Life-Changing Semester Past Review
By A student (Biology, Swarthmore College) - abroad from 02/01/2016 to 03/14/2016 with
SIT Study Abroad: Ecuador - Comparative Ecology and Conservation
The program was everything that I hoped it would be and more. I had the absolute time of my life and have truly grown so much as a person as a result of my time there. My Spanish is better, I've learned an incredible amount about plants, animals and the environment, and I'm just a more confident person in general. This program was the exact change of pace from Swat's academic intensity that I needed. I'm extremely grateful to have met so many incredible people and to have had great adventures in many beautiful places around the country. I felt that the program was the perfect balance of cultural immersion and field learning. I went abroad to have a firsthand learning experience and not be stuck in a library all the time, and got exactly what I asked for. My classes were still challenging, but helped me develop skills in the field that I would not have gained had I stayed at Swat last semester. My month-long independent study project was also one of the most valuable parts of my experience. I built important, rewarding and (hopefully) long-lasting relationships with my homestay families, teachers and fellow students in Ecuador.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved both my homestay in Quito and my homestay during my independent project at the the end of the program, and really formed close connections with both of those families. |
| * Food: |
There is so much amazing food in Ecuador! They make incredible fresh juices from all kinds of interesting fruits and there are bakeries on almost every corner in Quito selling delicious, fresh bread. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The several different homestay experiences I had were key for cultural integration. I think that the degree of integration was maybe a bit less compared with students on other programs that don't do as many field excursions and mostly just live with a host family the entire time. However I don't think there are many programs out there that do as good a job as this one with combining homestay/cultural experience with field learning. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't personally have any health issues, but several people on the program did get sick and received great healthcare in Quito. |
| * Safety: |
Traveling in groups with friends around Quito worked out really well for me. The program issued everyone an Ecuadorian cell phone so we could all communicate with each other, which was also really great. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Living in Ecuador was very affordable, great 3 course almuerzos (lunch) for around $3, taxis were inexpensive; however any imported products are more expensive in Ecuador than they are in the US (replacing technology like iPhones, laptops is not cheap!) |
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 |
We were encouraged to use Spanish as much as possible, but did generally speak English with each other (the students). Classes were mostly in Spanish and I spoke only Spanish with my homestay families, when navigating around Quito, or interacting with locals. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Don't be nervous! My conversation improved so much while I was abroad. You just have to go for it and not be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone you speak to knows that you're there to learn the language and wants to help you improve. |
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 knew that sunscreen was more expensive in Ecuador than it is in the US. I ran out and needed more before our Galapagos excursion and found myself wishing that I had brought an extra tube from home. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
