Best Summer Ever in Quito, Ecuador Past Review
By Cody T (Business Management, Washburn University) for
Ecuador Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
My time abroad was everything I hoped it would be. I learned a lot from a different culture. I would go back in a heart beat.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was managed by very nice people in the host country. The classes on campus were very educational, and a majority of the field trips were eye-opening and unforgetable. I do wish however, that we would have had the opportunity to explore the city a little more. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I set up my living arrangement through a friend that I met from the host country at my home campus, so it wasn't through the program. However, we stayed in two different locations and for the second part of the trip my host-family was set up through the program. Both families were very nice. The treated me with respect and I felt privileged to be living in their home. They provided me with everything I needed from a computer to food and all other living essentials. |
| * Food: |
The program took us to some fantastic restaurants. The best food was in a small restaurant next to the native city of Otavalo. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went on a lot of field trips. By far the best was the Galapagos Island tour during the last week of the program. Another memorable trip was climbing Cotopaxi. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
There were not major issues that occured to my group during our stay. Quito is an extremely fun city with a great night life. You just have to watch your back like in every big city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had to speak the host language with my host-family, with my teach, and with interacting with people in the city including: taxi drivers, cashiers, bus drivers, ect. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The program was really fun and Ecuador is a beautiful and unique country. The only thing I would have done different is to have taken the business program. I took the environmental studies program becuase it was shorter and during the summer, but as I look back now I should have taken the other program not only because it would have been more compatible with my major but I would have enjoyed being in Ecuador a lot longer. |
