Galapagos: Sunshine, Sea Lions, and Scuba diving! Past Review
By A student (University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 08/10/2017 to 12/08/2017 with
IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS
I gained an appreciation of language and latino culture! This program was the best choice I could have ever made.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses and extremely research based and hands-on! |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
There was a hospital directly on the island right near my home. We were given a tour of it when we first got there but unfortunately health care in the Galapagos is not great. The doctors aren't extremely knowledgable and only basic conditions can be treated. Extreme cases require being flown to the mainland for treatment (this did not happen to me or anyone I knew there). |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program felt like the classes and lifestyle were tailored to exactly what I want in life! |
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) |
You can easily live on about 100 dollars a week! |
| 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? | Eat the almuerzos served at restaurants, they are so cheap and usually pretty tasty! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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 to bring less clothing! I brought a 50 pound suitcase of clothes and definitely did not need it all! |
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. |
