The experience of a lifetime Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses were a little on the easier side compared to my classes at home but I did not mind because students were able to experience to the culture and the islands without being drowned in homework and assignments. The research experience combined into the class, gaining fieldwork experience and research diving skills was my overall favorite part. Those are good skills to advance in the Marine Science world. The professors are extremely nice and easy to get along with, they care about the quality of learning of their students and are happy to help if a student is struggling.

On-site administration of your program

the USFQ GAIAS administration could of been more organized. There was some miscommunication regarding a few things. There was an IES abroad coordinator who followed us from Quito to the Galapagos and was there every step of the way and helped with as much as she could to IES students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was really pleased with my host family in Quito, they were extremely welcoming and made me feel at home despite only being in the country for a few weeks. I enjoyed my first host family in the Galapagos, they did not speak any english (except for the 17 year old) so it really challenged my Spanish skills. However, they did pick up and leave for main-land Ecuador to send my host brother off to college. I was not notified until a few days before they were leaving that I needed to be replaced with no where to go (due to it being late in the semester, other host family applicants could not take me in) I eventually was placed in the same host family with one of my close friends. I loved this host family and enjoyed living with another student was well. They welcomes me into their home with open arms. Overall I liked all my host families I just wish if the program knew ahead of time my original Galapagos family was going to be leaving then they should not have received a student.

The food was okay. Since Quito was more modernized they food there was relatively similar to the United States. However, in the Galapagos the food was very different, things were not entirely fresh because they were shipped over by boat. More modernized things were very expensive so it really came down to how comfortable you could get eating local food. the fish was amazing, it was freshly caught. Beans and rice are very common but also good as well. There were a few local places that were very cheap but had good food and gave you a lot. My host families were very good about listening to my food requests and what I did and did not like. Make sure to get tested for parasites and bacteria when you arrive home. Many people including myself got parasites during out stay from consuming contaminated food (and we were careful)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Locals were extremely nice, there were some locals who were not that excited about your presence solely because the Galapagos are protected. Locals that were friendly, would go swimming with us, would eat with us and go out with us and attend different activities. Blue Evolution - the dive shop, made you feel welcome and at home. Majority of the island was super friendly.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

IES gives all their students insurance, although I never really need health care assistance (except the one time I gashed my foot open on a rock) there were people in my program that needed actual medical attention and were flown back to the mainland to see more experienced doctors and higher quality hospitals with equipment. the hospital on the Galapagos is not state of the art. It is a relatively minor hospital with minor procedures but they will help you they best they can.

Overall the Galapagos was safe but that does not mean you shouldn't be extra careful when being in a foreign country. Although generally people were friendly, like everywhere else in the world there are people who are not so much friendly. A few incidents occurred where items were stolen from some students and there was an incident were a student was sexually assaulted by a local. Overall just remember to stick with your friends, watch the people are you and don't go off with locals or other foreigners you do not know.

For me being a marine science major this program had so much to offer fieldwork wise. All classes were field work based, I gained so many knew skills with research diving, using research equipment, and writing scientific papers thats I do not think I would get anywhere else. I entered the program with 4 dives and left with 26 and the ability to conduct research underwater. 100% would go back again. The Galapagos was such a unique place and where Darwin discovered evolution.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I did have some troubles with finances. at first i always went to the more expensive restaurants because they offered American food. However that drained my money quick. I eventually switched to purchasing food at the markets and making my own lunch and eating at local restaurants that offered a good amount of food at a cheap price. I did purchase additional dives on top of the ones included in the program. My bank information was stolen while using an ATM so that also had an affect on my budget during my time abroad.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The country was Spanish speaking. There was a one week Spanish course offered at the beginning of the program that all students were required to take. There was no language requirement but Speaking Spanish is critical in order to get around.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• The Diving Experience
• The Location
• the Wildlife/Experience

• Administration Communication

The Academic or Linguist