Discovering the Beautiful and Diverse Country of Ecuador! Past Review

By (Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/27/2013 to 05/23/2013 with

Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was an amazing learning experience. We witnessed a lot of different ways to do things, and I learned to be accepting of other ways/viewpoints. What is best for one person is not necessarily what's best for another. It was amazing to see the diversity of one country as we went to the city and then to the mountains where the indigenous people of Ecuador live.

Review Photos

Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador Photo Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador Photo Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador Photo Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador Photo Brigham Young University: Traveling - Nursing in Ecuador Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Had to have typhoid immunization prior to going to Ecuador.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Professors were the best at telling us where we could buy affordable food every day.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Set a limit. It's easy to spend all your money on souvenirs and food in the first week. Budget it out so you have money for your whole trip.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 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? I spoke Spanish prior to the trip, but I would say the best practice is speaking it. Try to find someone that will let you practice talking to them. They could also listen to music in the language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Our chance to meet so many different people
  • The chance we had to try a lot of different food
  • The diversity of the cities we visited
* What could be improved?
  • Get more people to the clinics so we stay busy and use our time wisely
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about the political turmoil between Ecuador and the United States so I could understand the hesitancy and almost tension that was some times present.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'