Best time of my college life!! Past Review
By Aaliyah Amor J (Criminal Justice and Spanish, Michigan State University) - abroad from 05/16/2015 to 07/18/2015 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
I learned to not assume that everyone has the same meantality/thoughts as me and to communicate more effectively! This trip is worthwhile. My host mom and I still keep in contact!!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The grammar classes can be challenging but overall it was a great learning experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Can't think of a time when I needed something and couldn't find help. You are never alone and the program directors will accommodate your needs! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I think I had the best host mom! Haha. We spent a lot of time together. I went to church with her and sometimes went to downtown Heredia with her. I shared a bedroom with a roommate but my overall housing experience was amazing. I felt at home! |
| * Food: |
You can eat a full course meal for $4. But meals are included in program costs and my host mom made sure I didn't miss a meal. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was easy adjusting to the culture. The clothes were similar to what you see in America, the people are friendly, especially my host mom and her friends. It's very common to say "adios" when you see people in the street. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Didn't experience a problem with safety and when my friends and I had to leave at 5am to go to Jaco, never felt like anything was going to happen to me. |
| 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) |
Very easy to live on money there. I stayed 9 weeks and a thousand dollars lasted me. You should bring more if your program is longer and you want to buy souvenirs but you can survive with a few hundred dollars. They suggest you bring $100 for every week you're there |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not sure. I didn't go out much because my host mom always cooked and we were gone on the weekends with some meals included. On average a meal at a resistant won't cost more than $10 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy everything at once! Don't try and buy everything you see neither. And remember to save $29 to leave the country! |
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 |
The professors probably won't know much English and your host families more than likely won't neither. It's great because it means you have to use Spanish! It was highly encouraged and you can't really get around Costa Rica without knowing how to speak in Spanish. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| 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? | SPN 320 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Prepare yourself to learn Spanish and if you've never taken Spanish, you can become fluent in the language within 4 months. Read books and talk to the locals. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | Nothing! It was my first time leaving the country and I wanted to be surprised!!! |
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.' |
