Awesome nature and a fun experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most of the classes are not very rigorous, so you have lots of free time to explore the culture and the country, which was nice. However, if academic rigor is really important to you and you would rather give up free time to focus on academics, you might want to consider a different program through a different university in Costa Rica.

On-site administration of your program

The administration was usually helpful, but sometimes seemed overprotective. Overall though, they were well-organized and the program went smoothly.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I got my own room, while still having another student in the house with me, which was really nice. The program really wants you to do a homestay, which almost everyone did. It is nice to immediately have contacts in Costa Rica and a look into everyday life and culture in Costa Rica. However, if you feel like you would prefer a different host family for any reason, don't hesitate to make the change. Lots of students did it while I was there, and were much happier afterwards. Also, you do have the option of staying in an apartment instead. One student switched to an apartment part way through, and was way happier there. Don't feel awkward or guilty about changing housing or host families if you aren't very happy with yours; You are paying for the experience, and it should be working for you.

Costa Rican food is extremely bland and boring. It isn't usually gross, but most of it has no flavor. However, if you stay with a host family, it is nice to have all of your meals made so that you don't have to worry about it. Some people's families made better food than others'.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Costa Rican culture is not hard to get used to. It was my first time out of the country, but it really didn't feel that foreign to me in most ways. I didn't get to know hardly any locals besides my host family, but other students did. If you want to make local friends, you have to make the effort to really put yourself out there.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no personal experience with this, but another student on my program got very sick and had to spend a few days in the hospital, and he seemed pretty satisfied with how everything worked out and the help he received. I don't know how it impacted him financially, though. They tell you on the website that you don't need to get any special vaccines before you go, but I decided to rely on the CDC info instead, and got the typhoid and Hep. A vaccines. I would stay on the safe side and listen to the recommendations on the CDC website.

I thought it was very safe. Just like anywhere else, keep an eye on your belongings when you go out, or someone will probably take them. Don't leave your things unattended. And careful with cars, drivers are pretty crazy and aggressive, so never assume you have the right-of-way as a pedestrian. Look both ways when you cross the street, and wear your seatbelt in cars. Otherwise, I never felt that my safety was threatened in Costa Rica.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

How much money you spend depends on how often you travel and go out at night. I spent a total of about $650 during the 15-week semester, but some weeks I spent quite a bit of money to travel, and other weeks I spent nothing. I would guess that I spent less than many of the other students. The maximum bus fare for traveling roundtrip from San Jose to most anywhere in Costa Rica is about $26 ($13 each way), plus about a dollar from Heredia to San Jose each way by bus. From San Jose to the closest Pacific beaches (Jacó or Puntarenas) one way is about $5. When I was there you could find a hostel for $10/night, but maybe a little more in the dry season (dry season = spring semester). Drinks in Costa Rica aren't outrageous, but they aren't cheap either, $3 or $4 for a cheap Costa Rican beer. Same with food, not super expensive or super cheap, usually at least $5 for a meal in a soda (Costa Rican diner). Also, you should know that even though the excursions included in the program are mostly covered, but there are random smaller expenses that are not covered, (like most meals, water bottles in places where you can't drink the water, and the border crossing fee on the Nicaragua or Panama trip), that you should plan for.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The directors try to encourage you to use Spanish, but it is up to you to make yourself use it. You will be around a lot of other English-speaking students on the program, and you guys will want to talk, and you'll want to talk in English because it is easier and more fun. If you really want to improve your Spanish, you will have to be very self-disciplined and speak Spanish even when everyone else is speaking English. You might want to make an agreement with whoever you can that you guys will always speak Spanish to each other unless it is an emergency. I planned on speaking way more Spanish than I actually ended up speaking.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• Traveling on the weekends
• Getting to know the other students
• Being in a Spanish-speaking country

• The food (but that goes for the whole country)

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