Jungles, Mountains, and the Galapagos Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The education strength of this program lies in the excursions and experiential components. The field trips and the independent study project were outstanding academic opportunities. The classes themselves were lacking a little.

On-site administration of your program

The academic directors and administrators of the SIT Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation program are fantastic! They are well experienced in their fields and have been leading this program for several years. They are very enthusiastic about Ecuador and its diverse, rich ecology. And they are more than happy to help students. Some students felt that their approach was very one-sided in the sense that most lectures and discussions looked at environmental and sociopolitical issues using one lens. It would have been good to hear the other side of these issues.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The home stays were fantastic. Also, the accommodations during our excursions and the ISP month were great. Living on the boat in the Galapagos was an amazing experience. The highlight for me was living with a rural family in the cloud forest in Intag. Their lifestyle was very different from mine. It was a great cultural learning opportunity.

What you eat depends on your host family, for the most part. My family owned a small restaurant. I ate most of my lunches in Quito there. But after a while the meals were repetitive. It is hard to ask for alternatives with your host family. They are doing so much for you and you really have to accept their offerings with gratitude.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Cultural immersion partly depends on how you approach your time abroad. Your host family will obviously play a strong role in this. By the time I left Ecuador, I felt very connected to the local culture. Ecuadorians are really approachable, friendly, and helpful. I felt closer to many Ecuadorians than some people on my program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We had a whole health and safety lecture and discussion series during orientation. This prepared us for the variety of illnesses we can obtain in Ecuador and how to protect ourselves. I got sick. Almost everyone did. But this was likely because our immune systems were not adapted to the variety of microbes and viruses. The program physician is fantastic. The medication helped immediately.

Quito is a big city, therefore it isn't immune to crime. We talked a lot about safety during orientation. In general, you will be safe in Ecuador if you are conscious of your surroundings, protective of your items on buses, and traveling with others at night. Because we followed all these suggestions, no one experienced any safety-related incidents.

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

I saved up money for this trip. I rarely need to spend money on food, since SIT provides that. But I still spent a lot during my time in Ecuador. Mostly, I spent money on meals and drinks with friends, gifts, taxis, and various outings to other towns and cities. I probably spent somewhere near $1000 during the semester.

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

We were always encouraged to speak in Spanish. Many of us did in fact speak in Spanish when we hung out outside of class.

Select all that apply

• Other
• Host Family
• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Americans
• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans

• Natural environments/ecosystems
• Ecuadorian people
• Food

• Classes in Quito
• Money from SIT for transportation