The Trip of a Life time and Inspiration to Continue Past Review
By A student (College Misericordia) - abroad from 06/02/2012 to 06/30/2012 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: San Jose, Costa Rica
I learned a huge amount about myself... what I am interested in, How I react in new situations and how to conquer fears. It was a huge building experience
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Unversidad Veritas |
| 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. |
Intermedio 2 - intensive Spanish language 202 totally immersive experience with excellent structure, review of preterit tenses and deep exploration of the subjunctive mood! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Staying with a homestay family is an experience unlike anything else! You are never sure exactly how your accommodations will be but it's the best way to go! |
| * Food: |
Fresh and delicious everything... Whether your Mama Tica is a good cook or not the food is fresh and unadulterated! different than the US |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I could have stayed longer.. after 1 month I felt like I knew a bit of San Jose and I wanted to explore more! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
stay in a group and be connected... there is nothing to fear that doesn't exist in any US City! |
| 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) |
depends on what you want to do.... I spent around $45 a week on meals and stuff but entertainment is where you will spend money... Drinks, Bar cover charge, excursions... I spent the whole month down there on less than $600 |
| * 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? | $100 or so depending on the types of activities |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Trip advisor is good for finding cheap hostels.. drink a little before you go out so you don't spend all your money at the bar... plan your dance nights into your budget. |
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 |
The advisers spoke to us in Spanish, all class was in Spanish, then it's your job to motivate your classmates to speak spanish |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Basic High School Spanish... 102 |
| 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? | talk to your family as much as possible... and your professor after class... take advantage of opportunities to listen to native speakers speak... and especially Read the newspaper... you will be surprised by the amount that reading will improve your comprehension of spoken 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 more fearless. I should have talked to more Costa Ricans |
