Faculty of Science and Technology
Deakin University
Studying Environment in Ecuador Studying for a semester abroad in Ecuador was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my Deakin degree. As part of my Bachelor of Environmental Science, I chose to study at the Universidad Espiritu Santo in Ecuador because it offered a UMAP subsidy and an Ecology program. The Ecology class I took was really simple in comparison with Deakin standards, but a project where we chose our own topic allowed me to take a really in-depth look into an environmental issue. As part of the university’s internship program, I worked in a nature park for a month and then taught English. Students can use this internship as a credit point as you can take it as a unit, or just for experience and fun, like I did. One thing that really stood out for me during my exchange was the travel experience it offered. Classes generally weren’t run on Fridays, so the three-day weekend allowed international students to travel to the coast or visit historical towns. I went to the Amazon rainforest, the Andes and when classes finished I travelled to the Galapagos Islands, which was a highlight of my trip. But the best, most memorable part about Ecuador was the people. Through my stay I made friends that will last a lifetime. All international students at the Universidad Espiritu Santo have the option of staying with a host family, which I highly recommend. It is very cheap, convenient and students are well looked after. My family was wonderful and showed me how to get to uni, helped me with my Spanish, gave travel advice and always made sure I was safe. The trip wasn’t without its challenges; when I arrived I discovered the program I was supposed to be doing was cancelled. However the university did a great job of getting me into another class that I could use to attain the required credit points. Expenses were also a little more than I expected and my luggage was lost for four weeks which meant that I had to buy a lot of things I shouldn’t have. Initially, I struggled with the language and my host family did not speak English to me unless I was upset or sick. I found this extremely difficult, but in the end it was the best thing because I picked up the language really quickly. The teaching methods in class were similarly challenging, but rewarding. Studying overseas took made me step outside my comfort zone. I learnt so much about the world and myself that wouldn’t have been possible without travelling abroad and getting through some challenging situations. Experiencing life in a developing country opened my eyes to widespread poverty and made me rethink a few of my values. I truly believe that it helped me to grow as a person: I feel a lot more confident in myself and do a lot of things now which I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do before travelling. I think everyone should take a semester abroad and I really recommend Ecuador. It’s a beautiful country and I’ll never forget the great times I had while there on exchange in Ecuador.
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