Something a Little Different (Interning in Costa Rica) Past Review
By Karlayne P (Philosophy., Northeastern University) - abroad from 09/01/2013 to 12/21/2013 with
Adelante: San Jose - Semester, Summer and Intern in San Jose
I learned that I'm probably not meant to be a childcare provider. As much as I love children, I'm not meant to have a job that involves working with them all day. I think it was worthwhile to a certain extent, it's always good to explore different avenues, especially as this is my senior year and will be entering the work world soon.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The one course I completed (spanish intensive course) there was very informative and fast paced. The professor I had was really good at balancing our time by breaking it into sections, where we had lectures and games. We also watched movies and took field trips, which allowed for more interaction with the culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
At times, they were a bit unapproachable and cold, but tried to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family! They were kind, giving, and extremely talkative (which allowed me to practice my spanish). |
| * Food: |
My family's from the Caribbean, so there wasn't much of a change in the style of cooking for me. Typical dishes include: rice and beans (gallo pinto), stewed chicken or beef, and fried plantains. Tip for saving money: get casadas (meal that comes with rice and beans, some type of meat, and a side) at "sodas" (small restaurant). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't get sick, but Adelante has a great support system back in the states, so I would imagine if anything happened abroad, they would take the proper measures to handle a crisis. They are also really great about responding to emails in a quick manner. |
| * Safety: |
While I was here, a couple of students got robbed. But I think if you follow the safety tips and advice (like don't walk alone at night) they give you at orientation, you'll be alright. The university actually hires 24/7 security detail to ensure your commute from your home-stay to the university is safe; also the neighborhoods have their own security guards. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
If you are poor like me, you should establish where the cheap "sodas" are, so that lunch won't add up to too much. Grocery shopping adds up to a lot, but it's do able if you stay away from the american brands. Two meals a day is included, so all you have to worry about is lunch. Laundry is also included. I spent all my money mostly on cabs (a lot of them are tricksters) and partaking in nighttime activities (movies, karoking, etc.) If you are a girl, look for the places that have ladies night or free drink nights. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50$ |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
My host family didn't speak english (until the last day I was there smh), so I was forced to speak spanish. My internship was different, I spoke english all the time because a lot of the workers there wanted to learn english. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced 2 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with the locals, it's kind of hard at the University (it was kind of cliquey), but going out (not just to bars, but like parks and different events) helps. In the paper, there are lists of free things to do around costa rica, so that's another way to meet people, also volunteering |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I think the University makes a great study abroad program, since it's very involved in terms of having activities for students (like the free dance classes, Welcome Party, Thanksgiving dinner, and Talent show) and making students feel comfortable about their change in living (culture shock). However, in terms of strictly interning, (from my personal experience, it could be completely different for someone else, especially taking into account the type of internship desired) I think it lacks in having diverse opportunities for internships. I was looking for something different (I'm going into the legal profession and was hoping to combine that with some aspect of social work and youth engagement), but it ended up being too different, where I wasn't doing anything with law, and everything with child care (an education major's dream!). I wish somehow Adelante could partner up with the University of Costa Rica for internships as they have more longstanding relationships and can provide more specialized positions. In the end, I wish I had just requested a strict legal internship, working in a law firm. My advice to those that are using this program for an internship is to keep it simple. I tried to combine a lot of different fields together (youth, law, and social work) and ended up being a babysitter for four months. Stick to one thing that means the most, or will be more beneficial to your development-- and if it's something outside of your field of study, don't try to mix them together (personally, I don't think the university has the resources to accommodate such requests). |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
