Study Abroad Programs in Ecuador

I had the joy of living in Cuenca in May 2023 as part of the Full Immersion Spanish Program with CEDEI. To say that it was a life-changing experience is not an exaggeration. I had an incredible time learning about Ecuadorian culture, taking in the beautiful landscape, trying new foods, and learning Spanish. This program truly offers an immersive experience that I am sure I would not have gotten travelling on my own. The staff at CEDEI were incredibly kind and helpful, and I was so grateful for how well organized my program was. They supported me in planning my trip, ensured my safe arrival and departure, and took all the stress out of planning for me. I arrived in Ecuador with only a basic level of Spanish, and thanks to the immersive environment, effort of my host family, and excellent instruction from my grammar and conversation teachers, left able to confidently order food, speak with shopkeepers, and keep up in most conversations. My teachers were very kind and attentive to tailoring our lessons to topics that are of interest to me, and it was a pleasure to get to know and spend time with them. They each went out of their way to make my stay memorable, and even took me on outings in the city to visit museums, the university campus, the market, and restaurants. My host family was incredibly kind, welcoming, and protective of me, and played a big role in making my stay in Cuenca so special. We had so many laughs, great food, and fun adventures together, and stay in touch to this day. The only bad part of my trip was our very tearful goodbye at the airport, as we had grown so close during my stay. I also really enjoyed the cooking, pottery, and dance classes offered as part of this program, and appreciated that everything was planned so seamlessly for me so that I got the most out of my trip. While I was in Cuenca, I also got to go on four excursions: a walking tour of Cuenca, visit to Ignapirca, hike in Cajas National Park, and a trip with stops in Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolomé, which were all highlights. Other special moments included singing in my host sister's church choir, trying cuy in Gualaceo with my host family, buying fresh fruit and receiving a limpia esperitual at el Mercado 10 de Agosto, visiting the many beautiful churches, and celebrating mother's day with my family. All in all, this was an incredible experience, and I cannot recommend this program enough to others. My host family, teachers, the staff at CEDEI, and Cuenca will always have a special place in my heart.

Before applying, I had doubts about whether I should study abroad and whether or not it should be with this program. Now that I have completed it, however, the thought that I might have gone elsewhere haunts me. I am so thankful to have been a student in Ecuador with SIT, and it has had major positive impacts on my plans for the future. As a student of Environmental Biology in St. Louis, this program gave me field research experiences I couldn't have gotten anywhere else that perfectly complemented what I had already learned in school. After numerous trips to conduct research in some of the coolest places on Earth (cloud forests, the Amazon, the Paramo, and the Galapagos islands), I spent a month studying spider populations in the Amazon for an independent research project that I was able to bring from initial concept to a completed research paper. If this seems intense, fear not! The lovely professors of this program will help build your confidence over the semester and teach you the skills necessary to do something similar yourself (I certainly felt that way). On top of all of this, I met lovely people along the way and felt truly comfortable and informed within the Ecuadorian cultural context. If you are interested in gaining field research experience, seeing some of the most gorgeous parts of the world, and applying theoretical ecology concepts that you've learned in school, look no further. This program is perfect.