Category: High School – Italy

Greenheart’s First Time Traveler Scholarship Winners for Spring 2024!

Every year, Greenheart makes scholarships available to First Time Travelers. These scholarships are intended for those who have never traveled out of the country and want to immerse themselves in another culture. Here are just some of the winners of the 2024 First Time Traveler Scholarships and their thoughts on travel!

Name: Clara

Program: High School Abroad in Sweden

Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you?

It opens a whole new world of experiences and opportunities, immersing myself in different cultures, trying new foods, exploring breathtaking landscapes, and meeting people from all walks of life. I’m getting a chance to break free from familiar everyday life and embrace the unknown. I’m excited to be in the shoes of a Swedish teenager and experience everything that comes with it. I’m hoping to be able to explore and soak up everything around me.

Name: Alana

Program: Teen Language Camp in Japan

What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

“Travel for a Change” to me, means the opportunity of becoming more aware of other places and cultures in the world. It signifies the internal change that one will go through while experiencing all these ways of living life that are unlike our own. With the opportunity of traveling and visiting new places, you will learn new cultures, food, fashion, languages, and more. While you travel and come across all these experiences, you will gain a broader understanding of the world. The places you visited will leave an imprint on who you are and who you will become as a person therefore, changing you from who you used to be into someone with more comprehension of cultures and lifestyles.

Name: Naomi

Program: High School Abroad in Argentina

What does Greenheart Travel’s mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

To me, “Travel for a Change” means that travel breaks down barriers and prejudices between the traveler and those being visited. Furthermore, travel also builds bridges in the places of those barriers and prejudices. These changes that occur while traveling ultimately allow our world to be a more loving, accepting, and connected environment. As people begin to be more accepting of other cultures through travel, the world becomes a better place.

Name: Sadie

Program: High School Abroad in Italy

What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

To me, traveling for a change also means you evolve who you are as a person and your perspective on what may be considered ‘normal’ because it provides the opportunity to see how others live! That’s why I want to actually live with a family in Italy. To live and invest in relationships with others around the world is a truly rewarding experience. Travel also forces you to grow as a person by stepping outside of your comfort zone, learning to handle responsibility, navigating different forms of transportation, learning about different currencies, language and relating to others with different backgrounds and traditions. I think travel has the capacity to help teens like me grow and gain so many more tools than what may be possible without the experience of travel.

Name: Madeleine

Program: High School Abroad in Ireland

Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you?

Ever since I was young, my main goal has been to see the world. I’ve always recognized that there is much more to explore beyond my backyard. From the gorgeous hills of Ireland to the seaside cities in Greece so many call home, there are countless people to meet and endless astounding views. To not only get to travel outside of America for an extended period of time but to also be fully immersed in the day-to-day experience of the citizens there, is a first-time, life-changing experience. I am excited to connect to new people and to be able to return to the United States with a new outlook on my life!

Name: Kennedi-Grace

Program: Teen Language Camp South Korea

What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

“Travel for a Change” implies traveling with the intention of being a forever learner. To learn how to make a change in your community by learning the values of the different cultures around the world. To make a difference in the communities we are a part of, we need to be able to see ourselves from a different perspective. To learn what it means to be a community and learning to come together despite our differences.

Name: Zev

Program: Teen Language Camp Spain

What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

For me, travel symbolizes more than just visiting new destinations; it’s a transformative odyssey that promises to shape my worldview, enrich my understanding of diverse cultures, and foster a profound sense of empathy and connection with the world. Stepping beyond the borders of familiarity, I anticipate encountering unfamiliar landscapes, immersing myself in vibrant cultures, and forging meaningful connections with people from all walks of life.

Name: Jade

Program: Teen Language Camp France – Saint-Malo

Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time on your own exciting for you?

I have never gotten on a plane by myself to a foreign country. I’ve never needed to navigate my way to a destination, nor been forced to figure out how to find my way – no less all by myself. The idea of living in a foreign city, with a new family, and leaving my home family and friends behind is something I’ve never done before. While it is all a bit intimidating, it is at the same time exciting, interesting, and adventurous!

Name: Anna

Program: Teach Abroad Thailand

What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you?

