The University Cátolica, where I took my classes, is a wonderful
experience. The professors are so friendly and from day one they make you feel
very welcome and comfortable. The program is well organized and the faculty
involved work together to help you with any needs or concerns you may
have. The classes are small and are
designed to get you to improve your Spanish speaking skills. This is done with
a great variety of different activities that are split between class time,
trips, and films. The first day after class we went to lunch with the team from
the University, which enabled us to get to know our professors and classmates a
lot better. One of the trips that the
University organized was a trip to El Mercado the local market where we met
local indigenous people and learned about their culture, native dress and
customs, and then we were able to buy clothes and souvenirs.
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America.
It lies on both the Northern and Southern hemispheres and is divided by the
Equator, giving the name of the country. Ecuador has very well developed
tourism, and it uses the US dollar as the currency, making it easy to plan trips
and excursions independently. Anything from hiking to rainforest expeditions
are all within a few hours travel. On the weekends my classmates and I had many
spectacular adventures at a very reasonable price.
Our first weekend we travelled to Salinas with its beautiful
beaches, which was a quick ride by bus or van. We all enjoyed two days of
relaxation at a very reasonable price.
Our second adventure was to Baños a small town situated among lush
green hills with waterfalls; this is a popular destination with Ecuadorians and
foreign tourists alike. We all stopped at a local restaurant (which was
included in the price of the excursion) for a delicious home cooked meal. Here
we met local people and really got to use the Spanish we learned. In the evening we relaxed in the natural
thermal baths that gave the town its name “Baños.”
Traveling up through the Andes over 9,000 feet to reach the
quaint elegant town of Cuenca is a fabulous way to see the countryside and
mountain scenery. Cuenca’s captivating city has colonial architecture, glorious
churches and cathedrals. Cuenca is known for its delicious bread, which we had
to buy a few times in the two days we were there. At 15 to 20 cents a roll it
was a good bargain! We saw Panama hats being made in the local factory, walked
the narrow streets and had refreshments at several local bars and restaurants. 
The experience will stay with me forever; I get to look back
on not only my school life, but also traveling to places with the wonderful friends
I made at school. I was a little unsure about staying with a host family at first
but it was a fabulous experience. Sonia,
the lady I stayed with included me in everything, I felt as though I was her
daughter. Whether we were watching TV, eating, or just hanging outside I was
always very comfortable with her, she introduced me to her extended family and
they even had a party for me to show me how to make empanadas. I have made many friendships that I will have
in my life long after the experience in Guayaquil Ecuador. I am constantly speaking
with the friends from Israel and California that I made while studying abroad,
and I know that I have developed a strong and wonderful friendship with them
thanks to this experience. Studying abroad is something everyone should
experience; trust me it will be one of the best experiences of your college
life! I am already thinking of doing another program abroad… 