Costa Rica is Pura Vida Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Teachers make a point to engage the students by providing supplemental activities and games pertaining the material being studied or discussed. Class sizes are small which provides a more personal and effective learning experience.

On-site administration of your program

The program director was very knowledgeable about the country and safe and affordable places to go have fun and travel. It was very hard to get a hold of him most of the time. (Please see the comment box in the section of "Safety and Health Overall") About 70% of my expectations were met.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I didn't have to buy anything to settle in. I was provided with a bath towel, sheets, a pillow, couple of blankets, and hangers. My laundry was washed once a week, and my host mom made a point to wash dirty clothes too on the last day so I wouldn't have bring any dirty clothes back to the States. My host family treated me like I was a part of the family. My host mother often called me "mi hija" which means "my daughter/child." They were nothing less than absolutely amazing people.

The food that my host mom made was delicious. I don't like ham, and she made a point to not put ham in any of the dishes that she served me. One of my roommates was lactose intolerant to cheese and the host parents made accommodations for her as well. The main diet of Costa Rica consists of rice, beans, vegetables, and fruit. I recommend finding "sodas" (which are little places to eat good cheap food and not hard to find)and eating seafood at the beach in open air place to really take in the atmosphere.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The first and most memorable trip organized by my program was my first weekend there. The students were placed in hotel by the gorgeous beach and the scenic mountains in the background, with traditional local breakfasts and a snorkeling trip. Another trip arranged my by program was a day trip to "La Paz," which had waterfalls and exhibits of jungle cats, birds, hummingbirds, orchids, poisonous frogs, monkeys, and butterflies, which were all so enchanting.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Safety is a big issue stressed at orientation, by the host parents, teachers, and strangers you'll meet. It's because students can be robbed by thieves with machetes at 3 o'clock in the morning on the beach if they're walking alone. Foreigners are the main targets for pick-pocketing and being robbed. I wish my program was a little more responsive and assertive when it came to a particular issue. I sprained my ankle while running through the streets of San Jose. I have sprained ankles in the past, I automatically assumed it would be fine with time. I clearly misjudged the severity of the sprain and needed crutches. My program director in Costa Rica insisted that I be taken to the hospital the day it happened. I was being hard headed at the time, kept brushing it off saying that it'll get better, and didn't realize the full gravity of the injury until two months later. When I finally asked the program director to take me to the doctor for x-rays and other consultations (because he had stated it was a part of his responsibility), there were excuses like "I don't have a car to take you today," (even though he had said the doctor was walking distance from the university) and "the doctors went on strike," and all of this would become aware to me the day of when he had made the appointment for me. He was a great guy and was very helpful with traveling plans and advice on when, where, and what to do, but clearly didn't have any urgency for the injury which I still have trouble putting weight on sometimes. I didn't need any vaccines to study abroad in Costa Rica.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I practiced my Spanish everyday with my host family, roommates, students from class, teachers, and locals. I was able to use the language in everyday situations for transportation, traveling, purchasing items and gifts, and everyday conversation. Other American and international students speak English and people in popular travel destination towns will speak English. There are store merchants who will speak English but I suggest to keep speaking to them in Spanish, because they're like you and just want language practice.

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• International Students
• Americans
• Host Family

• The host family
• The endless list of things to do and try
• How easy it was to travel

• The sense of urgency with people who have had injuries while abroad
• Communication between program director in host country and students