Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

PURA VIDA Past Review

By (University of Memphis) - abroad from 05/23/2018 to 07/28/2018 with

Modern Language Studies Abroad / MLSA: Study in Costa Rica at Universidad de Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a ton and experiences that will last me for the rest of my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic portion of the trip was difficult and the student must attentive when regarding their work. However, it is achievable and will not take up all of there time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

My program was amazing the people were friendly, the insured you received the help you asked for and made you feel apart of the family.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My living arrangements were satisfying. I had to remind myself that this is not the United State and this counties way of living is much different than my own. However, after a week, the adjustment was smooth sailing

* Food:

I doubt this evaluation would allow me enough characters to talk about how amazing the food was. In short, it was pura vida!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was present for sure. All you had to do was open your eyes.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

My time there, my host families home was the safest I felt anywhere else in the city. I would advise that people traveling here abroad to ONLY walk in groups when traveling. Never walk alone or only in pairs because my roommate was robbed the first full week in the city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Of course it was the best experience of my life.

Finances

* 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)

It was easy to only spend a certain amount.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent less than $100 on food and expenses each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Spend with caution because some weeks that less than $100 could easily rise to $200 because of activities you wanted to do.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

It was required because my family spoke no English.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Span 2020
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Isla Tortuga
  • Night Life
  • The Culture
* What could be improved?
  • Faster Sign up Process
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? They do not eat a ton of meat.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.