Costa Rica; The Most Beautiful Country in the World- and a Study Abroad Program just as awesome!! Past Review
By Rachel M (Latin American studies, Rutgers University - Camden) for
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
Not only was I immersed in a language and culture and felt completely comfortable in doing so from the beginning, but I literally made some of my best friends here at this program, both other students that were also in the program, and other people from the host country that I met while I was there! I feel like a completely different person since the moment I got on the plane to come back home, and without a doubt it is for the better! I have already returned to Costa Rica since then, and have plans to go again!!!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was a lot, but the perfect amount needed in order to properly learn a language1 The immersion was the biggest part of the experience, and so having the homework and projects alongside made it all the more easier to learn and get even more involved. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our directors completely went ABOVE and BEYOND in every single aspect! They did not treat this work as a job, they genuinely always made us feel comfortable by always having support for us on and off campus, gave us their phone numbers to feel comfortable calling them. The directors exceeded all of my expectations. They are absolutely wonderful people and I even consider them a friend now! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Costa Rica has the most delicious meals ever and my mom never once cooked the same meal in the month and a half that I was there. That was truly an amazing experience and something I have missed ever since. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every weekend we would go on excursions to different sights throughout the country. As a group it was awesome because it provided us with a great bonding experience, as well as opened our eyes to some of the most beautiful things this country had to offer. Throughout the week we would also even have other cultural activities like dance lessons, yoga classes, cooking classes and much more. There was always something we could be partaking in, you can never get home-sick because there are so many things to stay busy with!! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Never encountered a single problem with safety, nor did anyone else in the time I was there! The city isn't the most safest place, but then again, just like any other city, you wouldn't walk around by yourself anyway! Just always be on guard, but there was never any sense of uncomfort the entire time I was there! |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Not only did we speak nothing but spanish with our host families, the directors and other faculty members would always continue to speak to us in spanish, to keep us fully submersed in the language! What was even more amazing was that after just a few days of being there, all of my "American" friends and I refused to talk in english with eachother (unless absolutely necessary). This COMPLETELY immersed us 24/7 in the language and it was amazing how quickly I picked up the entire language in such a short amount of time because of it!! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | GO! I absolutely promise you will not regret it!!!!! |
