Reviews

Seamester programs are so unique because they a completely different way of living and learning. You get so close to other students and staff on the boat that it is a life-changing experience. There is so much choas, laughter, and goofiness on the boat that going back to regular life is boring.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect before going. I'd never been to Asia, and the idea of working in a Chinese company felt intimidating. But from the moment I landed, the GAC team was there — airport pickup, apartment sorted, everything. My placement was with a consulting firm in Shanghai, and within the first week I was already sitting in on client meetings and helping with research. My manager didn't treat me like "the intern" — she actually trusted me with real work. The office culture took some getting used to (meetings can be long!), but my colleagues were patient and always willing to explain things. I also took Mandarin classes twice a week, which helped more than I expected — by month two I could order lunch on my own. Three months flew by. I came home with actual experience on my CV and a lot more confidence.

I have had such an amazing journey with beyond academy. The staff were wonderful and accommodating, my placement program could not have gone better, and overall I had the best two months of my life. If I had to complain it would be about some aspects of my accomodations, which were not through beyond academy. They helped me find a place and booked it for me, but were not the owners of the building and thus were also confused by some of the occurrences that happened there. Beyond academy helped me to resolve those issues and even brought bedding when the accomodations forgot to provide any. This team is very good at what they do.

Hello, my name is Allison. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, I am twenty years old, and I am in my third year of undergraduate studies in California. I chose a medical internship because I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future. I really wanted to get a taste of medicine and be involved in that environment. I was offered this opportunity through my school, and it seemed like a great way to go abroad and see a part of the world I had never seen before. Some of the most exciting things I’ve seen specifically in the hospital include patient interaction, which was super cool, as well as some incredible surgeries. My favorite experience was seeing an open-heart surgery, which was one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed. The doctors were amazing—they really explained everything. Coordination was smooth. I think, as much as it is well-coordinated, you also have to take initiative to see what you want to see. Athens is beautiful. The people are super nice and helpful if you need anything. The food was amazing—I had so much gyros! I also got to visit some of the islands and learn about the history of the region, which was very enriching.

I had an amazing time learning about the culture in Thailand while participating in therapeutic activities with amazing children. it was a life-changing experience and I’m so thankful that therapy abroad made it so special!

This study abroad experience was truly life changing. I had never been camping before and was a little intimidated, but the instructors and staff were so kind and helpful. I also got the experience of a lifetime on the safaris! I got to see lots of elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras. Would highly highly recommend!

Hello I am Anne from Nairobi,Kenya. I am kind patient and honest. I love children. I have 12 months experience caring for children ages 1 to 10. I can cook clean bath dress feed help with homework and play. I am non smoker and respectful. I want to be Au Pair to join a kind family and share my culture.

Hi, my name is Harika, I am twenty years old and I go to the University of Middlesex in London. So, the reason I chose this internship is because I am looking to become a cardiologist and I just wanted to get some insight and some internal experience of how it would be like to get a taste of the future. The coordination with Intern Abroad/Cerca Abroad was ten out of ten. Everything has worked perfectly for me from my apartment, communication, and assistance, I couldn’t have had any other way.

Fast forward to the end, I got my certificates all downloaded and emailed to a few recruiters, who have all okayed them, which is a big deal to me. What I paid for the course was a little mind boggling tbh, as the speed of responses was fast and with a caring attitude, and the course layout and material is excellent. I've marked them down for pre and post course because I saw that other courses had freebies like TEFL location guides to download and some lesson plans etc but I haven't seen anything like that here. Regardless, as I said, what I did happen to get was more than enough to make up for those other little things being amiss. I am so satisfied with the majority of things that I wouldn't hesitate to commend this company to others.

The Expanish 50+ study abroad program in Malaga was amazing! The instructors were awesome and made the lessons engaging and fun. The cultural activities were really interesting and allowed for an excellent opportunity to learn about and experience the local history and culture. I highly recommend it!

I appreciate professors who explain the reasoning behind what we are learning, especially when it connects to practical medicine. Those are usually the classes I remember most. Practical relevance is important to me when I study.

I truly had an amazing time volunteering with Better Me. The program is beautifully organized, with volunteers staying in a comfortable home, enjoying great food, and, most importantly, being surrounded by wonderful people. The staff is incredible—they are welcoming, caring, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure every volunteer has a meaningful and memorable experience. The variety of opportunities offered throughout the week was so enriching and allowed me to connect with the community in so many different ways. Every child I interacted with was incredibly smart, kind, and full of personality, and in so many ways, they taught me more than I could have ever taught them. My time with Better Me was truly one of the most meaningful and enriching experiences of my life. I learned so much, grew in ways I never expected, and gained memories and relationships that I will carry with me for a long time. I genuinely wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. What is your advice to future travelers on this program? Try everything! Better Me has so many different opportunities and experiences available to volunteers, and the staff is incredibly open-minded and supportive if you want to create and lead your own activities. One of the other volunteers led guitar lessons, while I helped lead Zumba with another group of kids. I also got to help with social media, create my own lesson plans, and teach my own classes. Better Me also collaborates with so many different organizations, which gives you the opportunity to attend their events and meet other staff members and volunteers. Outside of volunteering, make sure you take advantage of being in Kenya! Go on a safari and explore different parts of the country. The staff has so many connections and is incredibly helpful.

