a semester in the country that has it all Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/05/2018 to 05/05/2018 with

IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I can't express in words how much I learned from my abroad experience, both academically and culturally. But, I would say that the most important thing I learned is to It was absolutely worthwhile!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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?

Living in a host family can be difficult at times, but it is absolutely worth it to immerse yourself in the culture!

* Food:

Galápagos is definitely limited when it comes to food choices, because most of the food comes in by boat from the mainland. Be prepared to eat a lot of good food, but also to rarely see vegetables.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Quito can be a bit dangerous at times, but Cumbayá (where the university is and where host families are) is perfectly safe! San Cristóbal Island is also really safe.

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

Ecuador has everything you could ever ask for - cities, mountains, islands, jungle, forests, etc. Every day is an adventure, and there's always more to see.

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)

Being fed breakfast and dinner by host families is great! But, every lunch is on your own, and dinners on weekends can get expensive.

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? 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? Speak with your host family!!!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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?
  • field trips
  • academic rigor
  • location
* What could be improved?
  • spanish classes
  • integration with local students
  • too short time on the mainland
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Be flexible! A lot of things here, especially logistics, don't work the same way as they do in the U.S. Ecuadorian/Island time (lateness) is definitely a thing - be flexible!

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 Adventurer
The 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Tropical Ecology

Course Department:
Instructor: Esteban Suarez
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Esteban is amazing! He's engaging, smart, and extremely kind. Plus, the class takes field trips to the Amazon, cloud forest, and páramo, which are all incredible.
Credit Transfer Issues: