Reviews

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.

It's a good course and I am proud that I finish it with time. I have learned many interesting things and feel confident in my English. I will use this for help me teach children more better in the academy. The price is good for what I learn.

El Terreno was an incredible experience, one that is difficult to fully explain because it is something that can only truly be understood by living it. My time there allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, connect with new perspectives, and experience a way of life that completely changed how I see the world. Through the people, the community, and the daily experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for simplicity, collaboration, and the value of meaningful human connections. This journey expanded the small bubble I once lived in and gave me a renewed perspective on life, personal growth, and the impact we can create when we engage with others. If I had the opportunity to relive the entire experience again, I would do it without hesitation. El Terreno will always remain a meaningful chapter of my life.

My experience at El Terreno was truly recommendable. During my time there, I had the opportunity to participate in physiotherapy projects and work closely with the community, which allowed me to apply my knowledge while learning from the people around me. This experience gave me a better understanding of the importance of accessible healthcare, human connection, and community-based support. I appreciated the welcoming environment, the cultural exchange, and the opportunity to contribute through my field of study. It was a valuable experience both professionally and personally, and I would highly recommend El Terreno to anyone looking for a meaningful learning journey.

Everything about Thailand with give was absolutely unforgettable! Every person that I met and place that I went exceeded every expectation that I could have had! This trip was so so excellent. And the guides made sure that I was not only always okay but that I was given the most immersive trip possible! They were so knowledgeable when asked any question and loved to share their culture and stories with us which made the trip even better! All of the local and international guides were so kind, caring and authentically themselves! Creating such a save space for each volunteer to do the same. The itinerary was packed with a great mix of all things Thailand, and on top of the wonderful volunteering we did, it provided a truly amazing opportunity to really experience the people of Thailand and it’s culture. It truly was such an incredible opportunity!

Amazing experience, great opportunity to travel and explore a new culture and helps get you out your comfort zone. Its also very rewarding helping children abroad learn English and seeing how happy and grateful they were.

Learning traditional construction methods with native materials, and working directly with community residents provided the ideal cultural immersion and educational experience to expand my knowledge of vernacular architecture.

I learned a lot of useful information here. I did have a good time. The knowledge that i gained will definitely help me in the future and allow me to further any equine program i decide to take on. I do feel that I was a bit misled on where the program was, cost of living, and location. It started at the airport when we had an hour longer wait and no contact with anyone. No one here actually uses whatsapp, which adelante insisted we needed. There were 3 of us siting in the airport in the dark trying to figure out what to do in a foreign country with no guidance or contacts. When we arrived we were dropped off in the middle of no where with no service or information on where to go and how to get there. We had no contacts and it made for a very scary 24 hours. After that the trip went ok when we settled in. Scotland is definitely on a different time frame, very much 'island time'. When it comes to cost of living it is very expensive to get anywhere and we were not prepared properly for that. Adelante failed on that end as well. We also are in the middle of no where. We were led to believe that it was easy to get anywhere and it most definitely is not easy or cheap. So very opposite of what we were told. I had a good time in the program and it would have been fun to ride a bit more. I liked the information we learned, it was surface level, but still very beneficial.

I had a great time interning with the professors in Dundee, Scotland. They helped us integrate into the culture and navigate our new surroundings while also providing us with useful professional experience. I do feel that the admin of Adelante was a bit unorganized as far as knowing important information and providing context. I also found the meetings leading up to be a bit un informative and I would rather it be a time for us to meet each other than ask personal questions to a large group (many of which weren’t answered anyway). Overall I had a great time with this program, I just wish I had some more clarity in the earlier stages of the trip.

This was my first study abroad experience and first time out of the country so I was not quite sure what to expect. The staff were very nice and supportive throughout the experience, but more communication between instructors and meeting times/places would have been helpful.