Pura Vida Past Review
By Jeremy Parrott (Georgia Southern University - Armstrong Campus) - abroad from 05/24/2018 to 06/29/2018 with
Modern Language Studies Abroad / MLSA: Study in Costa Rica at Universidad de Costa Rica
The experience was definitely worthwhile. I gained a much greater understanding of life in Costa Rica that I never would've been able to grasp without being there. The appreciation I got for the people and the country itself is hard to capture in words. Friends, language proficiency, and seeing places that were truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience just touches the tip of the iceberg.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The instructors at UCR were amazing. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living with a host family was great. I got a chance to work on my fluency, and ate some of the greatest food of my life. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
As an immersive experience, it was a lot to take in at first. By the second week, however, I got pretty comfortable and realized the locals appreciated the effort being put forth to communicate in their language. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Other than staying longer to see more of the country and experience more of the culture, I can't think of anything I would change. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | n/a |
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 |
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| 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? | 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? | There's no better way to learn a foreign language than by speaking it. Don't be shy, just do it. The locals appreciate the effort, and you'll gain proficiency much more quickly by jumping in feet first. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I could've understood how much I would love it there so I could've registered for the full summer course load! |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
