Breathtaking landscapes & unforgettable people Past Review
By Lauren D (Environmental Biology., Trinity University) - abroad from 03/18/2014 to 07/28/2014 with
SIT Study Abroad: Ecuador - Comparative Ecology and Conservation
I learned far too much to summarize concisely. I learned so much about my own character while I was abroad, in addition to tons of fascinating information about indigenous & local cultures and about the natural ecology and & resource management of the Amazon rainforest.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are mostly informal, but very educational and thought-provoking. There is less emphasis completing written assignments, but students are strongly encouraged to explore and interact with their surroundings. These experiences and encounters formed the bulk of our discussions. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Leonore Cavallero, the academic director for the program, is absolutely amazing. She was able to make us feel both comfortable and aware in Ecuador from the very first day. She always took extra care to make sure that the students in the program received the attention she/he needed. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family in Quito was very friendly and welcoming. However, there were points in time when I wished that I could have lived on my own or with friends. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian, and I found maintaining a balanced diet to be difficult in Ecuador. Ecuadoreans eat a lot of carbs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I spent everyday surrounded by the local culture - interacting with locals, speaking Spanish, navigating the city, and trying new activities/foods. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never experienced any serious health issues. However, I did experience both food poisoning and a stomach virus throughout the semester. |
| * Safety: |
Quito (and other towns in Ecuador) require you to be alert and aware of your surroundings. However, I did not find it any less safe than one of the larger cities in the United States. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Ecuador adopted the American dollar as their currency in 2000, and is relatively cheap in comparison to the U.S. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20-30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget the amount of money you want to spend on artesania (crafts/ souvenirs) before you get to Ecuador... |
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 lived with a host family during this program, which forced me to use Spanish every day. Even though the non-language classes weren't taught in Spanish, all of my instructors encouraged me to use Spanish on a daily basis. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3 years of high school Spanish |
| 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? | Begin reviewing basic vocabulary before you leave for the country, and don't be embarrassed or afraid to speak when you arrive. Most Ecuadoreans will laugh if you use incorrect Spanish, but they are always very encouraging and patient. |
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 originally was supposed to spend a semester in Belem, Brazil on an SIT program. However, that program was cancelled two weeks before I was supposed to leave. SIT created a semester-long program in Ecuador specifically for the students who were supposed to go to Brazil. So I essentially knew nothing about the new program before I actually showed up in Ecuador. Thankfully, everything worked out! But it would have been nice to know what was going on before I left... |
