Aventuras en Ecuador Past Review
By A student (Biochemistry and Spanish, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/03/2014 to 05/16/2014 with
IES Abroad: Quito - IES Abroad in Quito
Spanish language skills, new friends, broader culture and understanding, memories of beautiful places and peoples. Absolutely it was.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I purposefully took classes that were relatively easy, and they were. The main challenge was the fact that they were in Spanish, not course content. The University (Universidad de San Francisco de Quito) was a high quality western university, and felt like it could be a college campus in the USA. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
No complaints. However, I was fairly independent and did not need their resources much (if at all) so take this with a grain of salt. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Excellent host family that was very giving and caring. Fed me, supported me, drove me places when I needed it. Great family that I hope to stay in contact with. |
| * Food: |
Loved Ecuadorian food, and my host family always had home-cooked meals (or left something out for me if this wasn't possible.) Lots of wonderfully delicious fruits, cheap food, and american restaurants were available if I had a craving. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Host family was a plus. However, the easiest friends to make were other American students, so we tended to form groups, and then not socialize with the Ecuadorian students as much. It goes both ways, of course. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I can't really speak on this topic; I didn't have any health issues. |
| * Safety: |
Thieves, primarily late at night (but in other places as well, such as public transport) were the main issue for me as a guy. To prevent such situations, it requires common sense and at times a watchful eye-but it is not more dangerous (if not less so) than some large American cities. Don't look like a dumb/drunk gringo. |
| 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) |
Quito/Ecuador is a great option for the frugal traveler. Local bus rides that can take you anywhere within Quito for 25 cents, bus rides anywhere in the country for $10 at most. GREAT lunches that cost $3 at most, if you no where to look for them. The main things that are comparable to US prices is clothing and technology stuff. And Ecuador uses the US dollar as their official currency, which means no conversion rates or fees. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Very little. I ate at home with my host family most of the time. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Nope. |
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 usually spoke Spanish on program trips, |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advance Grammar and culture courses taught completely in Spanish |
| 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? | Don't be afraid to speak. You WILL mess up, many times, but your family and friends will understand (and may tease you about it.) Also, you only get as out of it as you put in-its a personal effort more than anything. Make local friends, not just Americans. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Force yourself to go out and do everything. Spending too much time on the computer (or other forms of distraction) will be a regret. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
