“It was important for me to study abroad because I wanted to improve my Spanish speaking skills, while also observing healthcare systems in countries outside of the United States,” reflected Clara Hazelbaker, a forensic anthropology major and Spanish minor who returned from the Child Family Health International (CFHI) Ecuador program this summer.
Located in Quito, the most populous city in Ecuador, students shadow healthcare professionals through rotations at a maternity hospital and a clinic in Otavalo serving the local indigenous community.
“Throughout my study abroad program, I encountered some amazing people, from peers in my program to teachers at the school where I took Spanish classes, to my host mom. Also, Ecuador is such a beautiful country, and I loved being able to explore many different parts of it,” said Hazelbaker.
Students are immersed in Ecuadorian social culture by learning about its healthcare system, taking conversational and medical Spanish classes and living with local families.
“I learned that I can communicate in Spanish a lot better than I thought. While it wasn’t easy, and I’m sure I made many errors, I was able to have conversations with many people.”
Outside of classes and shadowing experiences, participants can enjoy the city of Quito, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, as well as take advantage of weekend excursions to Mindo, Cotopaxi volcano, the Otavalo market and more.
“It is extremely valuable for me to learn and eventually become fluent in Spanish, not only for my personal life, but also for my professional life. As a medical professional, it is likely that I will encounter a patient who only speaks Spanish. It was also very important for me to observe medicine for four weeks so I could see if this is really the career path I want to follow. This program was helpful to reinforce my desire to follow this career path, even though it will take a lot of determination and hard work.”