| Article published at Trinidad and Tobago Newsday | | | | and can tailor Spanish Classes to suit each group's |
| Sunday July 9th, 2006 | | | | requirements. The school is accredited by the |
| Quito is the second highest capital city in the | | | | Ministry of Education and Culture and has |
| world. And living that high above sea level can be | | | | attracted diplomats, businessmen and pilots who |
| a heady experience. But if you prefer a cool | | | | need Spanish for their jobs. For me, I've |
| climate, look no further. Although it's located 25 | | | | conducted several interviews in Spanish now and |
| kilometres from the equator, it rarely climbs | | | | would not have been able to do so had I not |
| above 24ºC on any given day and | | | | taken 3 months of Spanish. Knowing the language |
| averages a refreshing 15ºC all year round. | | | | allows me to learn about situations and events I |
| This is what drew me to Quito initially, but it was | | | | would not otherwise be a party to. I've been able |
| the Spanish school Amazonas and what it offered | | | | to enjoy my travels even more because I can |
| its students that sealed the deal. | | | | mix and mingle with the locals and often they |
| After searching the web for a place to study, I | | | | take me to places where you wouldn't find other |
| found Amazonas Spanish School by sheer luck or | | | | tourists, and I really enjoy that. |
| was it destiny. I wrote to them for more | | | | Throughout South America they offer Spanish |
| information, and the information they sent was | | | | immersion programmes, but Ecuador seems to be |
| tailor-made to me at a price I couldn't resist. | | | | the most organised and the Spanish spoken in |
| Amazonas Spanish School offered me one to one | | | | Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia is closer to the |
| classes, the use of the Hilton gym, spa and | | | | Spanish spoken in Spain. However, schools in |
| heated swimming pool, home stay with meals, | | | | Ecuador seem to offer a lot more than just |
| airport transfer, excursions and the opportunity to | | | | Spanish at truly irresistible prices. And I can't |
| do voluntary work with the street children in | | | | forget to mention the incredible landscape that |
| Quito for what tuition alone would cost in Spain. | | | | surrounds you in Quito. There's the snow-capped |
| Talk about Best Buys, this was definitely one of | | | | Cotopaxi in one corner, Pichincha in another and |
| them! | | | | Cayambe. At sunset the light and shadows on the |
| I learned in 3 months much more than I ever | | | | hilltops almost look surreal. Quito's old city is a |
| learned in all 5 years of secondary school. The | | | | UNESCO, world cultural heritage site and you really |
| professors know their material and the calibre of | | | | can picture what it must have been like when the |
| students also add to the experience. I met | | | | Spanish ruled. Another plus for Quito is that they |
| journalists, teachers, lawyers, engineers, doctors | | | | use US currency which makes it quite easy. The |
| and even met a group of teachers and students | | | | cost of living is way less and you can enjoy |
| from New Mexico who were studying Spanish and | | | | American style malls with the brand names we all |
| travelling around Ecuador as part of a school trip. I | | | | know. As I said before, it's at half the price. |
| thought how progressive. Maybe some of our | | | | If you're looking for a cool city from which to |
| secondary schools could offer a programme like | | | | begin Spanish immersion and if you want to add a |
| that - a summer in Ecuador to learn Spanish, | | | | little Inca and Spanish Colonial history to that along |
| travel and volunteer. Just a thought. | | | | with say maybe some extreme sports or |
| The school offers group Spanish Classes as well | | | | shopping, Quito has it all. |