Costa Rica: Can't wait to visit again! Past Review
By Emily C (Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) for
ISA Study Abroad in San José, Costa Rica
While I have not had a chance to use much of my language skills since the trip, during and soon after the trip I could speak Spanish quite well. I had so much fun during my experience and I gained confidence in my own abilities to navigate an unknown place and meet new people. I also was exposed to ways in which another country can do things quite differently from the U.S. and be a rewarding place to visit, e.g. ecotourism, national health care. While my long-term career goal to teach is the same, I certainly am more open to teaching and living in another country.
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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. |
Workload was manageable - primarily exercises in language workbook. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program seemed organized and well-planned. We had access to internet and any support we might need both at Veritas and at the ISA office nearby. Our guides seemed very knowledgeable about the country. There were more students than I had anticipated but the group was small enough that I was able to get to know most of the fellow students. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The neighborhood of my tica mother seemed safe enough and was within a 10 minute walk to Veritas. I did not need to buy any cookware or bedding and was treated quite respectfully as a guest. |
| * Food: |
The food provided by my tica mother and that provided on the weekend excursions was often delicious. The fruit is fresh and better than anything you will taste in America. Expect to gain a pound or two! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every weekend we traveled to a different part of the country - to a cloud forest, a volcano, and a beach on the pacific. During those weekends we stayed in very comfortable hotels and had many excursions such as zip-lining and horse riding to choose from. During a different weekend, a small group of us caught a bus and traveled to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean and stayed at a hostel called Flying J's. It was such a relaxing, fun and rewarding experience! During that month, we also got the opportunity to explore and shop in San Jose and to see a musical performance. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
San Jose and the surrounding neighborhoods were fairly safe and like any other city or suburb to which you are unfamiliar. We were advised to not carry large amounts of money and to travel in pairs or groups. No one in the program had any issues with safety or with health issues that I am aware of, so I cannot speak for how well the program deals with those situations. I did need to take vaccines for malaria to prepare for the trip. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced with my host family, fellow students, and instructors. I tried to use the host country language in everyday interactions but typically spoke English with American peers. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This program was great because it seemed to offer the best sort of immersion. Spanish was spoken by almost everyone and the instructors and host families expected the students to try to speak it themselves, but they also knew English and were always patient and very helpful. Veritas University and San Jose shared a lot of amenities with American universities and cities whereas other parts of the country were tropical and rural and quite different. So there was a blend between the familiar and the new in the environment as well. While students who know little Spanish can get by, I would recommend for a student who has some familiarity with the language to go so that you can have more enriching interactions with your host family and instructors but still have room for improvement. |
