Sol Education Abroad Trumps All Programs - The Experience of a Lifetime Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload at the Universidad Latina was very manageable. I took an advanced Spanish class with Sol (which I took with other girls who were also in the Sol program) as well as two classes with local Costa Ricans. The Spanish class was very useful and helped me learn grammar and common phrases that the Costa Ricans use. We did a lot of speaking in class, which was great practice. As for the classes with locals (I took painting and public speaking), they were challenging because the professors only used Spanish. Overall though, it helped me make a lot of Costa Rican friends and really helped me become comfortable with the language. The professors are very lenient, not nearly as strict as those in the U.S. The grading is about the same as in the States, but I'd say there is not as much work required to obtain an A in most classes.

On-site administration of your program

The administration of Sol Education was outstanding. It is one of the main reasons that I decided to enroll in the program. They responded very quickly to my emails (usually within 24 hours) and were extremely helpful on the phone. They were very knowledgeable about Costa Rica and were able to provide me with useful information about the country and its culture. The size of the program was the only thing I was hesitant about; it is smaller than the majority of other study abroad programs. But while I was abroad, I realized that the size of the program was exactly what allowed the experience to feel so personable and comfortable. It allowed us to do things that other programs would not be able to do (like go on certain excursions, do cultural activities with the locals, etc.). The program exceeded my expectations.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed with a host mom in a very friendly neighborhood. The walk to Universidad Latina was less than 10 minutes. There were usually a fair amount of things going on at nighttime; the only drawback was having to take a taxi everywhere I went. I did not have to buy any items like sheets or cookware because it was all provided. I was treated like a family member in my host mom's house. She gave me the biggest hug when I first met her when I came from the airport. She cooked almost every single meal for me, went above and beyond her duties to make me feel welcomed and at home.

The food was outstanding! My host mom was very good about making sure I liked her meals. She was very flexible with her cooking. She told me she had had a former student who was a vegetarian, and that she cooked for that student accordingly and with pleasure. The quantity of food served is always massive no matter where you go in Costa Rica, but that's a part of their culture. If you're looking for a place to eat in Heredia, check out La Luna for some Spanish Cuisine. A little pricey, but worth it!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

One of the cultural events that my friends and I went to on our own was the Festival of the Bulls in Escazu. It was so much fun to see the parade of the bulls with their traditionally-painted, colorful carts behind them. Everyone was dressed up in traditional Costa Rican outfits. The festival gave us a chance to be outside and hang out with the locals. At one point, we also went to a super cheap market in downtown San Jose where bargaining is encouraged. We got a lot of inexpensive Costa Rican goods to take home to family and friends. Sol Education organized a lot of incredible excursions (covered by the program fee) including Manuel Antonio, Volcan Arenal, Volcan Barva and La Fortuna. Some cultural activities we did included salsa lessons from a local teacher, cooking classes from a Costa Rican woman, visiting a coffee plantation, volunteering at an exotic animal shelter, and more.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Heredia is a very safe city - much safer than the capital, San Jose. I took a taxi almost everywhere I went, at different times of night and day, and I never had a problem with the safety. There was one incident that happened to the other girls I was studying abroad with. We visited Montezuma (independently from the program), and although the program director had been very adamant about safety precautions, the girls left some of their belongings unattended on a beach at nighttime. Needless to say, their things were stolen. But if you're smart about protecting your stuff and always keeping it with you, there should never be a problem like that. I also had an incident where I jumped into a shallow pool and injured my ankle. I went to the hospital, and the experience was much like that in the United States. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the process went pretty smoothly. Also, I did not get any vaccines specifically for studying abroad in Costa Rica.

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

I practiced Spanish every single day. First of all, it was necessary because I lived with a host family, and none of the family members spoke English. Living with a host family made all the difference in the improvement of my speaking skills because it allowed me to learn how to ask for everyday necessities and practice conversation. I also interacted with other locals my age, who I met at the university or in dance class. About half of the Costa Ricans have a basic knowledge of English, and will switch to that if they notice that you're from the U.S. It can be frustrating if you're trying to practice the foreign language, but if you let them know you want to work on your Spanish, they will usually be understanding and communicate with you in Spanish. I did find myself speaking English with the other girls in my program just because it was easier and so much faster. Overall, there was a huge improvement in my speaking skills.

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• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

• Host family
• Cultural activities
• Excursions

• More volunteer opportunities
• Assitance with budgeting