Greenheart Travel

I did a high school semester abroad in Italy with Greenheart Travel this year (2024-2025). Before I left, I was looking into other programs but none of them made me feel as excited and secure as Greenheart did! Greenheart has a bunch of stundent-written blogs on their website that were helpful to read and made me feel like I knew what I was getting into. Our coordinator was so lovely and helpful, she was always encouraging and honest and open to answer all of me and my parents questions. Greenheart matched me with the most amazing host family and my host family made my whole experience soo amazing! (It seriously makes all the difference!) Greenheart takes your hopes and worries into consideration and strives to give you the best experience possible. If you are looking into studying abroad, I HIGHLY recommend going with Greenheart Travel as your program!

Studying abroad in Ireland with Greenheart Travel’s High School Study Abroad Program was a valuable experience, though not without its challenges. I spent a semester in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, attending Transition Year at Monaghan Collegiate School. While there were many positive moments, the program’s partner organization often lacked adequate support, which created unnecessary difficulties. The program began with a stressful arrival. As a first-time solo traveler, I was told staff would meet me after customs, but no one was there. I spent over an hour searching for assistance, which could have been avoided with better communication. Fortunately, the orientation camp at Maynooth University helped me settle in, offering a fun and welcoming introduction to Ireland. My host placement was one of the best parts of the experience. I lived with a single woman who was incredibly kind and supportive, providing a safe and comfortable home. Not all students were as fortunate, which made me even more appreciative of my situation. School was a mixed experience. Transition Year focused more on activities like work placements and trips than academics, which had its enjoyable moments. However, the school environment was not always welcoming, as I witnessed some of my peers facing discriminatory behavior that wasn’t addressed. Living in Monaghan had its challenges. The small-town setting felt limiting, and with so many exchange students placed in the area, it sometimes seemed the program prioritized filling spots over thoughtful placements. Traveling to iconic Irish landmarks was expensive and difficult, which was disappointing. Another issue was the lack of support from Greenheart’s partner agency, Educatius. Beyond the airport mishap, the local coordinator wasn’t approachable, and concerns often went unresolved. However, the trips organized by Educatius were highlights, especially visits to Giant’s Causeway and Belfast, which provided opportunities to explore Ireland’s beauty and culture. Overall, my semester in Ireland was a mix of highs and lows. The friendships I made and the personal growth I experienced were invaluable, but the program’s organizational shortcomings were frustrating. For future travelers, I recommend researching placements and support thoroughly. Despite the challenges, the experience was worthwhile, and I’ll carry the memories and lessons with me for years to come.

I loved my program and I do not regret going. I had a lot of fun engaging in school, sports, community events, and traveling. I had a fair amount of opportunities in my town even though it was small and people were very willing to accept me into their community. I grew to love the culture and found it easy to make friends, learn the language, and live a new lifestyle even though I am typically a reserved person. I struggled with my host family and also had several problems with staff members and these are the reasons I would not recommend the program. I found the staff were not mindful of the best interests of exchange students and did not prepare host families well to accept a student. For this reason, I would not recommend this program even though I did have a wonderful time despite the many rough spots.