Life changing and well worth it! Past Review
By Kendall F (Spanish, Lynchburg College) - abroad from 06/21/2014 to 08/02/2014 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
I loved the program! Aside from expanding my international perspective and enhancing my ability to speak Spanish I made so many amazing friends and memories.
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. |
Teachers were so great and I learned a lot and was able to improve my Spanish speaking abilities greatly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff was always very helpful and available anytime someone needed something. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved my host family!!! Could not have asked for a better family to stay with. |
| * Food: |
I love Costa Rican food, it is so fresh and always delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were able to take part in some aspects of the culture and see how people live in Costa Rica. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never experienced any health problems while there. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt safe y taking the necessary precautions and taking taxis or buses when needed and staying in a group. |
| 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) |
If I had budgeted better I could have made my money go farther, but I was able to do everything and try everything I wanted for the money I brought with me. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $150 per week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Wait to buy souvenirs at the end so you know where to buy them. |
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 |
We were always encouraged to speak Spanish and talk to locals as much as we could or wanted. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | 398 special topics class |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | Americans wear shorts... its okay! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