“There is a famous quote that says, “The sky is the limit, but there are footprints on the moon.” Like the Greenheart mission, this saying means that we create our own limits. We are not constrained to one location, aspiration, or situation unless we force ourselves to do so. Traveling can be intimidating, but it can also be the most rewarding accomplishment of a lifetime if we allow ourselves to have it. We are the creators of our own destinies, so only we have the power to step outside of the boxes in which we confine ourselves.”

Learn more about Greenheart’s First Time Traveler Scholarships

May 16, 2024
Preparing to go to Italy? Here are 5 Language & Culture Resources!
Students who choose to go to Italy for High School Abroad get the full immersive experience into the Italian language and culture. From the host families to the Italian high school classes, students get the opportunity to learn and practice Italian first-hand.

Italy is one of the few high school abroad locations that does NOT require any previous language experience – complete beginners welcome! But of course, you’re going to want to learn Italian!

Apps for learning Italian

Recently, one of our current students in Italy, Dawson, provided this helpful list of mobile apps for students to learn and practice Italian before departing and while on-program.
1. Learn Italian for Beginners
This app has detailed explanations, including for verbs and pronunciation. It also has quizzes and mobile flashcards.
1. Learn Italian Quick Phrases
  This app is great for learning common Italian phrases and also includes quizzes and conversational help.
1. Learn Italian Beginners
  This simple app is helpful for learning verbs and objects. It also has some quizzes for listening and spelling.
1. edX: Courses by Harvard & MIT
  Learn Italian through free courses offered by renowned universities.
1. Europe Quiz: Flags & Capitals
  Although it doesn’t offer a language component, this app is helpful for you to learn about the countries surrounding you while in Italy! As part of a cultural exchange, it’s helpful to know not just about Italy but other European countries.
We encourage all of our students to take initiative in their own learning, and these apps are a great place to start. Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive, but we hope it will be helpful for you to start your Italian language journey. If you have any other recommendations to practice your Italian, feel free to drop them in the comments!

Not ready for a full year abroad? Try a 1-4 week Language Camp in Italy

If you’re not ready to do the full high school abroad experience yet, or just want a taste of Italy (literally and figuratively!), you can also check out Greenheart Travel’s Teen Summer Language Camp in Italy! This is a great opportunity to live with a host family and study Italian for 1-4 weeks in Florence, Italy.
February 7, 2022
Q&A With High School Abroad Italy Student: Daily Life in Italy

When you study abroad, you find out that almost always, no matter where you are in the world, we all do the same things: eat, go to school, spend time with friends, and so on. But as you move through your new home, you’ll start to notice all sorts of small differences. Sometimes these are best part — and the things you’ll soonest forget when you return back home. We wanted to know what our 2020 First-Time Traveler Scholarship Recipient Jessica Durnell had to say about daily life in Italy.

What kind of food/snacks do you eat during school?

There is no lunch at Italian schools, since school usually ends around the same time that other schools have lunch. Instead, there’s usually a small break that you can eat a snack. You can bring
something from home or go to a vending machine… although I’m not really sure if every Italian school has a vending machine, but every one I’ve been in, there has been one. Quite strange,
since in America it was basically illegal for a student to even touch the vending machine, haha.

What is transportation to school like?

There is no school buses in Italy. Instead, students take the public bus or the train. It’s fun to take the public bus, since there is no basic public transport in America unless you live in a big city –
you need a car. The downside of public transport when going to school, though, is that you have to pay for each trip to and from… and the cost can rack up quite quickly for only a few weeks.

Jonathan Bean via Unsplash

How are classrooms different in Italy?

Italian classrooms are also very different. In stead of how students move around every 45 minutes or so in America, the teachers move around instead. Where I went to school in Italy,
sometimes we could change buildings every other day since our school wasn’t big enough to hold everyone.

How is the school schedule different in Italy?

School gets out extremely early. Compared to American schools (and other schools around the world), Italian school gets out just before one o’clock. It starts at around 7:45 AM in the morning
(which I didn’t know until two months of going to school, I was perpetually late). It’s around the same time American schools start, probably later than most, my American public school started
15 minutes earlier, after all.

Is the relationship between the teachers and the students any different?

