I was passionate to work in a developing country to help students learn English, the language that connects us all. The staff at API were equally passionate about helping me get to Vietnam and embark on the adventure that would change my life. I immediately fell in love with my students and the people in Vinh. The country has become my second home, and API made the connection between me and this wonderful place.
Cultural Embrace
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What's this?
6 / 10
after 15 Reviews
Based on overall, support & value average ratings
Program website: http://www.culturalembrace.com/
I was happy to see the review from "abby2424" as I recently had a similar experience with my daughter. I have heard wonderful things about API through past students, as well as online reviews. I wish I had further researched their new company, Cultural Embrace, as overall it has mostly very negative reviews online from the company practically stealing money from users to not holding up their end of the bargain. My daughter did not receive orientation in her new country as promised. She was not picked up at the airport as promised. She did not have proper medical coverage when sick as promised. She tried to contact the woman in charge (Evelyn I believe) multiples times, who was beyond useless and knew NOTHING about her own programs she claims to run. Her program administrator was a young girl who was very helpful, kind and willing to help as much as she could, which we appreciated.
To be frank, I would never send my daughter abroad with CE by API again, nor would I recommend anyone I care about to go with this company. It's unfortunate but API is allowing this company to drag their decent name through the mud.
Just go with someone else.
Program:
Location:
Posted: January 22, 2014
Overall:
1
Support:
1
Value:
1
By: mrsmarks12
Age:
47
Really a very poorly put together program. I had another child go on an API study program and was thrilled to see they had taken over an intern abroad company-until using said company.
It was obvious my daughter was being looked after by her program administrator, whom was very kind and helpful, but not by the woman in charge of the company. The woman in charge consistently gave misleading and contradicting information to my daughter and I, frustrating both of us. Many of the promises made by her were not fulfilled and it seems like my daughter is not the only one to have this disappointment based on other reviews seen on this site. Her program administrator apologized many times and we could tell it was no fault of hers, but of her management and those above her.
It's unfortunate that API would let such a poorly run program ruin their good name. I will not allow those I know to go on either an API or Cultural Embrace by API program, due to the inexcusable negligence in the leadership at CE by API. I have to say I was surprised to be so disappointed by this API program and am writing this only as a warning to other parents; choose another company.
Program:
Location:
Posted: May 28, 2013
Overall:
1
Support:
1
Value:
1
By: Abby2424
Age:
22
Comments
We're sorry to hear about your daughter's negative experience abroad, and we'd like to know where your daughter went so that we may remedy any issues for future participants. I welcome you to contact me, as I am the one referenced as giving 'misleading and contradicting information' to you and your daughter. Please accept my apologies, as our goal is to be sure that our participants have a safe and positive experience abroad. We also do our best to manage the expectations of our participants, in order to ensure that their placement is a mutually beneficial one that meets both the needs and availabilities of the host community and employers (if an internship). Please feel free to contact me on my direct line (+1.512.600.8909), as I would like to hear and discuss the issues your daughter encountered and how they might be avoided in the future. We're happy to hear that your child enjoyed their study abroad experience with API. With your help, we hope to improve our services and meet the expectations of future participants, since CE placements are much more independent in nature than study abroad placements. Thanks, Emlyn
This a review of our experience with Cultural Embrace (Guatemala 6/27/10- 8/10/10). The experience was full of major organizational issues and services not rendered as promised.
-No pick up at the airport on my daughter’s arrival day! This was a very dangerous situation as she was only 16 years old and traveling alone. The Cultural Embrace website states, “We will arrange an airport pick-up and transfer for you upon arrival.” Service not rendered.
-When she tried to telephone the agency, both the general number and the 24 hour emergency number for Cultural Embrace went unanswered! The Cultural Embrace website states, “Full-time Representation: Cultural Embrace provides representation in the United States and your host country prior to, during, and after your placement.” Service not rendered.
-The assigned host mother on holiday in the States; her daughter was there as hostess. The Cultural Embrace website states, “...housing will be with carefully screened and selected local host families.” When I found out about this switch, I did not know if the daughter had been screened or not. We had only been informed of the mother being the host family.
-The family did not expect our daughter that day. Nor was there a local partner to orient her to the city. The Cultural Embrace website states, participants “receive training and orientation upon arrival from our local partner.” Service not rendered. We had not been informed that host families have Sundays “off” and don’t provide meals. If we had known, we would have had her travel on Saturday.
-The Cultural Embrace website states, “Cultural Embrace pre-arranges your volunteer project before you leave home to ensure an easy and hassle-free transition to your new life abroad.” Service not rendered. My daughter kept asking the coordinator where she was assigned and when finally she got to the right place, it tool so long she ended up having 7 days of volunteer work instead of 10.
