Pura Vida Past Review
By McKenzie C (Mississippi State University) - abroad from 06/02/2013 to 06/29/2013 with
ISA Study Abroad in San José, Costa Rica
I absolutely loved Costa Rica! I would definitely recommend this program! I would go to the ISA office almost daily because the ladies in the office were so welcoming and accommodating that I made friends with them. I was in intermediate Spanish which was not difficult but somewhat challenging. I wasn't honestly overly fond of the classroom but when you are there, the classroom is not the best place to learn Spanish anyway: the people are. If you really want to learn Spanish, then I would highly recommend that you make friends with the Ticos and not with Americans. Then use the classroom to facilitate what you learn from speaking with constantly with locals. With that being said, I didn't follow that advice very well. I made very good friends with other American students there with me and we spoke too much English (which was not my plan), but I forged friendships that were so tight that I still speak with most of them regularly almost two years later. I I had a host family that I loved and we became so close that they even too me to a family reunion and later included me in their Father's Day family photo. I also liked that ISA provided two excursions and left the rest of the weekends open. This way I was able to be lead in the first two weekends to get my bearings in the country and then my friends and I could plan our own trips after that (which were not very expensive at all). Overall I can easily say that I had a 5-star experience!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was in intermediate Spanish which was not difficult but somewhat challenging. I wasn't honestly overly fond of the classroom but when you are there, the classroom is not the best place to learn Spanish anyway: the people are. If you really want to learn Spanish, then I would highly recommend that you make friends with the Ticos and not with Americans. Then use the classroom to facilitate what you learn from speaking with constantly with locals. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I loved the ISA staff in the office! They were very personable and helpful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had a host family that I loved and we became so close that they even too me to a family reunion and later included me in their Father's Day family photo. It was a nice house.I had a roommate and we shared a bathroom but had our own rooms. Our Tico parents made us breakfast and dinner everyday and would offer snacks all the time. |
| * Food: |
I enjoyed the food. It was a lot of rice and beans but I always added "salsa de tomate" (which was definitely not catchup, even though it sounds that way). The fruit was amazing. Interestingly enough there was this amazing Italian restaurant close to the school that I went to often. Also, there was a food cart in the school courtyard that had good cheap food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not do a great job integrating. I made really good friends with other Americans and we, unfortunately, stuck together a lot. My host family and teacher were the most exposure that I had. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I was in a city. Just be smart as in any other city. I felt very safe. |
| 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) |
Just budget smart. There is a good conversion rate.Costa Rican items are cheap. Imported American items cost the same as here. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just be conscious of your spending |
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 |
They said so at the beginning but rare encouragement throughout. |
| 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 4 |
| 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? | Make Tico friends and just talk all the time in Spanish |
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? | There would be other Americans joining me there. I know this sounds obvious but I planned on speaking only Spanish and coming back fluent but I got there and hadn't prepared to make American friends who wanted to only speak English |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
