I Found my Second Home in Heredia, Costa Rica Past Review
By Addison Mathias (Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) - abroad from 09/03/2016 to 12/17/2016 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
Possibly the most worthwhile thing that I have done thus far in my life. I got to generate relationships with people that I never would have gotten to even meet if I hadn't chosen this program. It also helped me cherish my relationships more with the people at home as well.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Always available for whatever we needed, extremely helpful and able to answer all questions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the best host family that there could possibly be, and I lived in a very comfortable home. |
| * Food: |
You have to be open to trying new things, but I liked practically everything that i bought or was cooked for me here! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You have to push yourself to be involved in the culture and if you do that you will be very satisfied. I feel really happy with how comfortable I am in Heredia and how much I know about my surroundings and the people here. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The very moment anyone even felt sick, our program director Janiva would get us right to the health clinic. There were never any chances taken and everyone looked out for everyone. |
| * Safety: |
Heredia is a very safe city, I didn't feel threatened or in danger at all during my stay here. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an incredible experience here, and the reinforcements were never-ending with Sol Abroad. Every person that I came in contact was always helpful, nice, interested in what I was learning and how I was doing. They make you feel important because you are when you are taking the time to learn and live another culture. It's a really special experience with Sol |
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 you want to shop here then you will have trouble with a student's budget, but regarding food and necessities it was very easy. You always have a cooked meal at your host home for every meal of the day, so if you are smart about eating out, etc. then it is very easy! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than $100 |
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 |
All the time, our director would even tell us that she didn't understand English as so to make us speak spanish around her and with each other. |
| 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? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced spanish 1 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak with your host family! They are really willing to help you and correct you with 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? | That you will have more good days than bad days. I was nervous before I came here thinking that I would be sad a lot, or not want to go do stuff but it was the complete opposite of that. |
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.' |
