SFS = adventure, natural beauty, field work Past Review
By James M (Environmental Studies., Trinity University) for
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Costa Rica – Ecological Resilience Studies
Absolutely worthwhile. I'm much more of a culture relativist now. Although I'm not sure exactly how my experiences will play a part in my life later down the road, they've definitely ingrained a love for field work into me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The reading load was pretty substantial but actual graded homework was minimal. Most classes were lectures, debates, or discussions. Tests weren't too bad, not as bad as Trinity's |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program has been in Costa Rica for a long time and is well prepared for almost any disaster |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The students and professors at Manu lived in small wood cabins with only the bare necessities. While living conditions definitely weren't as pampered as back home, I couldn't have enjoyed it more. The simple lifestyle allowed for a totally different experience than what I was used to and allowed me to embrace my surroundings |
| * Food: |
The food was a little scarce at times. Don't be shy about talking to advisors and asking that cooks prepare a little more. since the program is geared towards sustainability they try to keep waste to a minimum |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Panama City. If the program isn't still offering a trip to Panama City, do it anyway. Be careful though, the cops won't hesitate to ask for bribes; I've never been in a more corrupt/fun/adventurous place. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
SFS is extremely cautious as far as putting students in dangerous situations. They're also pros bout dealing with medical emergencies. I became deathly sick towards the end of the program and they couldn't have treated me better. |
| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Spending money really isn't a concern with SFS. 1.) tuition is far cheaper than Trinity's 2.) you're isolated on campus the majority of the time but when you go on trips, everything is provided for you 3.) the only time you spend money is when you go out socializing (even then, things are considerably cheaper than in the states) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The language component was the part of the program I was least satisfied with. Since I lived on the research station with mostly Americans, the majority of my Spanish speaking was done during a Spanish class that was held once a week. I didn't expand my Spanish proficiency as much as I had hoped. |
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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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? | Tupe of Student: Outdoorsy, oriented towards biology/envi. sci, flexible |
