Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I left half my Heart in Costa Rica Past Review

By (University of Houston) - abroad from 06/25/2016 to 08/06/2016 with

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how people in another culture live day to day and how their values and lifestyle differs from the US. I got way more comfortable speaking spanish with native speakers, and became a better listener

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

we got to know the staff, locals, and other travelers so well. the program is really intimate and has a nice family atmosphere

Finances

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? i spend maybe $10 or $20 on food if i wanted to go out or maybe get extra coffee
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? try to eat at home as much as possible an if taking extra weekend trips stay in hostels and ask for packed lunches

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? beginner 1502
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? change the language on your phone and computer to spanish and try not to read much in english, so you start to think in the foreign language. spend time talking to your host family they are so eager to help with your language.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Host family lifestyle
  • included clubs (like yoga and latin dance)
  • the los lagos hotel was beautiful
* What could be improved?
  • there were many activities on the initial calendar that were cut out
  • more communication about timelines would be nice
  • maybe with the nicaragua excursion we could leave on saturday and come back on tuesday to avoid all the awful traffic from the long weekend
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish i studied spanish more before i went to review cause my host family didnt speak english

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'