Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A completely unbelievable experience Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/10/2018 to 12/07/2018 with

IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself, my field of study, and the world during this program and I would not trade this experience for anything.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

While breakfast every day and dinner sunday-thursday were provided by my host family (and were always delicious), I was on my own for lunch every day and dinner on weekends. While it was really fun to try different restaurants, it did add up and, if you do not budget well, could get expensive pretty quickly.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a hospital on San Cristobal and their services were always free. I was always able to obtain any medication I needed at the local pharmacies, and felt like IES was always there to help me if I needed any assistance with a medical issue. I had to get the Yellow Fever vaccine before going because I enrolled in a class that took me to the Amazon.

* Safety:

San Cristobal is unbelievably safe and I never felt unsafe during my time there, but Quito was a very different story. While Cumbaya (where USFQ is) is a very safe part of the city, there was definitely a need to take extra security precautions there. IES and USFQ were very helpful in preparing students for this and providing us with the tools and knowledge we needed to stay safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I feel so unbelievably lucky to have taken part in this program! I would not have wanted to be anywhere else or doing anything else--this was an experience that absolutely changed my life and I am so thankful for 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)

It is fairly easy to live on a student's budget in Galapagos, but there are definitely costs (such as meals on your own, dives, surf lessons, etc.) that can add up.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Pack lunch or find a way to make lunch for yourself--going to restaurants for every meal can add up!

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

Although all classes were in English, we all lived with host families, many of whom did not speak english at all.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The classes are absolutely amazing and the opportunity to go out and DO ecology and conservation biology really made this program outstanding.
  • Living on San Cristobal was amazing, and getting to live with a host family made this program such a great learning experience and something truly unforgettable
  • This program allowed me to make lifelong friends from all over the world who are passionate about the same things as me and are absolutely going to make a difference in the world!
* What could be improved?
  • I wish that I had had more of an opportunity to interact with local students on the Galapagos.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The wifi in Galapagos is VERY slow and I wish that I had been told to bring a flash drive, as depending on email for school stuff was sometimes very frustrating.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.