Study Abroad at Universidad San Franciso de Quito Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Rice University) for

Universidad San Francisco de Quito: USFQ Cumbaya Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile. If I weren't so caught up in things at my home university I would go back and do this same exact program again (and again). Of course, it helped to give me a more global perspective on many things. I feel incredibly enriched and blessed to have gotten to participate.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Universidad San Franciso de Quito
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took an indigenous language that would be difficult to take here in the states. I gained different perspectives on topics in my majors from professors educated in a different tradition.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program is long-standing and has a good relationship with the host university. Both universities were exceptional at dealing with the entire process. People in both the United States and Ecuador helped me remember everything I needed to do and they helped me get it done. Everyone helped with all that I needed. The partnership between the institutions was such that the transition to another country was seamless. The program exceeded my expectations for quality and value.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a family hand-picked for me. They had had students before and they lived close to my school and were very helpful. The neighborhood felt very safe; we lived in a gated community with a 24/7 armed guard (the area apparently has problems with petty thefts, not so much violence or armed robberies). I was also close enough to downtown Quito to do things I would want to do.

* Food:

My family made sure I was always very well-provided for. They had a housekeeper who showed off her full repertoire of local foods for me and they always respected things I would prefer not to eat. Eating at school was expensive for Ecuador's standards, but the food was good and would have been much more expensive in the US. Restaurants outside of downtown were incredibly cheap but still offered quality food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My program included several culture trips as a group. The fees were included in the (very low) price for the program. We visited indigenous markets, towns, artisans; beaches; and natural attractions and parks in addition to sampling local cuisine wherever we went. We also went on adventure trips and got to know our host city of Quito very well too.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The city's main crime problem involved petty theft (which affected members of my program, but not me directly) and not violence; I felt very secure. The program alerted me to all health risks and appropriate precautions to take in addition to helping me get medication/vaccinations as appropriate.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? No more than $30 per week on food (for lunches, weekend meals, and the occasional dinner out). I traveled just about every weekend. The average trip was $8-10 each way for a bus trip to a faraway city. $6-15 for a decent hotel room (if I wanted a single). Meals would be $2-5 each. Activities (e.g. rappelling, four-wheeling) would be $25-40. So a 2-day trip would cost less than $100. A beach trip (no "activities") could be about $50.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I did not anticipate traveling so much. The larger trips (Peru/Macchu Pichu; Galapagos) to tourist-y locations were the very expensive ones though.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
Language acquisition improvement?

I lived with a host family and took all of my classes in Spanish. I had ample opportunity to improve greatly.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Make local friends and don't spend all your time with your American ones. If you enjoy nature and adventure you will enjoy this trip, but you can also avoid these things if you prefer the cities. This trip has the best value that I've heard of, even having talked to friends and done plenty of research. You get a lot of support from the program organizers and much is included in the very low program fee.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Basic Quichua Language I

Course Department: American and Asian Languagues 121
Instructor: Jaime Maldonado
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The class moved at a pace fast enough that it was challenging to keep up with all of the vocabulary and grammar being learned. No field trips. The teacher was very knowledgeable and always well-prepared. I participated more than I would have if I had taken the class at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Personality Theories

Course Department: Psychology 206
Instructor: Monserrat Checa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The subject matter was not particularly difficult, but the style of teaching and grading seemed to make learning difficult for many of the students. No field trips. The teacher was knowledgeable, but never seemed to follow her own prepared plans and the class did not accomplish much of what it intended. I participated more than I would have at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Translation

Course Department: Advanced International Spanish 390
Instructor: Gustavo Fierro
Instruction Language: English and Spanish
Comments: The class was challenging. No field trips. The teacher was incredibly knowledgeable about academic English-Spanish/Spanish-English translation and translation studies in general. He was well-prepared. I participated more than I would have at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Advanced Spanish Conversation

Course Department: Spanish for Foreigners 321
Instructor: Claudia Gutierrez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was not too challenging, but we did learn a fair amount. No field trips. The teacher was knowledgeable, very well-prepared, and experienced. I participated as much as I would have participated at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Andinismo - (Mountain Climbing)

Course Department: Sports 195
Instructor: Diego Egas
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was not very challenging until our practicums at the end of the semester. There were many field trips that made excellent use of the location. The teacher was very knowledgeable and well-prepared. I participated as much as I would have at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: Zero credit course.