Greeting teachers when they walk in the morning is also very different. In America, I will say, we are not as respectful to each other. Even the teachers aren’t (well, it depends on the teacher,
some don’t care and others do, it’s exchangeable) too worried about saying good morning to everyone. In Italy, everyone says good morning and goodbye to the teacher when they come and
leave. And when the teacher walks into the classroom, everyone stands up from their seats until the teacher tells you to sit down. The students in my classroom only did this for a select few, so albeit it was something you were supposed to do, it didn’t seem that strict.

Vitalii Chernopyskyi via Unsplash.

How much different is pizza/how do they eat pizza in Italy?

For some reason, when I ate pizza in America, whenever someone (or I) would fold their pizza over to eat it, someone would say that Italians would make fun of you if you did that in front of
them. When I went to Italy I was mortified when everyone folded their pizza over. Everything my friends from 5th grade had told me had been a lie (what a surprise).

How much different is pizza/how do they eat pizza in Italy?

Compared to America pizza, pizza is much thinner. It’s easy to eat a whole pizza, compared to the big thick stuff that is painfully American. I also got many questions about whether or not I put
pineapple on my pizza, which Italians see as a sin. I’m being serious. Every time I answered their question with no, I would hear a sigh of relief. When in reality I have never seen so many toppings that can go on pizza while I was in Italy. There was hotdogs and fries. You can put anything on a pizza. (Except pineapple).

What plays on Italian TV?

Italians have their own cartoons, which is pretty obvious. I never watched TV though, I will admit. I grew up with tapes and DvDs in America instead of cable, so I’m not used to it. There is a
lot of America shows that are dubbed in italian that play on TV which I did recognize, and it’s rather amusing to see how the characters voices transferred over.

There’s anime on TV. Which surprised me and my American friends (and we were extremely jealous). One Piece, Detective Conan, and Dragon Ball; the only channel I know of that played
anime in America is Adult Swim, but I didn’t have cable, so I couldn’t watch anything anyways when those shows were airing. Plus I wasn’t even born yet. A lot of people here grew up
watching One Piece without even knowing what it was, which I think is really cool… and something I will forever be jealous over.

May 11, 2021
Learning Italian While Quarantining Upon Arrival

A note from Greenheart Travel: Now several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, our high school abroad programs in most destinations are still able to run. However, like all aspects of life, Greenheart Travel’s programs are a bit different than in the pre-COVID-19 era. One of those things, our 2020 First-Time Traveler Scholarship Recipient Jessica Durnell tells us, is quarantining for two weeks with her host family upon arrival before starting school – and not understanding Italian! In this post, she gives tips and tricks to picking up the language when you can’t leave the house.

So, you’ve just gotten off the plane. You’re in a different country, everyone around you is speaking in their mother tongue and much faster than you expected, and you’re feeling everything at once. Maybe you’re tired and just want to pass out as soon as your host family picks you up, you’re nervous – but one thing’s for sure, and that is: you’re excited. You have so many new things to experience, but there’s one little hindrance… you can’t leave your house for the next two weeks.

Jessica sitting in the chair that she sat in every single day when she was studying Italian on her laptop.

That’s exactly how I felt when I got off of my plane and arrived in Italy. I felt everything at once, but most of all, I was excited. I was seeing so many new things, and I wanted to be able to experience them all. Sure, my ability to speak Italian was in shackles, rather surprised with how easy it was to fly, and I didn’t exactly know where my luggage was because I forgot to read a sign, but I was hyped. But first, I have to survive quarantine.

The first thing I had to conquer through quarantine was the irrefutable fact that I had no idea what anybody was saying to me. So, I started studying Italian on my own time. But the easiest way of knowing what you’re going to need to prioritize how to say is right in front of you: your host family. So, you listen to their conversations. There’s always common words and topics that people will focus on, or more so, these are the “basics.”

This way, I’ve learned what people commonly say, and common expressions that they use as well. Even if you don’t know the full extent of what someone is saying, you can use the words you do know and context to figure out what people are saying. It’s how I’ve been getting by until I myself can form coherent sentences… and it has worked, well, at least, it has worked well enough!

But even when you’re studying another language, there’s still a lot of spare time left over. And you have a full two weeks worth of it to go through. Even if you’re doing other things to take up your time – like watching movies, a TV show, or reading a book… do it in the language you’re studying. So, I started to re-watch an animated show in an Italian dub. Not only was it amusing, but I could pick up on what people were actually saying, and translate it in my head, since I was already familiar with the show.

If you’re going to watch something, I recommend a cartoon or an animated show, as they usually have simpler scripts for the younger audience they are directed towards, which can be easier for you to translate into your mother tongue!

The view from Jessica’s host family’s house.

Writing this now, I’ve completed quarantine. And boy… was it a long ride. Tomorrow, I go to my first day of school! Excitement, nerves, and the fear that I still have no idea what I’m doing is coursing through my veins. But in the words of one of my favorite YouTube channels: say yes to discomfort.

October 6, 2020
5 Reasons Studying Abroad in High School Will Change Your Life

You are googling high school abroad. You are scrolling through Instagram to see all the inspiring travel photos. You are preparing a powerpoint to easily present this crazy idea to your parents – they may even have said “Yes!!”. You’ve watched all the Youtubers you can and you are ready to go!! What is stopping you? In case you need even more inspiration to take that leap – here is a helpful list of the ways you will be forever changed if you do decide to go on a high school abroad program.

Be part of a select group.

Did you know only about 1,200 students go on a high school abroad program every year? That is for the entire United States! You will be one of the select few students who actually becomes an exchange student in high school.

Develop practical language skills.

There is NO better way to gain fluency in another language. I get asked all the time if it would be better to study abroad in college and don’t get me wrong that is wonderful BUT the problem is you don’t usually get the same level of language and cultural immersion. How you can settle in and learn about the daily life of your host country and how can you have any hope of gaining fluency in the language if you are with international students and speaking English all day.

Have roots on the other side of the world

The host family you stay with will be your family for your whole life! How beautiful is that? You essentially become their son/daughter, you do life with them and that is a bond that lasts. Ask anyone who was an exchange student in high school and they will tell you that even into adulthood, they stay in touch with and visit their Host family. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a sincere connection with a family abroad. Not to mention your local friends.

Experience being independent

If you study abroad in High school, there is nothing that will intimidate you. If you can leave your comfort zone and spend three months, a semester, or (eek!) a year of high school abroad. You will become SO much more confident, independent, and mature. It’s amazing and you are learning a million things that you could never learn if you stay home.

Prepare for the future

You’ll get much more out of your college years if you study abroad in high school. So many students go to college and have no idea what they want to do. I sure didn’t! Living in another country and seeing another part of the world really helps you understand yourself better and move into your college years with more confidence and clarity.

I hope this list was helpful. If you are still unsure, I’d be happy to talk discuss the options with you or your parents or you can reach out to past and current participants in our Facebook group. Here is my calendar, find a time that works for you and we’ll talk soon!

August 12, 2019

Next Step After Teen Summer Language Camp: High School Abroad

So you just finished your Teen Summer Language Camp. You’ve embraced life with a host family, sampled your new favorite foods, accelerated your language skills and met other teens from all over the world. But the summer is coming to a close, and you wish you could do it all over again, or at least stay abroad a little longer.

And you can! By being an exchange student on a High School Abroad program!

Now, let’s not get confused. Teen Summer Language Camp is NOT just a short version of High School Abroad. The two programs are totally different but go hand in hand.

Here are some of the similarities and differences broken down:

	High School Abroad	Teen Summer Language Camp
School	Local high school	Language school
Accommodation	Host family	Host family or residence hall
Length	Summer (1-2 months), trimester, semester, or academic year	2-6 weeks
When	Summer, Fall, Spring	Summer

Both Teen Summer Language Camp and High School abroad offer full language and cultural immersion, but the lengths and experiences are vastly different.

After successfully completing a Teen Summer Language Camp, you’re ready for the new experiences, joys and challenges that come with studying abroad in a local high school for a longer period.

Greenheart Traveler Alexander Obenchain always knew he wanted to study abroad in high school in Japan. In Summer 2018, a Teen Summer Language Camp in Tokyo was the first step to help him prepare for his academic year high school study abroad in 2019. Easing into the language and culture of Japan in Summer 2018 allowed Alexander to hit the ground running when he landed in Japan for his high school program.

“Coming for a smaller amount of time helped me prepare for the difference in atmosphere between here and the states,” he explains. “It was certainly a good thing to have studied the language a little bit more in-depth beforehand. I can also compare my skills from now to then.”

