Ecuador: Culture and Development

Homestays

Students in the Ecuador: Culture and Development program live with three different host families during the course of the semester. Each homestay experience offers new insight on Ecuadorian culture and daily life. Living with host families also gives students the chance to greatly improve their Spanish while forming close and meaningful relationships with Ecuadorians.

Los Chillos (four weeks)
Students live with a middle income family in small towns in the valley of Los Chillos, located about 40 minutes outside of Quito. After class and on weekends, students will typically undertake many activities with their host families, including hiking, swimming, playing sports, and socializing with their hosts’ extended family and friends. The homestay is an ideal setting for students to practice their Spanish and experience local culture, including many traditional dishes.

Quito (three weeks)
The program’s second homestay is in an urban neighborhood in Quito with a middle class family. Quito offers a variety of wonderful cultural amenities. Host families enjoy sharing the city with their students by accompanying them to concerts, museums, movies, and other sites. Students quickly become familiar with Quito’s excellent and inexpensive public transportation system.

The Ecuadorian Coast (approximately five days)
The third homestay, held on the Ecuadorian coast, offers students a very different perspective of Ecuador. Host families are either from fishing or agricultural communities, and in recent years, many have suffered severe economic hardship. The communities on the coast are extremely close-knit. Students often find themselves accompanied by young children as they conduct studies on village dynamics and social structure.