¡PURA VIDA! Past Review
By Dakota Stanley (Stephen F. Austin State University) - abroad from 08/06/2016 to 08/19/2016 with
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Traveling - Cross-Cultural Learning, Costa Rica
I learned how it feels to be a minority. It is not easy living in a country that speaks Spanish. I am not fluent in Spanish, however, I did adjust and learn phrases that helped me speak with the locals. You come into the country with preconceived ideas, but you leave the country with a totally different perspective. I gained a better understanding of another culture's way of life. Things were so different there, but I really loved learning and soaking it all in!
Review Photos
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. |
This course has the perfect amount of work for the time in- country. The course load is not overwhelming, and the article readings and discussions are so helpful and interesting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Dr. Armstrong was amazing! Great leader and facilitator. He knows the country in and out, and always made sure that everyone was safe and taken care of. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We stayed in hotels and bed and breakfasts. All of the living arrangements were manageable. Some places we stayed did not have air conditioning, but we survived! On the other hand, we stayed a few nights at a beautiful place with an ocean view and air conditioning! |
| * Food: |
Two words: Gallo Pinto! The food in Costa Rica was amazing. Fresh fruit (pineapple, watermelon, papaya) was served daily, there were mostly non-processed meals, the organic coffee was so good, and the veggies were delicious. Two thumbs up! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
100% integrated! Dr. Armstrong did not hold us back from engaging and immersing ourselves into the Latino culture. We rode the public bus, hailed taxis, ate at authentic restaurants, mingled with the locals, spoke Spanish (if we could), and felt as if we were living as a Costa Rican for two weeks. I feel like I learned so much about the culture in such a short period of time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We did not have any health issues. |
| * Safety: |
We did not encounter any safety issues during our trip. However, it is so important to always be on a lookout and watch over your personal belongings--especially on buses and other areas where theft could easily occur. The hotels had safes inside the rooms so you could lock up things like your passport, money, medicine, or anything else with value. We did witness a fight in Quepos, but the best thing to do is not get involved and turn the other way. Always, ALWAYS travel in groups of 2 or more people. You never want to be out alone even if you think you'll be okay. Tourists are the ones that will most likely be targeted because the locals know that you come to their country with money and a passport. Just always be careful and smart! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This is a great program for anyone seeking something new and fresh. You get a new outlook on life when you experience living in Costa Rica. Dr. Armstrong is an amazing teacher. He helped us out so much during the trip and we learned a lot in 2 weeks. I would encourage anyone going into the education business to really consider this study abroad adventure! |
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) |
The trip was not cheap. You could spend very little of you wanted, but things add up quickly after the hotels, bus rides, taxis, food, souveniers, etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $300-$400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't spend it all in the beginning! Create a budget spreadsheet that way you can have a general idea of how much you are spreading each day and how much you have left for the trip. A girl actually did this and it made me wish I would have done the same thing. Their currency is also different. They use colones. You can research more about the money exchange before you visit the country. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? | More Spanish!!! I would have loved to be able to hold more conversations with the locals. |
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. |
