Costa Rica's capital was fun, challenging, amazing, rewarding but most of all life changing!!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

work load was challenging, especially the spanish class but that is exactly what I wanted and expected from the program. the teachers made class enjoyable, entertaining but still a valuable and respected experience. grading was similar to the university of colorado at boulder.

On-site administration of your program

strenghts: busy, fun, educational, free time, host stay, great university weaknesses: in a city that can be dangerous at certain times/places/situations (most if not all of which are avoidable)

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

neighborhood safety: awesome, we had a guard, gates, locks...etc beautiful house, decor, cozy feel with pets and a friendly enviornment didnt need to buy anything to settle in treated as a guest and family member by the family, very comfortable enviornment 3-5 min walk to the university walk or 5-10 min taxi ride to all bars, clubs, restaurants, malls, bank...etc hour from airport

always full, never hungry, amazing food by my host mother street vendor food was sketchy nearby local restaurants (most were amazing) university food was good

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

salsa/merengue dance classes taught at university cooking classes for local meals at university field trip to major parts of costa rica (beaches, volcano, waterfall, natl parks) celebration, welcome, goodbye parties

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

dont walk around alone at night, walk in groups, especially if its a group of girls take a taxi they are cheap never walk around with valuables like laptop, expensive jewelry, iphone, ipod...etc dont go on beach alone dont go in sketchy parts of city dont get drunk/do drugs I was instructed to get the hep c shot, (series of 3 so start early) the program assisted me and told me and everyone else all of this information a friend of mine had to go to the hospital, it was very clean, safe, english speakers and I felt like i could have been in a US hospital when we visited him. he had no complaints about his surgury/experience there

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

teacher, fellow spanish classmates, host mom, host dad, study abroad roomates, ISA directors, friends at the university, street vendors. most spoke spanish and were directed to do so to enhance our spanish speaking abilities

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• International Students
• Local Students
• Host Family