An adventure through Ecuador! Past Review
By Tanya Silverstein (Temple University) - abroad from 01/09/2016 to 05/15/2016 with
IES Abroad: Quito - IES Abroad in Quito
I learned that there are so many incredible people in the world! I witnessed a huge tragedy, being so close to the epicenter of a 7.8 earthquake that wiped out a large part of the coast of Ecuador. My friends and I had extreme luck to have survived, and through our journey back to Quito, we encountered so many people who were more than willing to help us. The solidarity and support of the entire country was amazing to be a part of. My host family, directors and professors from IES and USFQ, and my friends taught me so much about how to support each other and how to be a better person. And those lessons will stay with me for a lifetime.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I think the academic rigor was appropriate. The professors were generally flexible and available to help students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Eduardo, Gladys and Rene were awesome! They took great care of all of their students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I'm so grateful for the experience I had with my host family. I wish I could have spent even more time with them! |
| * Food: |
The food was honestly great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt completely immersed in the culture! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Before I went to Ecuador, I was vaccinated for Typhoid and Yellow Fever, and was also prescribed Malaria medication for my trip to the Amazon. I was warned about other diseases carried by mosquitoes, and about illnesses due to contaminated food and water. I was actually hospitalized due to a bacterial infection, and Gladys stayed with me all night in the emergency room. Eduardo came to visit too, and Rene called to check in. I was at one of the best hospitals in Quito and I had great doctors and nurses. Although I was communicating in another language, I didn't feel like there were any major differences in the healthcare system in comparison to the U.S. |
| * Safety: |
I generally felt safe, but I know that other students had some bad experiences. Pick-pocketing and robberies were common, but they are mostly avoidable. I'm accustomed to urban life, so spending my semester in another major city was not a huge adjustment. For many students, however, it was. We had tons of lectures on safety and security, which was definitely helpful. Just always be aware of your surroundings! Be smart! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The opportunity to take classes at both the IES center and at a local university gave me exposure to a lot of different experiences. I did a service learning project, met so many awesome fellow students and great staff members, and I really felt cared for throughout my entire time in Quito. |
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) |
My host family provided meals, and I mostly spent money on travelling! But living in Ecuador is sooooo cheap! I can definitely say I saved a lot of money by studying abroad in South America, as opposed to Europe. |
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 |
I signed an agreement to only speak Spanish while I was abroad! |
| 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? | 3000-level Spanish course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk to everyone! Practice, practice, practice! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | When things don't go as expected or planned, that is when the best experiences in life happen. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
