Experiencing the warm and beautiful people and culture of Ecuador Past Review
By A student (English Language and Literature, Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne / IPFW) - abroad from 01/09/2016 to 04/30/2016 with
ISEP Exchange: Ecuador - Universidad Casa Grande
My experience in Ecuador was worthwhile undoubtedly, although the weight of this worth lies almost entirely outside of the classroom and more in my travels through the country. We ventured to Banos and went canopying through the mountains, canyoning through the falls, canoeing and dancing with indigenous tribes, and hiking through beautiful Puyo. When we weren't traveling, we were visiting with extended family over wine and homemade Ecuadorian meals, and it was always a refreshing and raw example of community and the the importance of it in their culture. Through all of this I was stretched and bettered, both in my fluency in the Spanish Language as well as my ever-expanding understanding of the communities in this world.
Review Photos
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. |
The university was very unorganized and did not seem well prepared before I arrived. The Spanish as a Second Language class I took didn't have a syllabus, and the professor made up the assignments randomly all throughout. Additionally, the professors did not seem interested at all in what their students were doing; nearly every student in my courses cheated on exams. Also, when extenuating circumstances unfolded (my group members dropping from a huge project a few days before) and my professor offered a new option for me so I would not be faulted for their actions, she completely failed to follow through. I attempted to contact her numerous times, and she did not respond. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Although overall the administration was difficult to get in touch with, Gonzalo was most helpful during my time abroad. He was laid back, kind, and helpful -- even so much as taking me to get my passport documentation completed. Camilla, however, was very forceful and not so friendly always, and when things did not go as planned with a course (the situation mentioned above), she targeted me and did not understand (perhaps through language barrier) that 'I' was not the one who quit the group, the other group members quit. I attempted to explain the situation repeatedly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Aside from the host brother showing interest in me repeatedly throughout my stay, I loved the family and my time spent with them. |
| * Food: |
SO GOOD! There were endless seafood dishes, rich and flavorful soups, and endless fresh fruit! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt tremendously integrated in the culture of Ecuador. I engaged in group projects with friends in school, I met with those same Ecuadorian friends for days at the beach, movies, or coffee, I traveled to other small towns and became friends with locals there --tried their food, heard their stories, listened to their perspective on life, and went to family breakfasts and gatherings. It was a wonderful experience that I reflect on daily. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues were all fine. The need for two health insurances was expensive, but worth it for the trip. |
| * Safety: |
I felt pretty safe the whole while! My family was wonderfully loving and made sure I knew what I needed to do to be safe while traveling alone. I was advised pretty strictly not to use any cabs that were not on a list provided, and due to this, I refrained from the use of them all-together. It wasn't exceptionally easy to get around the city by myself because of this, but while walking to school at least, I felt safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I absolutely adored many aspects of my stay in Guayaquil, particularly the traveling around Ecuador and meeting locals with whom I remain connected even today. However, the school I attended there was not particularly organised and did not seem to have an actual trust-worthy system in place with which to grade students and their progress. Most of my courses consisted of exams on which students unabashedly used their phones to cheat and the professors did not stop them, and the professors also showed a rather lackadaisical care for the students and for teaching, as if they just wanted to go home. I 'am' grateful to have experienced this different way of life, however. I would not trade it. But I would probably go somewhere a bit more organised and passionate about the educational growth and experience of the students. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not much. My family included me in their dinners, and I refrained from purchasing much more than coffee during the school day. I walked to class to avoid transportation costs, and again, I did not travel too much during the week. On weekends, things costed a bit more as I helped pay for gas to the beach or around the city, but I never spent much more than about $45 a week, if that. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would walk as much as possible, if the city permits it. This helped me save against unnecessary spending and allowed me to spend where I really wanted to -- weekend trips! I also refrained from buying expensive lunches or treats during the school day and relied predominantly on that which my host family offered for meals. |
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 was strongly encouraged into taking half of my courses in Spanish and half in English, which I wish perhaps I would not have done. My host family perhaps allowed me to practice my Spanish skills most. My host mother and father knew very little English, and the extended family with whom we spent a lot of time was the same. |
| 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? | 300-level course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
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? | I wish I would have known that the school was not as serious about the study abroad experience as I was and that the school system was not as intentional, organised, or fair as our school systems here. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