And navigating the Japanese train system? He figured that out a long time ago!

But you don’t have to return to the same country you went to for your Language Camp. Maybe you went to Salamanca, Spain in the summer, and now that you know you can handle being far from home, want to explore Sweden!

So is studying abroad in a local high school right for you? With improved language skills, you’ll be ready to learn subjects like math, science, and drama in another language. After living with a host family for a few weeks, you can anticipate how much you can learn about a country and its culture through observing (and living) day-to-day life abroad. You’ve proven to your parents that you’re independent, capable and problem-solving.

You’ve gotten a taste, now it’s time to thrive.

August 9, 2019

8 Ways to Support Your Child While Abroad

When you’re a parent sending your child abroad, you know there’s a lot they must prepare for: culture shock, homesickness, and language barriers. But your children aren’t the only ones experiencing a life change.

“This was definitely a learning experience for the parents as well!” says Lisa Hall, mother of high school in Sweden alum Matilda. “It was very hard to not be there to help when things were tough.”

So what can you do? Miles away from your children, how can you still support them? We asked parents of Greenheart Travel alumni share their insight on how you can best support your child while they’re abroad. Here are their tips.

Before they go abroad, talk about life when they return

“Prior to him leaving for the 6 months, we did discuss what he wanted to do at his school in the US during his junior year. He decided he would try to run for student council office while he was overseas. And unbeknownst to his dad and I – he did run, campaigned via Instagram and won the vice president spot for the upcoming junior class here in the US. The lesson to learn…. make goals with your child and then let your child be the captain of that ship while he is away.” -Bonnie Green, mother of high school in New Zealand alum Graham.

Agree on a weekly time to talk – and stick with it

Schedule a time and way to communicate in advance, that way you are both on the same page. For example, decide that they need to check-in on Sundays around 7:00 pm their time via WhatsApp. This way, you don’t need to send them texts throughout the day because you’ll already have a set time to catch up.

Mary Scott, mother of language camp in Spain alum Emmy, explains why it’s so important to give space. “While she was abroad, we made sure we weren’t constantly bombarding her with texts and skype calls which at first was difficult. However, we knew she would have a more enriching experience if she wasn’t having to think about us back in Michigan the whole time. We wanted her to be able to completely devote herself to speaking Spanish and learning about her new environment.”

For Hall, being far from her daughter was “hard in a different way when she was having so much fun, there was hardly any contact! But that was the best kind of growth for us all.”

Olivia McCollum at her high school while studying abroad in Japan

Recognize that YOUR life is going to change

Your life at home is undoubtedly going to change. For Bonnie Green, she and her husband experienced being empty nesters for the first time.

Her advice? Take this opportunity and focus on you.

“Make a list of things YOU want to do while your child is away. My husband and I took dance lessons, had adult only (no children) dinner parties, accomplished house updates, traveled to visit our children who were away at college, visited aging parents, put in extra time at work and started hiking more.”

And that leads us to our next point…

Don’t say how much you miss them or how much you want them home

Your child will most likely be homesick at some point, and it can be really hard to go through that while hearing pleads to come home. Being asked to come back and hearing about what they are missing at home can make a hard day so much worse.

Instead, tell them that you are so excited to hear about their adventures when they are back.

Jacob Dane Chilton with host family in Spain

Encourage them to reach out to local staff and take initiative

Part of why going abroad builds confidence and leadership skills is because travelers are expected to speak up and handle themselves. Instead of telling your teen what to do, or doing things on their behalf, allow them the opportunity to be independent. This is especially important when handling the pre-departure logistics so that they don’t feel totally lost when stepping foot in the airport. “When a problem comes up, discuss the different ways it can be solved instead of jumping in and telling them what to do.” says Scott.

The best thing you can do for your teen is to let them practice communicating with adults and learning how to manage themselves. It can be hard to trust your child to do everything right but giving them that space to grow will make them better prepared for their program (and life).

“I think it is vital that while your child is aboard that he/she become a part of their new community,” says Green. “While he did stay in touch with friends in the states, he made friends in NZ. The small town even had a send-off for him and took him to the airport.”

Read about their country and take interest when they share new knowledge

A great way to get involved in their experience is by learning more about the culture in the country in which they’re going. As you learn about your child’s new home, take note of what your child is excited about. “I was sure to listen to all the positive details, no matter how small!” says Hall.

