Unforgettable? Faith-forming? Challenging? Worth it? Yes, yes, yes! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program classes were not challenging, but the classes with locals were fun, challenging, and a huge growth experience.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my host family!!!!!!!!!!! They were so welcoming and excited about having me in their home. My host family's open arms are just a microcosm of the way that all of Costa Rica welcomed us not simply as tourists, but rather students of their language and their culture.

So yummy. So good all the time! My

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt at home after a few weeks in Heredia. I was able to navigate buses, join in with a Catholic Church, and enjoy my time very soon after the semester started.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The first week, I got an ear infection. After talking with my director, she took me to a clinic where a doctor looked at my ear and confirmed that it was infected. Janiva made sure I understood everything in English and Spanish. Then, I was given a few medications and I healed within the next two weeks.

A girl in the program was walking alone one night, talking on the phone and she was followed home. However, that only happened because she was alone when we were instructed to take taxis and was walking by herself. The city is safe if you are smart, but you just have to follow instructions, be aware of your surroundings, and make good choices. I would advise students to pay attention whenever you go to a new place, remember where bus stations are, take note of suspicious-seeming characters, and never walk with headphones in or your eyes on your phone. Being safe means being responsible for yourself. Also, girls would be wise to not walk alone at night or at dusk, and groups are better than individuals. Many of my Solmates about a month into the program still didn't know where to get on and off various buses, and that seemed irresponsible to me.

Yes and no. I don't regret the program I chose at all! I loved it. The only thing that makes me think I wouldn't do the program again is that now I've already experienced Costa Rica, and I want to see more of the world!

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

I didn't have to spend hardly any money during the week if I didn't want. Costs incurred during the week were taxi and bus rides, ice cream, and extra snacks. On weekends or traveling, you might spend more on food if you went out, on souvenirs, and on other shopping. Tickets to travel to the beach were very cheap -- something like 8 dollars for a 5 hour bus ride.

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

We were more frequently encourage to use Spanish at the beginning of the program. It died off as time went on, but you only had to be willing to use Spanish and others would follow suit.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• My host family
• the Catholic Church I found to be a part of
• learning to get around on my own

• Pressure to participate in certain activities
• Insistance that students speak in Spanish

The Academic or Linguist