TEAN: Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia

There is nothing bad to say about The Education Abroad Network and studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. It was the most incredible 5 months of my life and I would not change a single second of it. Everything flowed smoothly thanks to the Education Abroad Network and I could not have done it without them. Thanks to them my experience abroad ran smoothly and whenever I needed help they were always available. There is NO other program to go through, they are the best!

I could not have asked for a better semester in Australia. TEAN was well-organized and made choosing classes, finding housing, and planning excursions quick and easy.

The TEAN staff is great. They are helpful and responsive to any questions or concerns. The TEAN Resident Directors hold a few coffee breaks throughout the semester where students can go chat with the Resident Director and other students. I enjoyed these meetings because we were able to get to know the TEAN staff and hear many of their interesting stories.

The organized TEAN excursions were the highlights of my semester. I was lucky to be able to go on both the pre semester trip to Cairns and the spring break trip to Thailand. I had an unbelievable experience on both of these trips because they were jam packed with awesome activities and created opportunities for program students to get to know each other. TEAN did an amazing job of planning activities that were interesting to students. Between Cairns and Thailand, some of my favorite activities were snorkeling, scuba diving, bungy jumping, white water rafting, hiking, riding elephants, and hugging tigers- not to mention exploring the culture of different cities.

Looking back at the 4.5 months that I was abroad, I could actually pin point the time period that I really started to transform and grow. It was after a 10 day trip up to Cairns, I started hiking every weekend, and adapted to a healthy life style. I was more energetic, constantly going to new places and seeing new things, and growing as a person. I became very independent, and truly enjoyed the changes that happened within me. Now upon my return to the states, I really feel that I've taken everything that I learned from abroad and adapted it to my current lifestyle in some way.
A little about my living situation- my flat was located across the road from Central Station, which was central to EVERYTHING! I was able to get around, and go absolutely anywhere that I wanted to. Westfield shopping center, suburbs, blue mountains... check, check, check!

From the very beginning of the abroad process, TEAN was always available to respond to any emails I sent at any time. I knew that they were going to be a very reliable and dedicated program, even before I went abroad. I was able to gain an experience unlike any other. I have never lived so far away from home, and I found that there were so many other people doing what I did. I made such strong friendships, and experienced things I never thought I would do (like skydiving!!!!). I traveled to Thailand, New Zealand, Fiji, and other cities in Australia, and each place had something special about it. I would 110% do it all over again and I think it was more than worthwhile. TEAN helped make my experience what it was, and I wouldn't have changed anything about it. Australia is an INCREDIBLE country and I would love to go back there someday soon.

My semester in Sydney was, simply put, amazing. Going to an Australian school allowed me to really immerse myself in the culture and make friends with the locals. Some of my closest friends are the people I met there as well as the other study abroad students who lived with me. My living situation was absolutely perfect. I lived across the street from a Westfield shopping center, plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and the beach and city were a 10 minute bus or train ride away. The staff and resident directors of TEAN made easing into my new lifestyle very comfortable. Orientation week we did so many activities that I would have not been able to plan out and afford on my own. Academically, the program helped me to have all of my classes set up, and the staff at my university were very helpful and welcoming to all abroad students. Overall, I feel that my abroad experience was culturally enriching and I got to see and experience things that I never thought I could.

Thanks to TEAN, I had an absolutely amazing study abroad experience! I lived in an apartment inCoogee Beach, which is a suburb of Sydney. Coogee is a really cool town and has some nice bars and restaurants. It was a quick walk/bus ride to UNSW and a short bus ride into the city. It was an ideal location.

One of the things I like best about TEAN is the orientation. What better way to get acclimated to a new environment than to go on a scavenger hunt, try new foods, scale the harbor bridge, and cruise through the harbor? It was a great way to get to know the city (including the transportation systems) as well as the other people in the program. Not many other programs provide this opportunity.

The TEAN staff also made studying abroad that much better. From the moment I began planning my trip, TEAN staff helped me acquire course syllabi and figure out my financial situation. Once I was actually in Australia, TEAN staff members were excited to teach and orient me, and were happy to provide advice and assistance throughout the entire semester.

My experience in Sydney in the Spring of 2012 would not have been the same if I had not gone through TEAN. We lived in the Tiffany Tower in Bondi Junction which was convenient to everything in Sydney because we lived right above the Junction bus & train station and right next to the huge Westfield that would have everything you could ever need. We were a short bus ride from the amazing Bondi Beach which was so great and only about 20 minutes from UNSW campus. I have never felt as safe in an area I have lived in. I absolutely loved the nightlife and took full advantage of it. The best part of my experience was traveling and TEAN made that so easy. I went on their organized trips to Cairns as a pre-trip and Thailand for spring break. From Thailand I extended for 5 days to go to Hong Kong. During study break I went on a Contiki tour to New Zealand and after exams were over I met my family in Japan for two weeks. These were by far the best 5 months of my life and I can't thank TEAN enough for making that possible.

I had the most amazing experience studying abroad with TEAN. They prepare you so much before you leave and are also amazing resources while in Sydney. The housing is beautiful and the TEAN trips- both the orientation pre-trip and the spring break trip to Thailand- were things that I will never forget. I highly recommend TEAN!