I learned so much about our oceans and Ecuadorian culture! Past Review
By Marcella M (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/08/2016 to 05/08/2016 with
IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS
I learned more spanish than I expected.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There are three class tracks: Marine life, Ecology/Evolution, and People and Politics. All of my responses are in response to my experience in the marine life classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very friendly |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Everyone lives with two host families. One in quito for a month and one on the islands for the remaining three months. Most people have nothing but great things to say about the families. |
| * Food: |
They were extremely accommodating for anyone with a food restrictions. There were a ton of vegan and vegetarians in our group. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
On the islands we did several activities with the local students who were trying to learn english. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Good enough and it is free. |
| * Safety: |
The islands are very safe, Quito is your typical big city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
When you live one the islands, you get to experience the island lifestyle. Its amazing to walk to the market everyday to pick out fresh stuff to cook and then walk down the malacon to look at sea lions. We snorkeled almost everyday in march and swam to the buoy constantly. I read like 10 books while sitting on a hammock on the beach and had a lot of time to spend with friends or study. Life is simple and the biology will forever fascinate me. I loved the research projects we did for each class. |
Finances
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* 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) |
The food is cheap, scuba diving is not. You go on two free dives for each class and 4 dives in the last class. If you would like to dive more often, then its $150 for two dives in a day. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30-$40 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | BRING YOUR SNORKEL EQUIPMENT! Pack at least 3 bathing suits and 2 large bottles of sunscreen ($20 in Ecuador). Marine track is the best track :) Start exploring Quito as soon as you get there because you don't have much time in the city. Technically, you stay in a really rich city next to quito called Cumbaya. This program is for people that love the outdoors/ocean and biology. The water is a lot warmer in the spring time, so bring a shortie wetsuit or something if you go in the fall time. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
