!

Going to Japan was something I had dreamed about for a long time. I was introduced through anime and manga, but quickly became fascinated with their history, language, and culture. Participating in the Experiment gave me the opportunity to experience the things I had admired and researched independently. Going to historical sites like Hiroshima Castle, viewing art at the Osaka National Art Museum, and eating cultural cuisine like Takoyaki were memories that I will always treasure. I learned so much about Japanese people by talking to the college students who accompanied us and observing people in everyday settings. This was especially true during the Homestay. Spending time in a Japanese home I got to experience a typical weekend for my family, allowing me to have an authentic perspective of what life is like in a different culture. With my homestay family I got to dress in Yukata and go to a local festival, or Omatsuri. This was the highlight of my trip! Watching Taiko and talking with local residents was such a unique experience. I’m so glad the Experiment matched me with such welcoming and lovely people! Everything from the quiet bullet train rides to the bustling area of Dotonburi were thoughtfully planned by the experiment to give greater understanding of Japan. This program was great for people who want to be introduced to Japanese culture!

The experiment was the best experience of my life. First off Amy and Danielle were absolutely amazing leaders and extremely easy to talk to and the friends I made in the group were extremely nice as well! Along with this the homestay experience was the most uncomfortable yet rewarding experience yet, I had the time of my life living amongst my host family and was able to see how it is to live in a family that is completely different than mine. I would do this all again if I could!

Honestly, at the beginning of the enrollment I was a little hesitant but I am so glad I followed through. I learned a lot of new things and met amazing people throughout this program. I tried new things, experienced the life of an Italian, and I built bonds. I am so incredibly happy about this and I would one hundred percent do it again. My homestay family was really nice and they had amazing food. My favorite thing I ate with my family was tomato pasta. We all attended a cooking class and my favorite thing we cooked in class was lasagna. Every single food that I ate was so amazing and flavorful and I am definitely gonna try to make some at home for the family. I could go on and on, but 30 days might be a lot to explain. I would highly recommend.

The trip started of amazing, as I went on it got even better with us going all across Ecuador learning the culture and eating different foods. The favourite highlight from the trip was especially the butterfly farm and being able to have that experience of being surrounded by such beautiful butterflies.

This summer I had the privilege of studying abroad in Italy! I got to visit sights like the Colosseum, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, the David statue by Michaelangelo, and so much more. I loved staying with my host family who were so kind and my host sister who was so silly! All of Italy is so beautiful, and the culture even more so. The culinary training aspect was amazing! We got to make at least two courses and a dessert everyday of the course. We even learned about cappuccino making and we had a final lunch gala to show all of our work! I loved this experience and I definitely recommend it!

I had so much fun on this trip! I met new people, learned about the culture of Costa Rica, lived with a Costa Rican family for 10 days, ate new foods (and lots of it), saw a bunch of animals, and more. One of my favorite parts were the sunsets, and also seeing animals in Corcovado National Park.

This experience challenged me to grow, change, and learn more about the world outside of my hometown. It was a wonderful experience, and I will always remeber my time abroad. I couldn’t have done it without the support from the Experiment.

My experience in Ghana was a once in a lifetime experience. While getting to experience a new culture, I also got to make memorable connections with 9 of the other students on the trip. Being in a different country as a teenager without your family is hard, but the people that I was surrounded with on the trip made it so much easier to adjust. As soon as we got there we were immersed into Ghana's rich history and culture. It was super fun to learn fun facts about the country and how Ghana first gained its independence. We tried new foods, went to many museums and cultural sites, explored the rainforest, went on hikes, and walked through the bustling streets of Accra. I am so grateful that I had the chance to experience Ghana with EIL. I will never forget how monumental this trip was to my self discovery and overall growth as a high school student.

I loved this experience. From the group to the leaders to each city we visited, the immersive nature of this trip always hit us with surprises and adventure. My favorite part was waking up early in the morning to catch so many turtles nesting at the beach. It was so cool to be so close to such beautiful creatures, and I think it sums up the experience pretty well: immersing yourself in nature, learning by doing, and soaking in the beauty of the plants, animals, and culture of Costa Rica every day.

I had a great time in Costa Rica! The entire experience, whether it be the homestay or glamping in the cloudy forest, was so eye opening. I admire the sustainability practices in Costa Rica and hope to share what I learned back home.

As much as I enjoyed the experience, one thing I wish was different was the number of classes we had. For a program called "language and culture" I felt as if we learned so little of the language, though I appreciated the sight-seeing, it was overwhelming compared to the amount Japanese classes we had.

I went on this trip during a hard time in my life. I have always wanted to go to a rainforest and have always loved learning about the delicate balance of the environment and human society. This trip allowed me to find who I am, including who I want to be! I was immersed in the Ecuadorian, and South American culture and their beautiful environment. I realized my dream of protecting nature through conservation and found a college that would be a perfect fit, for my path and purpose as a human being, and that is pure magic. This was a beautiful experience, and I still talk to my group on WhatsApp!!! We formed a bond and learned a lot from each other. We all pushed past the box we grew up in, and our learned limits, which is such a beautiful thing. Difficult of course but so so worth it!!! I suffer from a lot of anxiety as well as Chronic Lyme and this helped me grow from the barriers I thought those labels put me in, including how and what I needed to work on for myself especially mentally.

Going into Ghana I had no expectations. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, which helped me have the best time ever. I remember my first day there I looked outside the window and saw a different world. Kids were running around in the streets, the people carried buckets on their heads, and everywhere you looked there was someone selling food on the streets, it was beautiful. My time there was the liveliest I had felt in a long time. There is no place in the world as beautiful as Ghana.