You could practice making a tortilla española or start listening to the music of traditional Austrian brass band and surprise them with your newfound knowledge.

Greenheart staff member Allison Yates’s mom started learning Spanish when she studied abroad in Argentina. “She knew that Spanish was a huge part of my life, so it meant so much that she wanted to learn it too! It helped her feel like she understood my experience more,” says Yates.

Students attending high school abroad in the Netherlands

Educate yourself on what they might be feeling – and how you can help from afar

A great way to get a sense of the mental and emotional experience of studying abroad is by completing the Greenheart Travel Atlas along with your child. This is tool for before, during, and after the cultural exchange experience that includes personal and professional development, cultural understanding and environmental awareness.

For example, if your normally independent child calls you multiple times a day when they first arrive in the country, you’ll remember it’s likely initial culture shock. You can remind them to follow the Greenheart Travel Atlas tools to overcome this stage and focus on meeting new people and spending time with their host family.

Halls says she supported Matilda by “making sure she knew I was there to talk about things, whether they were positive or negative. I tried to give her as much time as I could, but not to have it be open-ended or all the time.”

While your first instinct might be to check in more frequently, increased contact with friends and family back home only exacerbates culture shock.

Rest easy – they’re in good hands

“We had to give up our control and trust in the goodness and professionalism of others. We did our research, chose a great partner in Greenheart, and raised a strong daughter,” s ays Laura Foster, mother of high school abroad Costa Rica alum, Eleanor.

As parents and former exchange students, Greenheart and our in-country partners know what it’s like to be far from your family, and we work to equip students with the tools they need to succeed.

July 25, 2019
The Student Visa Process Broken Down Step-By-Step

If you’ve ever gone abroad before you have most likely had to fill out some sort of international documents and paperwork. It’s a drag. Who wants to fill out what seems like form after form when you could be creating a travel itinerary of all of the places you are dreaming of going! However, this paperwork plays an important part in keeping you safe and accounted for while traveling abroad. More often than not, your duration and reason for travel determine how much paperwork and planning you have to do.

This blog will serve as a guide to my experience with obtaining a Student Visa at the Spanish Consulate in Chicago. Currently, I am nearing the end of the process of applying for a Spanish Student Visa. I will be studying at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain next year for nine months and couldn’t be more thrilled!

Don’t know what a visa is? Click here.

To be honest, I’ve never really minded filling out paperwork, especially when it came to cultural exchange; I knew it meant that I was one step closer to getting off that plane and interacting with locals. However, I’m going to be frank and say that this application was no walk in the park. Because I will be studying in Spain for over 90 days, I needed to apply for a student visa, and because I would be staying over 6 months, there were additional documents I needed to obtain.

Before I could even start on all of this paperwork, I needed to figure out where my closest Spanish Consulate was and make an appointment no sooner than three months before the start of my university classes. Since I live in Michigan, the closest consulate was in Chicago, a place where I luckily know quite a few people (Greenheart Travel 💚). With my appointment date set, I got to work on the long list of things I needed to acquire.

National Visa Application

I got this from off of the consulate’s website and filled it out with some help from my program coordinator. This form needs to be completed in capital letters and with DD/MM/YYYY format. Once it was filled out, I glued one of my passport photos to it and made a copy.

Money Order

For the Chicago Spanish Consulate, the current fee for a student visa was $160. They do not accept cash or check so I went to my post office to get a money order. I paperclipped this to my application form.

Prepaid/ Pre-addressed USPS Priority Express Envelope and Disclaimer Form

This envelope is a bit pricey ($30 ish) but guarantees that your documents will be delivered quickly and safely. I put the consulate’s address on the “From” and my home address on “To.” The disclaimer form is found on the instructions form from the consulate and states that you are allowing the consulate to mail your passport with the visa back to you.

Original Passport and ID

A passport was something I luckily had already so there was no extra paperwork there. Keep in mind that generally, a valid passport is one that will not expire for at least six months after the date you leave the foreign country. I photocopied my passport as well as my university student ID, and my driver’s license. Be sure to bring your actual passport and cards to the appointment as well.

Two Passport Photos

I got these taken at the study abroad office on my university’s campus for $3, but you can get these taken at a lot of places like the post office or Walgreens.

