Unequivocal Experience- Galapagos Islands Past Review
By A student (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 01/05/2018 to 05/05/2018 with
IES Abroad: Galápagos Islands Direct Enrollment - GAIAS
This was the best thing I could have chosen for myself. This abroad program exceeds anything I had thought about before and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.
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. |
The academic courses offered are pretty extraordinary. If you get the chance, take Tropical Ecology- best class. |
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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? |
Host family living is very different and strange, but take it in stride and it will be one of the best things you've ever done |
| * Food: |
Lots of rice ! |
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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? |
The healthcare was super accessible and all of it is free. The program itself helped a lot with that, one of our advisors always went above and beyond with bringing people to the hospital and making sure we understood everything |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program exceeded all of my expectations and has been some of the best time in my life. Full of life, color and adventure. |
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) |
Everything here is pretty inexpensive, and generally you can get your money's worth if you know how to spend smart! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish at the university level |
| 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? | Talk with your host family!!! Communication is important and they love it when you try, even if you're not all too good yet. Its the absolute best way to learn |
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? | About certain types of bugs and about how to deal with a host mom that has never had a kid before! |
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. |
