Pura Vida Irá Cambiar Su Vida Past Review
By lizzie.jespersen (Photojournalism., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/13/2012 to 08/11/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): San Joaquin de Flores - Instituto San Joaquin De Flores
I have learned so much about a culture that I knew next to nothing about before, and my language skills have improved immensely. Parts of grammar and just general fluency that didn't make sense to me in the classroom now make complete sense to me just from using and hearing the language so much. Definitely worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everybody who works for API & the Instituto is so chill, helpful, and fun! Francy and Esteban are the best resident directors and are always around the Institute just to chat or to answer any questions. Ana is awesome and if you ever need help with planning weekend trips she knows all of the good deals. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The best way to experience the culture is without a doubt living with a host family. Three meals a day are included and DELICIOUS. I barely ever ate out. My family was amazing, I hung out with my brother a lot and my mama tica was so patient with my Spanish and always hugged me good morning and goodnight. You feel like a real part of the family by the time you leave. |
| * Food: |
I was one of the luckiest students as far as my meals were concerned. My mama tica was an amazing cook and I didn't have a single meal that I disliked. |
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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 got sick during one of my first weeks there, and the resident director helped me with getting to the doctor and the pharmacy for my medication. |
| * Safety: |
Girls shouldn't walk around alone after 8:30pm, so we always had some of the guys walk us home after going out. None of us had any issues with safety. However I did have an older man follow me during the day once. |
| 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) |
We traveled every weekend, so it got pricier than we wanted sometimes. I was able to keep prices to $30/week when we had official excursions, but when we went together it was typically $50-$100. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I rarely ate out, so very minimal expenses during the weekdays - mostly just bus fare. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Beginning Spanish I & II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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 wish I had been a bit more learned in Spanish! |
