Pura Vida! Past Review
By Hanna H (Truman State University) - abroad from 07/16/2012 to 08/09/2012 with
Centro Linguistico Conversa: Santa Ana - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was definitely worth it to improve my spoken Spanish skills. Also, I really enjoyed getting to see the amazing country of Costa Rica. It is a country rich in nature and extremely beautiful. I also liked seeing how the local culture and customs were different from the U.S. There were lots of little customs that were different.
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was hard to become integrated with the local culture since I was only there for one month. I feel like I if I had a better connection with my host family, then they could have exposed me to more of the culture of Costa Rica. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt fine in Santa Ana. The biggest advice I have to to watch for cars. Pedestrians do not have the right of way in Costa Rica, so the people crossing streets have to be extra careful when they are walking. I avoided going out after dark, just because I was usually by myself after classes and I did want to find trouble after dark n the city. Besides normal problems (i.e. tripping and falling, small cuts, bug bites) I did not have any safety-related incidents occur to me |
| 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) |
Actually during the school week, there was little need to spend money since all meals were provided. I spent quite a bit of money on souvenirs for friends and family, but my main money drain was from the weekend trips. It was at least $50 each weekend to get to my weekend destination, plus hotel fees, plus the costs of the activities offered at the sites. These added up very quickly and I spent a minimum of $1000 on these trips all together. My suggestion is to be aware that you will be spending money during the weekends, but there is not a lot that can be done about that. Just make sure you choose activities that you definitely want to do. |
| * 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? | Not including weekend trips, I probably spent around $50 a week for snacks and souvenirs. The weekend trips were around $300-$350 each weekend, including transport, hotels, and activities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Stay at hostels when possible, especially if you are traveling by yourself. They are far less expensive than hotels. Also use the public bus system because it is not very expensive. |
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 |
All of my classes were completely in Spanish and the faculty encouraged us to use Spanish when talking during breaks at school as well. My host family spoke only Spanish as well. We often spoke English during the weekend trips because it was easier to communicate with each other, but I wish we had used more 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? | Spanish Composition (SPN 330 at Truman State University) |
| 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? | Just talk to people. Many locals are very nice and willing to help you practice. Also, use your host family. They want to help you. My host mom was especially helpful and I enjoyed talking with her. In fact, I wish I had talked with her more during my trip. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | The first few days are hard because you have to change your mind set from English to Spanish. After a few days it gets much easier. Also, don't be afraid to travel by yourself. It can be done and is sometimes cheaper and more fun than traveling with a large group. |
