Engaging in real conservation and research, surrounded by passionate people. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We visited some incredible places and saw some incredible things, but we never lost sight of the fact that our main purpose of being in Ecuador was to learn. As such, all excursions were packed full of educational activities and lectures, and when we were in Quito, we were busy working on assignments, meeting with esteemed lecturers, and learning background information before our next excursion. Academic Directors cultivated an environment of curiosity, and this lead to great discussions with our professors as well as with other students. If you're a student who likes to ask questions; this is the program for you. The professors have wealths of knowledge, and are an incredible resource to learn from.

On-site administration of your program

All staff were extremely on-top of logistics - living through the political unrest that resulted from the removal of the oil subsidy in mid October, staff perfectly arranged multiple levels of transportation out of the middle of the amazon, and arranged housing for 20+ people all on the same day, while keeping us well informed, safe, and well fed. Despite living through the serious political unrest, I never once felt unsafe, thanks to the diligent work of the program directors.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I feel as if I have a new family. My experience with my host family was incredible. We cooked food together often, went on several small trips together, and always had lively and engaging conversations. They were a strong home base/support system for me throughout the program

Food in Ecuador is incredible! My host family always made great food, and plenty of it. During class and excursions we were kept well fed (During class time in Quito, there was always a break at 10am where they provided substantial snacks for us).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I grew very close to my host brothers, and

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had one instance where I needed to see a doctor for a minor problem, and when I notified Diana, she called and scheduled an appointment for me immediately, and accompanied me to the appointment the next day!

The only issue you will run into in Quito is petty theft; ie. pickpocketing. This is not unique to Quito, and can be avoided by being attentive when using public transportation, and storing your phone in a safe place while on the bus or walking.

This program was even more fulfilling than I expected. All of the professors and other locals that instructed us were so passionate and engaging, and this was true with the other students as well. The experiences I had on this program are unparalleled - living on a boat and hopping from island to island in the Galapagos, coming face-to-face with a spectacled bear in the cloud forest, and designing, planning, and carrying out my own research in the amazon. We were constantly learning, and the

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

Always provided us money if we needed to arrange our own transportation, and prices in Ecuador are very low (15 minute uber/taxi <$3.00, an average lunch is $2.50)

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

All classes and program activities were in spanish, and this is unique and very special for a natural science program. We didn't use spanish as much among SIT students, but sometimes it is nice to sp

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• the passion for science, nature, and conservation that we all shared
• my host family experience

• more night hikes!

The Academic or Linguist