Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

People and experiences I will never forget! Guayaquil - Study Abroad + Service Learning in Ecuador Past Review

By (Psychology and Women's Studies, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 05/01/2015 with

IPSL: Reviews from former Locations

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned how to interact with a culture very different from my own. Express my feelings and opinions to people who have been exposed to something very different from me.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

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?

I LOVED my host family. My host mother and grandmother truly made my experience.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care was very accessible but not super thorough. Wasn't very impressed with their diagnoses.

* Safety:

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

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go out to eat. Save money for traveling on weekends.

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

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? four semesters of spanish at the University of Michigan starting with 101
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 as much as you can. Encourage your friends to practice with you. Always be the one in the group to try speaking with foreigners.

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?
  • Meeting Ecuadoreans
  • My host family
  • Traveling
* What could be improved?
  • Unfortunately I did not love Guayaquil or Samborondon
  • More warnings about the extreme heat
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More about the city we lived in

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'