Pura Vida Past Review
By sydney s (spanish & mathematics, Westminster College, PA) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: San Jose, Costa Rica
To be really honest, I'd just say I got better at spanish and saw some beautiful places, but not too much has really changed in my understandings.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Honestly, there weren't too many significant differences, but the classes were longer and lasted for only 1 month at a time, you needed a C to pass instead of a D, and the classes were a little bit easier. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Study Abroad Office at Westminster was incredibly helpful and patient. They knew the answer to nearly every question I had, and if they didnt they found the answers promptly. Although CEA didn't have a direct advisor on my campus, everything was taken care of promptly and more or less my expectations were met. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
aways ate something different, never went hungry ...hit up Soda de Maria too! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our trip to Baldi Hot Springs was really nice. Probably the nicest place ill ever stay in my life, absolutely beautiful. I was pleased with just about everywhere I went. Costa Rica is a gorgeous country. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I was never sick, and never had any problems with safety, didnt need and vaccines either. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Probably average of $20, but I am pretty cheap. I only ate out when i needed to and always took the cheapest means of transportation and housing. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget and stick to it is all I can say. I had no unexpected expenses. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 351 (intermediate) |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced in class, on the streets, and with my host family, but to be honest there were just a lot of Americans speaking English which made the language immersion more challenging. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student that could afford to spend a little more money would really enjoy this study abroad. It's really good for students that have never been abroad before too. |
