Spring Break in Ecuador

Spring Break in Ecuador (Host: Yanapuma Foundation)		At the Equator: EIU Student Emily Dittoe standing in both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
Country:	Ecuador
City:	Quito
Department(s):	Foreign Languages and Study Abroad
Leaders :	Dr. Rigoberto Chinchilla (rchinchilla@eiu.edu)
Subjects:	Spanish
Terms/Dates:	Spring Break - Sunday 3/14/10 to Sunday 3/21/10
Credits:	2 (students may have an option to do 1 additional credit of independent study after the program)
Budget:	Cost Breakdown
Eligibility and Prerequisites:	Good Academic Standing Good Judicial Standing
Notes:	This program is subject to a minimum student enrollment of 10. Note, application deadline is December 4th, 2009. While not faculty-led, there is a program leader.
Application Deadlines:	Special application deadline of December 4th, 2009 (FIRM)
Application Materials:	Special Program Application (turn this in by December 4th, 2009 (FIRM DEADLINE)) Airline Reservation Form (turn this in with your application by December 4th, 2009--IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GROUP AIRFARE) Also, please complete the Health History before you go to Health Services for your Travel Consultation (as indicated in your EIU Application checklist) Study Abroad Health History Basics for Faculty-led Programs (step by step from application to realization)

Academic Program

Spring Break in Ecuador is an intensive Spanish program that includes 20 hours of Spanish instruction, combined with culturally relevant excursions and interaction with local native familes. The program is based in Quito, Ecuador at the Fundacion YANAPUMA.

Activities/Itinerary

Ecuador Study/Travel Itinerary

Sunday, March 13 - Arrive, Transfer to Host Familes

Monday, March 14 - AM Classes, PM Historic Center and Panecillo

Tuesday, March 15 - AM Classes, PM Mitad del Mundo (equator and museum)

Wednesday, March 16 - AM Teleferico (cable car and hike), PM classes

Thursday, March 17 - All day trip to Mindo Cloud Forest (includes tubing on the river, canopy adventure, and hikes), Classes en route to/from

Friday, March 18 - AM Classes, PM Guayasamin Museum

Saturday, March 19 - All day trip to Otavalo Market (famous Indigenous market) and Surroundings (Cuicocha Crater Lake and Other Villages)

Sunday, March 20 - Transfer to airport

Health Preparation

See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect. The Center for Disease Control recommends certain vaccines for Ecuador.

Enrollment/Credit

You will earn 2 credit hours of Spanish coursework at EIU for your study in Ecuador. Visit the Department Chair of Foreign Languages, Dr. Stephen Canfield for course approval information (bka course substitute).

Accommodations

Students will stay with host families, where breakfast and dinner will be provided.

Orientations

A pre-departure orientation will be provided and is required for all participants. This orientation will cover information on safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country, as well as planning logistics.

Necessary Documents

Passport

To enter a foreign country, you must have a valid passport. If you are a U.S. citizen and do not currently have a valid passport, or if your passport will expire during the time you will be overseas, please go to the U.S. State Department web site for information on how to apply for/renew your passport.

YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID FOR 6 MONTHS AFTER DATE OF DEPARTURE

You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on your host countries. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip.