Pura Vida in Costa Rica! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

What drew me to study here was the program, but the Medical Spanish class didnt quite meet my expectations. It was geared toward healthcare professionals who would have already received their degree. The material required much more knowledge than an ordinary undergraduate in a healthcare major would have. Also, the Spanish courses were 5 hours every day, which made it difficult to find time to explore, nevertheless have energy or positive morale. The elective course was great though. The teacher was very knowledgeable and the coursework was very educational.

On-site administration of your program

Always available to speak to either via email or in person. Very friendly. The ISA office was within a short walking distance. The weekend excursions were incredible and well planned. You definitely got a lot for your money with ISA. They also offered extra activities, such as cooking classes, movie nights, and other festivities to enhance our experience. They informed us of activities at the university and city that were all very fun and helped us to truly experience the culture.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Only about a 10 minute walk to campus. Sometimes we would walk to different places around town or take a taxi, which was really cheap. Our host family was awesome! Very loving, patient, kind, fun, and welcoming. Living conditions were always very clean. We only needed to purchase any snack foods or whatever we wanted for lunch. Breakfast and dinner was always provided and always delicious.

Great food always. I recommend that during lunchtime, if you go to any of the "Soda's" (diner/small restaurant) to simply order the Plato de Dia (Plate of the Day). It's always the best bang for your buck.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We explored allll over the country through ISA. Tamarindo gave us a true beach experience, Arenal is where we got to see a real volcano and rainforest, and Monteverde was heaven on the mountains where we got to see more rainforests. ISA and Tico Tours made each weekend a total blast! The activities I was able to participate in were bungee jumping over the Colorado River, surfing lessons and sailing on the Pacific, biking tour through the rainforest and around a volcano, zip-lining throughout the mountains and rainforests, and hiking through the rainforest. And there was still much more offered! Truly memorable experiences.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program and university educated us very well on safety and health. I personally never had any problems. You just have to be aware of your surroundings and be smart.

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

We usually practiced with our host family members. Yes, I used it during my interactions at stores, markets, etc. Most people spoke Spanish, but the students without much Spanish background were still able to enjoy the culture with the help of the other students.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family