-The phone card that comes in an advertisement as part of your package of information with the insurance, etc does not work in Guatemala. That information would have been helpful because then we would have gotten Ashley the international cellphone plan so that when she was not picked up at the airport she could have made telephone calls. (She had to borrow the phone from an airport representative.)
-After I informed the president of the company that I was going to submit a review of the dangerous lack of over site, I requested: 1) she create new policies / procedures that would prevent the problem of a participant being left at the airport; and 2) she provide a full or partial refund since services were not rendered as promised. She denied both of these! Instead she offered $200 off for anyone in our family to travel again with Cultural Embrace. Ugh- no way would we even consider that! And, you should be very careful too if you choose to work with them.
Program:
Location:
Posted: August 8, 2012
Overall:
1
Support:
1
Value:
1
Age:
Comments
Cultural Embrace has responded to the parent and participant directly and thought we resolved their issues and concerns back in 2010. Our airport representative had a flat tire and arrived at the airport late and missed the volunteer. Fortunately the volunteer was wise and used the information we gave her about her placement and took a taxi to her host family. Due to communication barrier, the host family's daughter (who regularly visits and stays there) was thrown off-guard that the volunteer was arriving, as the airport representative normally calls in advanced of their arrival. The insurance card we issue our participants come with additional advertisements and free phone cards, cell phone services, hostel reservations, etc. CE never promotes or promises these services as inclusions to our programs' services. We try our best to indicate what the inclusions are of our program on our website and while working with the participant before and during their time abroad. CE refunded this volunteer transfers and offered her a return transfer as well as offered her complimentary cultural activities and excursions. The volunteer opted to change project sites to volunteer with new foreign friends that she met. Our Guatemala operations were trying to be flexible and accommodating to the volunteer's request resulting in volunteering only 7 of the 10 days. Upon completion of her time in Guatemala the volunteer received her program well and informed both Guatemala and Austin staff that she enjoyed her time, family, and time in Guatemala.
CE strives to improve our services based on participants, local organizations, and parents (if applicable) feedback. As a result of this volunteer (and parent) feedback, we have changed our requirements to a minimum age limit of 21 years old for our individual volunteer program to Guatemala. We have changed our insurance policy which eliminates confusion with advertisement of their affiliated services. We have enhanced our pre-departure materials to three packets of information so it will ensure on-going communication between the participant and our CE coordinator, and time to go over detailed information such as: cultural tips, schedules, emergency contacts, medical, health, safety, volunteer project requirements, packing suggestions, meals, communications, and more.
I had a horrible experience with cultural embrace.
I applied in advance for an internship in South America, was told I was accepted and was waiting on details.
Only a few weeks before I was scheduled to leave did I get the information for the host family I was staying with but still no information on my internship placement despite contacting the coordinator weekly.
Thank God I hadn't bought my plane ticket yet. It was one week before I was supposed to leave but I was waiting to get an official internship placement before buying the ticket. If I had bought the ticket at this point the price would have been through the roof.
I cancelled my internship at this point because it felt like they had no idea what they were going to do with me once I got there. In the fine print of the papers you sign, it basically says that the entire fee for the program is nonrefundable.... that means that even if they give you no information on you internship until the day before you leave you will get NO REFUND back even though it was their failure to place you or inform you that you had no placement. I stayed home that summer and spent most of it working to try to earn back the money I lost to this awful company. They made no attempt to reconcile with me or admit their fault despite me trying to contact them multiple times.
Overall, I'd look elsewhere for your travel experience.
Program:
Location:
Posted: February 20, 2012
Overall:
1
Support:
1
Value:
1
By: mybell125
Age:
Comments
If we recall correctly, this was for an applicant in 2009/2010 term. As we explain to all our participants and prospects, placements are based on the availability, needs, and acceptance of the host employer/organization. CE was in regular communication with you and responded to all your emails and phone calls, but unfortunately most of our communication was no exciting new news since no companies were offering you a position. CE always recommends our participants to not purchase flights until we have received a solid lead with a placement offering and/or your visa is approved (if applicable). We were transparent with you that placements were harder to find during that year when the world's economy was down, and informed you that Argentina employers tends to make last minute and spontaneous decisions. We were progressing with your placement as our partner prepared your host family arrangements--which meant an internship placement would soon follow. Unfortunately, this participant chose to cancel her program. We had a refund policy that each participant is required to read and sign, indicating the terms & conditions and refunds of a canceled program. C.E. values our participants' opinions and strives to improve our services based on their feedback. As of Jan., 2012 we have revised our Terms & Conditions to refund 100% of the program fee (including application fee) if we are not capable of confirming your placement with 7 days prior to your schedule departure date.
