Costa Rica: Changing my View of the World Past Review
By Elizabeth C (Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston) for
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
It was absolutely worthwhile. I learned about a new culture, which really expanded my world-view. I gained confidence in taking care of myself and in speaking another language. I especially loved the emphasis on sustainability that I could see through our excursions, and if I return, I would love to spend some time studying how Costa Rica works towards a more sustainable future.
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 course was only 2 weeks long, so it was very intense. The expectations were high, but not higher than that of an advance Spanish course at my home university. We were expected to spend about 1-2 hours of work outside of class each day. Given that this was only a 2 week course, I found this very reasonable. The grading was not easy, but it wasn't unfair either. The teaching methods were similar to my home university, and I really benefited from the small class size. The only downside was having to wake up very early to get to class by 730 am, but since we lived within walking distance, it wasn't so bad. The class was long, about 4 and a half hours a day, 5 days a week, so there was an endurance factor. All these factors included, I learned quite a bit, and my professor was very good at reviewing old concepts and addressing any issues as they came up. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My expectations were absolutely met. The on-site directors were extremely helpful, and they made me feel very comfortable and safe. I knew that if I had any problem at all, I could go to them and they would help me. The excursions were all well planned, although a couple of times we got started late. The directors not only acted as administrators, but also tour guides, and friends. They were wonderful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing was arranged by the program. My roommate and I got a long very well (we had our own rooms, but we were with the same family). We didn't have to buy or bring any items for our room. Our family always made sure to provide our 3 meals a day and they took us out when we had free days. I never felt unsafe, although it was required to take a taxi after dark. We could walk to class easily, and take a short bus ride into town. The family was extremely nice and welcoming, and very caring towards our needs. I also liked having the roommate, so I didn't feel as scared or nervous. |
| * Food: |
We ate quite a bit of rice and beans. Some students got tired of it, but my host mom always prepared it a little differently and would change things up. She was very perceptive to what we liked and what we didn't like, and would always try to make us new things. It wasn't particularly outstanding, but the food was good. There is also plenty of American food at fast food restaurants there, if you feel like you're missing home. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The excursions were amazing. We went to volcanoes, the beach, ziplining, white water rafting, to the hot springs, along with cultural events like cooking class, dancing class, coffee plantation, and tours of the cities. For 3 weeks, it was far more than I ever expected. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We were always required to take a taxi after dark. Unfortunately, in winter time it gets dark very early (6pm) so that was a little inconvenient. During the day the bus system was more than sufficient. Even after dark, I never felt unsafe. I can't comment much on any health issues. In three weeks I didn't have any problems, except for some allergies. One of the directors went with me to the pharmacy to get some good allergy pills though, since I didn't bring any. |
| 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? |
We got the most Spanish practice in class and in our host homes. In Costa Rica, there is generally enough English to get by in every day situations. The downside was that because we were only there 3 weeks, we were in classes with other American students, and we did all our excursions with them as well, which meant that we did not practice our Spanish all the time. I would encourage future students to go for longer period of time, if possible. And if not, to spend your time at home talking with your family and practicing, not just sitting in your room skyping back home. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I chose this program because it was one of the few that offered a 3 week program with a number of excursions. Costa Rica is known for it's eco-tourism, so the sights are absolutely breathtaking. The people are very considerate and friendly in Costa Rica, and Sol did an excellent job of making us feel safe, comfortable, and making sure we had fun. It is a great experience for someone who wants to travel and practice their Spanish. However, you have to be willing to apply yourself in class as well (it's not JUST a vacation). Also, if someone wants to really learn Spanish and be fluent, they have to spend much longer than 3 weeks. This program was everything I wanted it to be though, and I would definitely recommend it to someone who is looking to see some beautiful sights and to learn about a new culture. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Spanish 1 |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | It was challenging, but I found it very rewarding. It was a review of all the verb tenses including subjunctive, and when to use them. It transferred to my home university as Spanish Grammar Review. The professor was always very prepared. Our class was only 6 students (because it was a mini-class over the winter break) so everyone participated quite a bit. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I did not. |
