The first day, I immediately went up in a restaurant and ordered my food in full German. That confidence and encouragement from the restaurant staff set me up to feel confident in my skills and I was extremely proud of myself! Be open to new experiences. It’s a whole new culture and way of life, so if you seclude yourself from really cool opportunities, you won’t get as much out of everything!

It was really amazing. I got to hang out with my friends and classmates while touring Berlin and then I got to experience German life with my host family. Spending time with my classmates from America in the German school also made it more fun, since I could still hangout with friends and make new ones in a different language. I saw beautiful sights and ate wonderful food and got to see a sliver of German life and a little bit of the world too.

It was just an absolutely amazing, life-changing, experience.

My advice to future participants traveling on this program is to fully step outside of your comfort zone in order to get the most out of this opportunity. You will never regret speaking more of your target language, trying new dishes native to your country, making new friends, or partaking in amazing activities that you normally wouldn't!

For any students who are unsure about pursuing an immersion program, I can only recommend giving it a try. My trip to France with Xperitas brought a new dimension to a language and culture I hadn't experienced firsthand. Exploring new places and cultures abroad has given me some of my best memories and best friends, and has certainly played a role in shaping my goals for the future.

The France trip provided me with the experience I needed to decide what path to take in my life.

My host dad made jokes in Spanish all the time, and by the end of the week I could make jokes back in Spanish, which made me proud.