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