AIFS Abroad in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Summer

The on the ground experience was phenomenal. Our professor was extremely knowledgeable and balanced in class learning with experiential learning. Our AIFS ground support was helpful and informative, even negotiating down pricing for an extra trip we took! I had no issues with my housing, but I know one or two other students did get moved to different home-stays because their original ones did not meet the standards they were supposed to. My biggest issues were the administrative kind. My deposit was not processed in a timely manner and someone had to go in and give me manual access to all the forms I hadn't had access too, right before their deadline. I did not receive any specific details about what I would be doing or where I would be going until a few weeks before I left the country. There was always free time in the evenings and I felt totally safe exploring with other students. If you're looking for a course that gives you a broad scope of the Galapagos islands ( history, flora, fauna, current issues, etc) with a ton of exciting excursions led by guides familiar with every inch of the islands I recommend this course. If you're looking for a more self guided and paced experience where you choose each day what to do after class than I don't recommend this course. My advice if you do go is to stay on top of your emails, be proactive in checking in and asking for information. Also, very important, be on top of whether or not your transcripts were sent and received.

I went to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador during the 2018 JanTerm. We had field trips to various sites including kicker rock where we swam with sharks and sea turtles. The class was excellent because we learned about the history, biodiversity, and issues of the Galapagos islands. My favorite part was housing because my host mom was very welcoming. The meals were amazing and getting to know her family was heartwarming. This program allowed to be open-minded and get to know other cultures without being afraid. I learned to be independent and comfortable while traveling to another country. The most exciting part of this program was snorkeling for the first time in the Galapagos and swimming with sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, and other diversity in the ocean.
If you are planning on participating on this JanTerm go with all your positivity and be open to try new things. Do not be afraid to talk to your host family because your host family is there to help you.