Best Experience of My Life! Pura Vida! Past Review
By Zoë C (International Affairs, Spanish, French, Florida State University) - abroad from 06/27/2013 to 07/27/2013 with
Florida State University: Santa Ana - Spanish Immersion Experience, Summer
I learned so much! It is amazing how traveling abroad makes you learn about yourself and how being in another culture truly shapes you. It was so fun to learn more Spanish and actually use it to live and converse! Definitely worthwhile. I can't talk highly enough of FSU Costa Rica Study Abroad.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were awesome! They are taught at Conversa Language Center where everyone is so nice. The classes are open air and are set around beautiful gardens on a mountain overlooking Santa Ana, Costa Rica. The classes are taught by Costa Ricans and are very interactive. My Spanish improved SO MUCH by the end of this program. Also, they give you delicious lunch and there is a pool too! Also, throughout the week there are classes like Salsa dancing and Costa Rican cooking classes! So fun! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Conversa Language Center as well as our advisors from FSU helped out a lot in the process of placing students in the right level of Spanish, and with registering for classes. Also, our textbooks/workbooks were provided! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a host family was amazing! It was wonderful to see Costa Rica through the eyes of a true "tica!" They do a good job about placing you with a family you are comfortable with. I was living with an 86 year old Costa Rican woman and she was the sweetest abuela ever! She cooked breakfast and dinner for me every day and she told me all about growing up in Costa Rica. Also, my Spanish improved the most just from these conversations over meals. I had my own room in a beautiful little house. Also, most of the host families had been doing it for years! |
| * Food: |
The food is pretty much all included. The host family cooks you authentic Costa Rican food every morning and night and the lunch is provided by the school. So really there are only a few times you would need to buy extra food and if you do need to, you can get great food in Costa Rica for very little money. I loved the gallo pinto and still dream of it. Also, you will try every kind of tropical fruit you can imagine all fresh off the tree! Even a fruit called "cas" that only grows in Costa Rica! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved walking to school each morning, passing the local places. There was a cafe that my friends and I would stop in every day to do our homework and they had the most delicious cakes. I even got one for my birthday that I celebrated over in Santa Ana. I spoke Spanish constantly too. Also, FSU takes the students on so many adventures that really highlight the culture, not just tourist-y places. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't get sick but the program leader was always telling us where to find help if we needed it. No one really got sick on the program at all, thank goodness! |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe in Costa Rica. Everyone tells you where it is safe to be and where it is not, if you listen to them you will be fine. Also, the guys from FSU are true gentlemen and the ones on our program were no different. They would always walk us girls home at night as a group so that was nice. I would say I never felt unsafe. But obviously, as with any travel, be aware of your surroundings and don't flaunt your money or nice jewelry. |
| 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) |
You can spend as much or as little as you want. I ended up bringing a good amount of money for food, but I had friends that only brought around 20 dollars a week or less and were fine! Then others brought 2000. Know your spending habits and save up, but really, most everything is included except for a few lunches here or there. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try and save up a little each week or each paycheck before you go. Also, FSU International Programs has a financial adviser that can make a budget with you for before you go and while you're abroad. His name is Rod Mack and he is super nice! If you stop by FSU University Center A 5500 he will be there to meet with you. |
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 |
Before I left to go to Costa Rica my Spanish was super rusty and I hadn't studied it in two years, after a few days it was coming back just from being COMPLETELY immersed in the language. By the end of the trip, I felt comfortable changing my resume to say "conversationally fluent" and my Spanish was better than ever. I could communicate with ANY Costa Rican completely in 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced Spanish Grammar |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Don't be afraid to ask. Think about it this way, if the locals see you trying and you mess up they are likely to help you and accept you. If you don't even try they'll think you just don't even care. Also, Costa Ricans are the nicest people of anywhere I have traveled (and that's a lot) and love Americans. Just go out there and try! There are so many opportunities. Also, try not to speak in English around your FSU friends. It will be fun speaking in another 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? | Definitely don't pack too much stuff! And pack clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty! Definitely check with your bank before to make sure you'll have access to money. When you get there buy a Costa Rican phone for 20 bucks they're great and cheap. Also, if you'll be visiting any beach, the sand is black volcanic sand and while it is beautiful, it will stain any white or light colored bathing suit so bring a darker one or a black one! |
