Costa Rican Adventure Past Review
By Aricia M (Biology: Ecology and Evolution, University of California - Merced) for
University of California EAP (UCEAP): Monteverde - Tropical Biology & Conservation, Monteverde Institute
I said no, only because I want to see and visit other places. But I am determined to one day return to Costa Rica and see more of the country that I did not get a chance to visit. I gained some wonderful research experience, but this program has also made me realize that I don't want to be an academic for the rest of my life.
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. |
Workload was manageable but very time consuming. There was little separation between academics and life. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Professors and instructors were always available to help and answer questions, but sometimes it seemed like things were not well organized and did not go smoothly |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Easy for vegetarians however Costa Rican food by nature is not very diverse or flavorful. Meals were repetitive and involved a lot of rice, beans, and pasta. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There wasn't much to do in Monteverde, so we spend a lot of time at the bars. The field trips were great, and I learned a lot. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall the program felt very safe. I never felt as though I were any imminent danger. I took a typhoid vaccine and contracted giardia (but that was quickly cleared up with medicine). Anyone with common sense can navigate this program safely. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | All costs are covered before you leave. If you don't buy anything for personal use (extra food, drinks, buses to travel, etc) you will spend minimal amounts |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | As one of the most touristy countries in Latin America, Costa Rica is more expensive than other countries. Taxis can also cost a lot if you go alone |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Bring a good, waterproof jacket and an umbrella. Otherwise, pack light |
