A Beautiful Time in my Life Past Review
By Xavier Nelson (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/13/2017 to 05/13/2017 with
IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS
I gained a new language, new friends, new knowledge, experiences that were once in a lifetime, new skills, hobbies, and cultural knowledge. That question is silly at this point. HELL YEAH it was worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The education through outdoor experience was exceptional |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
For females it is obviously more dangerous especially at night but overall there were no bad events to report within my group. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I wish there was an option for yes and no. Because if given another chance to go abroad I would choose somewhere else. But at the same time I would not give up this experience for anything. Nor would I trade it. |
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) |
Food was very cheap and that was the main expense once you had all your essentials. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75/week in the Galapagos; Quito was tough to calculate because of the souvenirs |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat at the $5 places. They are delicious and always worth the rice overload. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 32 (barely) |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Practice with your Ecuadorian friends and family. They are generally happy to help. Don't be intimidated by how quickly they speak. Just focus on listening sometimes and it will come to you. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How to really pack. If going in the spring, bring way more clothes for warm weather than cold. |
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.' |
