Quito--Que chévere! Past Review
By Claire F (PSYCHOLOGY., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/05/2013 to 05/18/2013 with
IES Abroad: Quito - IES Abroad in Quito
Yes it was worthwhile. Everyone should study abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academic rigor: not so much. I would have preferred more challenging courses. That said, my Spanish class is the exception; it's been the best Spanish class I've ever taken. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Generally organized well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful, but I requested a non smoking household, and when I received my housing assignment, I was told that it was non smoking. However, when I arrived in Quito, I found out that this was not the case at all. My host family smoked all the time. I understand that students can't be guaranteed a non smoking household, but it's not okay for the program to give you false information about your housing assignment. |
| * Food: |
Your host family provides you with 3 meals a day, and generally the food is pretty good. That said, there's also a lot of rice and potatoes and bread, which, at least for me, can be too much at times. A lot of people on my program (including me) had trouble finding healthier options. But still, in general, the food is good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was able to get an appointment quickly and one of the staff members went with me to the clinic. However, I personally did not find the doctors to be that helpful, and am planning on seeing a doctor in my home country when I return. |
| * Safety: |
Quito is a busy city, so, as is the case with any busy city, you need to use common sense. Don't go places alone at night, don't carry a ton of money with you, and use common sense when in bars or clubs. That said, despite precautions, I still got my wallet stolen, as did someone else on my program, so things do happen. But just in general, be smart and aware of your surroundings. IES gave us detailed safety briefings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Prices in Ecuador are much lower than in the States. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | -plan trips in advance so you know how much money you'll need for them -no need to buy all your souvenirs in the beginning of the semester; you have plenty of time. -don't eat out excessively, as your meals with your host family are included in the program cost -take out enough money at a time to avoid too many high exchange rates from ATMs |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We had a language pledge, but it was kind of a joke because no one followed it. I would prefer if there was something more similar to what Middlebury programs do: an actual language pledge with a three strikes and you're out rule, although maybe a little less intense than that. |
| 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? | I had taken 5 semesters of Spanish prior to departure |
| 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? | -speak in the language as much as possible -don't be afraid to make mistakes -ask questions |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Study abroad can be lonely at times, but it's important to go out and take advantage of opportunities and keep doing things. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
