Costa Rica; Challenging and Beautiful Past Review
By Anthony C (Biology, General., Presbyterian College) for
Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS): San Jose - Tropical Biology on a Changing Planet
100% yes!
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. |
The overall educational experience was excellent. However, there were not a lot of free days. |
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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? |
Housing was great! |
| * Food: |
Lots of rice and beans. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I used about $700 for a 12 week trip. That was not being frugal, but also not spending like a mad man. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 202 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I could practice Spanish with any of the students on the trip, especially the Costa Ricans that were with us. I didn't need to use it everyday, but I did. Everyone spoke English. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Someone who does not mind hiking for 2 to 3 hours a day in the jungle. |
