NYU Alumni Travel – Ecuador: Living and Studying Abroad in South America

A 30-day stay in Cuenca, Ecuador offers a rare chance to combine travel and full-immersion language lessons.

By Ian Duncan (GSAS '12)

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Cuenca.

Learning outside of the classroom is a hallmark of an NYU education, and studying abroad is arguably one of the most effective and entertaining ways to broaden your knowledge of another culture. Currently, more than 40 percent of current NYU students spend at least one semester studying abroad at sites from Paris, France to Accra, Ghana. Alumni who may not have been able to take advantage of such opportunities, and those who want to recapture a sense of their former study abroad experiences, will now have a chance to do so this winter. From December 27, 2011 to January 26, 2012, alumni can take part in a 30-day immersion experience in the southern Ecuadorian city of Cuenca with the NYU Alumni Travel Program.

Home to three universities and a vibrant artists’ community, Cuenca is Ecuador’s third largest city. The flexible design of this trip allows alumni to participate as solo travelers or as part of a couple or group of friends. Alumni might even want to turn this opportunity into a multigenerational adventure.

The trip is structured around intensive Spanish lessons. Alumni will spend the month in full-immersion language classes run by the Simon Bolivar Language School, where individual instruction guarantees that lessons will be tailored to each person’s abilities, interests, and goals. A personal lifestyle guide and instructor will help them understand not only the language, but also the culture, history, art, and cuisine of Ecuador. They will learn though firsthand experience, working with their lifestyle guides to navigate the town – daily tasks might include getting a haircut or finding out who sells the town’s best coffee.

View of the old city.

The combination of cultural education and language instruction is designed to prepare alumni to move with ease through everyday Latin American life. Activities such as cooking and dance lessons and discussions on topics including art and music will encourage confidence and fluency in Spanish. For those more comfortable with Spanish, lessons in history and literature will also be on offer.

The housing arrangements offered on this trip will emphasize the feeling of actually living in the city, rather than retreating behind hotel walls with other tourists each night. The program offers modern studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments wired for cable television and broadband Internet access in the colonial center of the town and just a short walk from the language school.

Located in the Andean highlands about 8,300 feet above sea level, Cuenca was first settled in 8060 BC. Today, its center is crammed with ecclesiastical and secular architecture from the colonial era, which began with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1557. The center of the city has been recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site for its architectural and historical significance.

The trip includes a number of optional excursions beyond the city itself. A visit to the Pacific coast and the fishing town of Canoa will provide the opportunity for surfing, horse riding, or simply sunbathing. Venturing deeper inland, alumni will have the chance to visit the Shabalula ruins. The site was once an administrative and military center for the Cañari, a large pre-Inca tribe that once dominated southern Ecuador.

Another option is to extend the trip to the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin, inspired by the archipelago’s natural diversity, began to develop the ideas for his Origin of Species. Alumni can cruise the islands aboard the MV Santa Cruz with expert naturalist guides.

The combination of on-the-ground learning and stimulating trips to the historic and cultural sites of Ecuador will no doubt make for an enlightening and enjoyable “study abroad” experience for alumni.

Cuenca, Ecuador takes place December 27, 2011 to January 26, 2012. Interested alumni should contact NYU travel partner AHI Travel at 800-323-7373, or Leslie George at 212-998-6985 or leslie.george@nyu.edu for a brochure.

For additional information about other NYU alumni travel opportunities, visit the NYU Alumni Travel site. To request that your name be added to our mailing list, contact Leslie George at the above number.