Original Hardcopy Acceptance Letter, Evidence of Funds, and Proof of Health Insurance

Since I am going through a study abroad provider, this was all taken care of and sent to me.

All three of these needed to be in Spanish or have a translation. The acceptance letter was to prove I was enrolled as a full-time student, the evidence of funds was to assure that I would be able to pay for my program, and the proof of health insurance was to cover any medical fees I might obtain during my stay. I made a copy of each of these forms.

Medical Certificate (For stays over 180 days)

On the consulate’s website, this is one of two additional forms to print out for stays over 180 days. I just made a normal appointment for a physical and brought in the paper. This form states that you are in good physical and mental health and do not have pre-existing conditions. There was a little confusion at my appointment as the form had a Spanish translation of what it said in English that needed to be stamped and signed as well. Because there wasn’t a translator in my doctor’s office that day they wouldn’t stamp it (surprising for a town that has a significant Hispanic population), so I had to come back the next week when the translator was in. I made a copy of this form.

FBI Background Check with an Apostille (For stays over 180 days)

This document was definitely the most frustrating and tiring of them all. It began by going through a service called Accurate Biometrics (there are a few to choose from) to get my fingerprints scanned and sent to the FBI to run the background check. This was relatively easy as I made an appointment online then went into a FedEx office for the scan. It cost about $40 and took just about ten minutes. My results were sent to me the next day through my email.

This is when it became difficult. I needed to get an Apostille of the Hague Convention (this is a kind of “stamp” that makes the document internationally recognized) issued by the US Department of State in Washington DC. I hadn’t received any direction on what this was or how to get it so I emailed my program coordinator and went on the government website. Since I had a little over a month until my appointment at the consulate, I decided not to go through an expensive apostille service and just send it to the Office of Authentications myself. In my envelope, I needed to include my FBI background check, an apostille request form (called a DS-4194), a check for $8 (that was the fee for my document), and a pre-paid addressed USPS envelope for them to send me my document back.

I had read that this would take about 10 or 12 days. When it got to be around that point, I called the office to check my document status. After waiting about 20 minutes on hold, they told me that I was not in the system and that it must be in their mail room still being sorted. I knew I should’ve gotten tracking for this envelope… I called back multiple times over the next couple days and got the same response every time. I started to panic a little as my visa appointment quickly approached. With an urge from my study abroad coordinator, I swallowed my pride and contacted an apostille service. Because I didn’t have much time left before my appointment I was forced to get the “rush” service which was about $300 altogether.

With $300 drained from my bank account, but a bit more peace of mind, I waited for my last document to arrive. It came by mail with 3 days before my appointment. Because this also had to be translated into Spanish, I went through the company One Hour Translation. With my FBI background check and the Apostille, it was around $45 and was sent back to me within 50 minutes. After I received these last forms, I compiled everything into an envelope and waited for my appointment.

But you’ll never guess what showed up in the mail the day before my appointment…

My ORIGINAL FBI background check with Apostille. Yes, the one I DIDN’T have to pay $300 for… My only advice is – buy tracking for your envelopes.

The Appointment

On the day of my appointment, I woke up pretty early to catch a train from Michigan City, IN to Chicago. I got to the consulate a bit early; because there wasn’t a sign in sheet, I sat down and waited to be called. Once called up to the window, I handed over all of my documents and passport. The official checked them all and handed back the originals (to be used while in Spain) and kept the copies. All that was left to do was give him my envelope and disclaimer form. This appointment took no more than 5 minutes. He even thanked me for being so organized and following the instructions!

To be honest, this process was probably one of the hardest and most mentally taxing things I’ve ever had to do. However, I know I truly am one step closer to experiencing new changes; changes that will introduce new people, insights, and ideas to my life.

This post is an example of a student’s perspective of applying for a student visa. This is not a step-by-step guide for applying for student visas. Each country (and each consulate) has different requirements. While Greenheart cannot apply for your visa for you, we provide detailed application instructions and support during the application process.

June 27, 2019
VIDEO: High School Exchange Students Interview Each Other

When deciding whether or not to study abroad as a high school student your mind is likely full of questions like “Will I make friends!?” or “What if I’m lonely?” While we are here to can support you as much as possible through things like the Greenheart Travel Atlas, nothing can beat hearing first-hand from two Greenheart high school study abroad students about their experience.

Ian is an American who studied abroad in France with Greenheart Travel. Paula is a Spaniard who studied abroad in the USA with Greenheart Exchange. How are their stories the same/similar? Watch to find out!

May 28, 2019
4 Ways Studying Abroad in High School Can Impact Getting Into College

At Greenheart Travel, we’re huge fans of studying abroad as a teen. Studying abroad in high school has enormous benefits for your confidence, language skills and personal growth.

But the truth is, high school study abroad isn’t only about emotional and personal growth. It also positively impacts your college applications, including how you explain why you’re choosing your major, applying for specialized scholarships, and proving you’re the right candidate for the school.

Snorkeling in Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia.

I know what you’re thinking: but what about the gaps on my transcript, or if I don’t get credit for the classes I take abroad?! (pro-tip: read this blog post if you’re worried about transferring credits!) Well I’ve got news for you! It’s okay. And those gaps are easily explained in essays and open-ended questions on the application.

Here are the top 4 ways studying abroad in high school positively impacts your college application.

1. You’ll Make Your College Application Stand Out

When I spoke to Kyle, an admissions officer at the University of Chicago, he said, “Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.”

Student surfing the Australian coast.

Study abroad in high school takes guts – and that’s a good thing. We’re not afraid to tell you it’s going to be hard sometimes, especially when it comes to facing language barriers, making new friends, and navigating a whole new culture and host family. But what do struggles mean? Growth.

When life gets hard and we learn to solve problems and overcome challenges, we reap the benefits across the board, but we also have a great story to tell – a story that is sure to help you write a heartfelt, powerful admissions essay.

Student on a bridge in Malmo, Sweden.

Plus, your high school study abroad shows you have the maturity, independence and adaptability to hit the ground running when you get to college, and there’s nothing that pleases an admissions officer more than feeling confident you’ll make their school shine.

“A lot of schools are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that,” Kyle said.

2. Scholarship Applications and Interviews Will be A Breeze

After studying abroad, you’ll have some specialized and specific knowledge – and probably language skills – that will allow you to find specific scholarships for what you’re looking to study.

Two students in Salzburg, Austria.

For example, Sierra Winters, a current full-ride Robertson Scholar at Duke University, found her passion for food systems and refugees while studying abroad with Greenheart Travel in Austria, and came back to the U.S. to fundraise for the Syrian Refugee Crisis efforts. “It was a challenging experience, and it was one that I was passionate about, and it lent me the genuineness for which colleges and scholarship programs are looking,” she says.

Plus, after you’ve spent a semester studying abroad in a high school where you don’t know the language and have had to make presentations in front of tons of students…. Speaking about your experience to an interviewer will be a breeze!

Student with homestay parents in Spain.

3. You’ll Know What You Want to Study

Studying abroad in high school opens you to a world of possibilities that you’ve probably never thought of. Seeing what’s out there will help you hone in your skills and passions before you start college. The average college student changes their major several times before graduation and, while we love exploration, it’s better for your pocket and time to already have a clear sense of what you want to study.

Students in the mountains in Argentina.

Greenheart Travel High School Abroad in Argentina alum Erin Clark went to Argentina in 2013 thinking she wanted to study business. Once she got to Argentina, she realized she was far more interested in the travel industry. She decided she wanted to study hospitality and tourism, and “that changed what universities I was looking at, and that’s how I found Niagara University,” she explains.

Imagine how different her life would be now if she hadn’t studied abroad!

4. You’ll Have the Confidence to Say Yes to New Opportunities

You might have already heard the phrase “travel bug.” It means that once you get a taste, you want to eat the whole cake! All of us at Greenheart Travel have the travel bug, and we see that as a good thing.

Latern festival on a street in Japan.

Once you see the life-changing experience of studying abroad in high school, you’ll be inspired to seek out more new and different experiences, like volunteer trips, internships, discovering new places and meeting new people.

Climbing the waterfalls in New Zealand.

“[Study Abroad] put my foot in the door for any job I want – I’m always the first to apply for jobs and I’m very driven, and I go out and get things done,” says Clark.

That’s an attitude that will positively affect every aspect of your life!

March 6, 2019