What Will My Experience Be Like?

What Will My Experience Be Like?

Because ISL programs are unlike anything else offered by university study abroad centers or missions oriented organizations, this link will give you an overview of what you can expect from your ISL experience. Much of what follows is also available on our FAQs link, but here it is presented in a text format with additional information.

First of all, ISL programs are not a typical study abroad program that offers only an academic experience in a foreign setting. On the other side of the experiential setting, ISL programs are not your typical “do gooder” or missions program, offering only a “sleep on a church floor and paint some walls” experience. We offer a professionally planned and led, life-changing experience combining BOTH international service and learning.

Unlike other programs, ISL is committed to a fast moving style of project experience. You will be traveling a great deal, moving to different locations every few days, traveling in a variety of modes, possible bus, boat, 4 X 4, horseback, on foot, etc. We believe this kind of project pace gives you the optimal exposure to different places, situations, people, cultural variations, and experiences in a given country or combination of countries.

As such, ISL programs are not for the faint of heart. You will be expected to travel hard, work hard, and play hard. You can rest when you get home! Your housing will vary from hotels to guesthouses to home stays to even staying in an orphanage in spare classrooms converted to sleeping areas. You will always have a bed (unless you are informed ahead of time in some cases or in the Hike for Humanity projects), safe food, bottled water, and a shower (maybe not a HOT showerJ).

Because your safety is our responsibility, you will be required to follow a set of rules regarding behavior. We’ve been held legally responsible for some bad situations involving unwanted boys in girls rooms in the past, so there will be no boys in girls sleeping areas, visa versa—NO exceptions. Drinking alcoholic beverages is only permitted when allowed by your ISL team leader (we’ve got some nasty stories about drinking problems as well….). So as to not endanger the team, participants who can’t follow the rules are sent home. See the participation agreement on page three of the application for more details on this.

On the other hand, there’s a reason why ISL programs have grown to include over sixty universities, involving over 600 students, learning and serving in eight countries every year. You will have a life changing and a unique experience with ISL. How much you will bring home with you in terms of experience depends to a large extent on how much you put into your program with ISL. If you can be flexible and positive, you will join the ranks of the thousands of students who recommend our programs as a “MUST DO” experience. Welcome to the adventure! Are you ready?

To learn more, read a report from a student who recently went on a trip with ISL to Tanzania.