Internships in Ecuador - Adelante Abroad

During Summer of 2021, I lived in Quito for two months as a veterinary intern. As the title suggests, it was the ULTIMATE experience. Because of Adelante, I can confidently say that I have grown not only as a person, but also as a professional. Throughout the duration of my stay, I learned skills and gained knowledge that I would have never had the opportunity to obtain in the states. Come time to return to the U.S., I didn't want to leave. The people. The scenery. The FOOD. Everything was a dream and I didn't want to wake up (I know. It's corny... but it's true.) To anyone looking for an international internship- I can't recommend Adelante highly enough.

Pro Tips:
1) Ecuador is cold during U.S. summer months... bring a jacket. It also rains. A lot. Bring an umbrella.
2)Your Spanish doesn't have to be perfect, as people are typically patient, but be prepared. Little to no one speaks English.

There's really no way I could fully articulate my experience in Ecuador. Interning in this stunning South American country was... life-changing (I know- cliché- but it's true).

For two months, I had the absolute privilege of interning at a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic. There, I learned skills and clinical information that I would have never gained in the states. When I wasn't working, I was cooking with my host family or exploring the local landscapes.

Come time to leave... I just didn't want to.

Working for a civil engineering and architecture firm in Ecuador was the best way I could have spend the summer before my senior year of college. The program staff did a great job of preparing me for what my experience was going to be like abroad. My time in Ecuador stated with two weeks of one-on-one Spanish classes which dramatically improved my ability to speak the language. I lived with an Ecuadorian family which also helped improved my Spanish skills. My host mom cooked incredible traditional food and informed me on the best places to visit throughout my time. During my internship, I learned specific vocabulary necessary for working in a construction field, learned the differences between construction and engineering requirements in Ecuador and in the States, and learned how to communicate professionally in Spanish. I spent all of my weekends exploring different cities and places in Ecuador and learning more about their culture. These two months were an incredible experience and I cannot wait to return to Latin America.

My 2 months in Ecuador was an incredible experience! I lived in Quito with an Ecuadorian family and completed 2 weeks of Spanish Language classes before beginning a 6 week placement at a veterinary clinic. Not only did I gain incredible skills and knowledge from my work placement that I can apply towards veterinary school in Canada, I was also able to travel around Ecuador and get to know its culture and people. My main goal out of this experience was to learn to speak another language. I came to Ecuador with some basic Spanish, but being immersed in it every day ,both at home with my host family and at work, allowed me to accomplish this goal. I met so many amazing people during my time in Ecuador and I am so thankful for this amazing experience!

I chose this program due to its affordability and because I only had to be at an intermediate level of Spanish before starting my internship. I got so much more out of this program than I expected! The first two weeks, I took Spanish lessons in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. My teachers were friendly and inviting, and my host was always eager to show me around the city and provide me with recommendations for things to do. As a vegetarian, I was extremely happy with how accommodating my hosts and program directors were. I made two new friends one week into the program, and we had a wonderful time exploring the city. Our teachers took us on excursions once a week to see more of Quito and to practice our Spanish. My internship focus (medicine) took me to Ambato during the third week of the program. Working and living with people who speak Spanish and are eager to help their volunteers learn added exponentially to my ability to speak the language. The people who live here are extremely friendly. My work assignment was very flexible, and allowed me to travel on the weekends and take the occasional day off to extend my weekend excursions. I would highly recommend this program to others. For my first time traveling to another continent, I was very comfortable here. The staff of Adelante Abroad was always there to support me and answer my questions.

I signed up for the trip after researching a variety of different programs. I found that Adelante Abroad was the most financially economical and offered the volunteer opportunity I was most interested. I arrived in Ecuador knowing no one else on the trip, and pretty unfamiliar with the country. On Day 1 I quickly felt the support of the Program director based in Quito, met other interns and quickly became acclimated. We developed a cohort of interns, friends and support systems. Quito is full of volunteers and interns from all over the world that I was able to meet, become acquainted with, and share stories. The internship itself was an amazing eye opening experience. In combination with living with a host family, I felt the full immersion of Ecuadorian culture. I became more proficient in Spanish, which is beneficial to my career path. My internship was an excellent resume enhancement and became a great talking point for interviews. I gained a sense of independence and knowledge I could not have gained otherwise. I fell inu love with the beauty and simplicity in traveling and I cannot wait to return to visit.

Spending part of my summer in Quito was an amazing opportunity. While there were rough moments/challenges, I gained so much. I knew minimal Spanish when I arrived, and was able to learn the language very quickly with my classes. I also gained a huge amount of academic/professional experience. If you're looking to travel, gain a lot of hands on career practice, and overall life experience, this is a great program.

This program was a great experience for me. I enjoyed the independence that was allotted to me, while I also felt that I had all the resources I needed to be comfortable and safe. Ecuador is a great place to meet many people from all over the world and travel on a budget. I lived with a warm and welcoming family that took great care of me. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to have real work experience abroad, with the comforts and resources of a traditional study abroad program.