Best month of my life! Past Review
By Stacy H (Colby-Sawyer College) - abroad from 06/02/2012 to 06/30/2012 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I not only became so much more confident in my Spanish, I also became so much more confident in myself. Traveling alone really forces you out of your comfort zone and makes you be in charge. It's exactly what I needed and now I honestly feel like I can do anything.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad Latina |
| 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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I did not do too much souvenir shopping, but I still found myself spending a lot of money. Taxi's and food really does add up, so just be prepared. |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish III in High School |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak as much as you can. It's scary and intimidating and I was always embarrassed about saying something wrong. But just go for it, you learn so much and become so much more confident when you speak. |
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? | I wish I knew how fast it goes by. Four weeks seems like so long at the beginning…then all of a sudden you're packing our bags to come home! |
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