Total immersion into jungle living, surprise sightings of jungle animals, simple local food and beach patrols under star-filled skies, not to mention the wonder of seeing turtles laying their eggs and releasing tiny hatchlings into the ocean.

I will never forget the last time I walked away from the school, knowing that the children who had become such a big part of my days would no longer be there waiting for me during the breaks. In such a short time, their hugs, their laughter, their little hands reaching for mine had become something I had started to take for granted. And suddenly, I had to say goodbye. I went to Zanzibar thinking I was going to volunteer for a couple of weeks. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally attached to a place, to a community and, most of all, to the people I met there. I volunteered with Zanzibar Learning 4 Life in Stone Town, mainly supporting the organization with administrative and organizational tasks and working closely with the founder. I also helped with communication, marketing and fundraising. It was a different kind of volunteering from what I had imagined, and I loved discovering the work that happens behind the scenes of a local organization. But the moments that will stay with me forever happened outside of my actual role. During my breaks, I was always surrounded by children. Someone would come to hold my hand, someone would ask me to play, someone would sit next to me just because they wanted to be close. Sometimes we didn’t even need words. Their smiles and affection said everything. I arrived thinking I would be the one making a difference, but I slowly realized how much they were changing me instead. They taught me to appreciate the simplest things, to be present and to find happiness in moments that cost absolutely nothing. I also tried to completely immerse myself in the local culture. I left behind, as much as I could, my usual routines, expectations and way of doing things. I wanted to experience Zanzibar rather than simply observe it. I listened, adapted, made mistakes, learned and allowed myself to see everyday life from a different perspective. That openness changed the experience for me. Looking back, I don’t think the most important thing I brought home was something I learned how to do. It was something I learned how to feel. I came home with photographs, stories and memories, but also with faces I can still picture, hugs I can still remember and a piece of Zanzibar that I know will always stay with me. I went there for a few weeks. Somehow, it feels like a part of me is still there.

My experience in the TEFL program was one of the most exhausting but exciting periods of my life. I would warn anyone who signs up that the program is intense. It’s essentially a full-time student schedule, where you’re expected to prepare a variety of lesson plans and study for quizzes. I would recommend this program to anyone who has a genuine interest in teaching and is excited for a new experience in a beautiful city. I would NOT recommend this program to someone who is looking for part-time work while traveling around Europe. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the program and the work opportunities it has given me so far.

I will never forget the last time I walked away from the school, knowing that the children who had become such a big part of my days would no longer be there waiting for me during the breaks. In such a short time, their hugs, their laughter, their little hands reaching for mine had become something I had started to take for granted. And suddenly, I had to say goodbye. I went to Zanzibar thinking I was going to volunteer for a couple of weeks. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally attached to a place, to a community and, most of all, to the people I met there. I volunteered with Zanzibar Learning 4 Life in Stone Town, mainly supporting the organization with administrative and organizational tasks and working closely with the founder. I also helped with communication, marketing and fundraising. It was a different kind of volunteering from what I had imagined, and I loved discovering the work that happens behind the scenes of a local organization. But the moments that will stay with me forever happened outside of my actual role. During my breaks, I was always surrounded by children. Someone would come to hold my hand, someone would ask me to play, someone would sit next to me just because they wanted to be close. Sometimes we didn’t even need words. Their smiles and affection said everything. I arrived thinking I would be the one making a difference, but I slowly realized how much they were changing me instead. They taught me to appreciate the simplest things, to be present and to find happiness in moments that cost absolutely nothing. I also tried to completely immerse myself in the local culture. I left behind, as much as I could, my usual routines, expectations and way of doing things. I wanted to experience Zanzibar rather than simply observe it. I listened, adapted, made mistakes, learned and allowed myself to see everyday life from a different perspective. That openness changed the experience for me. Looking back, I don’t think the most important thing I brought home was something I learned how to do. It was something I learned how to feel. I came home with photographs, stories and memories, but also with faces I can still picture, hugs I can still remember and a piece of Zanzibar that I know will always stay with me. I went there for a few weeks. Somehow, it feels like a part of me is still there.

Volunteering with Maximo Nivel was truly a blessing. I had the most amazing time immersing myself in the Costa Rican culture and helping others. The staff at Maximo Nivel were incredibly helpful, as well as the homestay.

Oh man, where do I begin? Broadreach has given me some of the most incredible experiences, memories, and skills in my life while being able to explore so many new places across the world! I got to try a whole lot of new food, give back to the communities across the world with service projects, see new life, gain new skills diving and sailing, and make lots of new friends and memories along the way! I remember one memory fondly where one of our instructors was able to make a lemon float mid-air using an air tank during some downtime, and its still one of the most bizarre but fun memories I have! I hope I can go back to sail with Broadreach again some day!

once you travel to a place you never been you start to see how different people live, peoples cultura and you get to meet people and their experiences in life. eye open ending experience for sure and that’s why i’m coming back again.

Hi, my name is Chloe and I am from California. I go to San Diego State University. I chose this program because I eventually want to become a doctor or a surgeon. My experience with Cerca Abroad was very good. I got to experience lots of surgeries I had never seen before, which is something we can’t really see in America—so it was definitely a good experience. Athens was very fun. We also got to visit some of the islands. Overall, it was a great experience and I gained a lot of clinical experience as well.