An Adventure March 28, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My classes were all taught by local professors and they were all very knowledgeable about the topics. They were extremely nice and approachable, if I had any questions or needed help. The teaching and class style (including assessments) were very similar to US style courses. I would say the anthropology classes were a similar level of work as Rice, but the history class was a little bit easier than the average Rice history course. Overall, the work was pretty manageable and I enjoyed most of my courses. It was also pretty easy to register for courses, as we had access to all of the university courses as DE students.

On-site administration of your program

The IES staff was incredible throughout the entire experience. I felt very cared for and knew that if I needed help, I could reach out at any time, about anything. Both IES and USFQ provided an on-site orientation, with IES' being a week-long and a great intro into all aspects of the program, from touring the city to learning about the IES offerings, including the field trips. I really loved our program directors and felt they were very attentive to any concerns. IES also had two optional excursions to the Amazon and to the Galapagos, both of which were great and carefully planned.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host mom was very kind and the apartment was comfortable. I had my own bathroom and bedroom, with a desk and big window. The apartment complex was in a safe area with a fence and 24/7 guard. It was about 15 minutes driving from the university, which was a bit farther than I expected but my host mom was kind enough to drive me most days. My meals were all provided by my host mom and I especially enjoyed the more traditional Ecuadorian dishes.

Ecuador may not have as well known/distinctive plates as other countries, but I really loved humitas (somewhat similar to tamales), guaguas de pan, bolones de verde, locro de papá, and my favorite, hornado (slow roasted pork). The fruits were also great and there was such a variety. And the chocolate! I have even dreamed of an hornado since I've been back.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I did feel like I was decently immersed in the local culture, especially because of my host family. With living in a homestay, it was easier to learn about traditions and just normal daily life, like guaguas de pan. My host mom was really lovely about including me in the different family activities, which were key in learning about the culture. Additionally, my classes gave me different opportunities to do so, especially my Andean Anthropology class that included an overnight trip to an indigenous village where we were able to see firsthand the idea of reciprocity.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did get food poisoning while I was abroad, but I never sought medical care. Nonetheless, I have no doubts that IES would have helped me get medical attention. Before attending, I did get the Yellow Fever vaccine (for the Amazon) and the Typhoid vaccine.

There was a bit of political unrest right when I got there, but IES made sure to keep us updated on these developments and I personally never felt unsafe due to that. Life in Ecuador was definitely more "locked down" than my life back home, in relation to things like walking or taking public transportation. I was probably more cautious than most, as I know people who did do more traveling, including by bus, without any issues. Overall, I was definitely "on guard" more than I am in the US because I knew there was more of a possibility for being robbed/kidnapped, etc. We were also banned from traveling to numerous provinces, mostly along the coast, due to the high rate of violence (mostly related to drug trafficking). However, I never personally experience any safety-related incidents.

I would 100% recommend the program to other students. The IES staff, my host mom, and my professors were all so lovely and attentive to me during my time abroad. I never felt as though I had nowhere to turn if I needed help with something. Additionally, the opportunity to enroll directly at USFQ was great for both improving my Spanish and also being able to pursue courses in topics that were more unique to Ecuador.

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

I didn't go out a lot which probably helped, but I was definitely able to live on a student's budget. My food costs and lodging were covered by the program tuition.

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

Besides talking with other international students outside of class and my parents, I was operating 24/7 in Spanish. All of my classes were in Spanish and I spoke it with my host family.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The people
• The Galapagos
• The food

• Commute - Traffic could be pretty bad and I think it's difficult to find host families who would be living within walking distance of the university.

The Academic or Linguist