Ecuador: Fun, Slow Immersion Past Review
By Marissa I (Anthropology Minor, University of the Pacific) for
University of Minnesota: MSID - International Development in Ecuador
Yes, I loved getting to see the whole country more or less. However, I only got to get to know locals toward the end of my program. I wish I got to practice Spanish more and interact with locals more!
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. |
My academic experience was decent. I was in classes with just Americans, so during the school phase of my study abroad experience, I did not get to practice as much Spanish as I would have liked and also did not get to interact with the locals as much. Some classes, like my Spanish class, I learned a lot and they were super helpful throughout my program. Other classes, we learned the same thing over and over, and did not get to dive in very deep into the history of Ecuador or into theories. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All the staff at CIMAS were willing to help and greatly care for all of the students. However, during the internship phase of our program, things got way more unorganized since students were in all different parts of the country doing different things. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was put in a house that was close to my school. Living conditions were good, the food was good and the family overrall was nice. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | If I traveled I spent about $75 a week, if I did not travel I spent less than $50 during the week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Keep track of all your money! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Compsicion Avanzada |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish with my host family and during class. I also later got to practice my Spanish a lot during the internship phase of my program. However, the American students and I spoke English outside of class. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Find ways to speak spanish more with the locals |
