You need to go to Costa Rica and this is why: Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses vary in difficulty. AS a history major, my classes had a lot of reading, which was time consuming to do in spanish. One good thing, though, is that all reading materials are photocopied, even entire textbooks due to the low imports of textbooks, so reading materials are super cheap. Academically, you can expect to do essays, group projects, and probably some presentations, which can be daunting. Still, at the end of the year, it felt really good to be able to stand up in front of a class and speak in spanish for half and hour and do it well. Most classes, though are not too difficult, and generally a step below Tufts caliber. The students as well are a little bit less involved. For example, a lot of students would have no compunction about taking seven or eight years to graduate if they end up taking several classes twice. There is also the option to take an extra exam at the end of the semester to boost your grade up to a passing level. Believe me, that can come in handy! But let me be clear about one thing: whatever anxiety you may have about struggling academically or speaking in front of a class because of your spanish skills, do not let that be the reason you don't pick this program. It is worth every minute that you are there.

On-site administration of your program

Isa and Zaida are the two of the most amazing costa Ricans I know, and that is saying something. They speak absolutely perfect english, and are hugely helpful. It is impossible not to become their friend. They will hold you hand every step of the way and assist with any problems you may have. The Grupo de Kansas office exists just to serve the needs of this program's students. I often went by there several times a week, whether to ask a question, use a computer, or just chat with them or other students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Houses are generally small but comfortable. You may be surprised at first that every house has bars on the windows and razor-wire topping the fences, but I suspect that this is because if you are the one person not to have this security, you make yourself an obvious target. Houses are much nicer on the inside. It is a somewhat urban setting. The central valley of Costa Rica contains the three biggests cities and numerous suburbs which all run into each other. You will be just a short bus ride away from the university. Inside, I had a nice room to myself and my family respected my privacy. All the usually ammenities were provided, included wireless internet, which is becoming quite common among the host families. I was in a pretty safe neighborhood, and I had no worries about walking around and exploring. There are bad neighborhoods in the city, but you will learn all about safety and security during orientation.

You will find but few Costa Rican restaurants in the US and that is for a reason. The food is good but not exceptional. The national dish is rice and beans, which I shocked myself by learning to love. There is less meat on the menu, being more expensive, but plenty of interesting fruits and vegetables which can be nutritious and tasty, like mango, pineapple, yuca, plantain and tons more. It is a really great place for healthy eating. When you get back, you will understand why 1/3 of americans are obese. Overall, i'd say that meals are not the highlight of the trip, but there is some hearty and satisfying food to be had.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There are plenty of opportunities to experience culture outside of class. The best thing to do is travel as much as possible, which is fairly easy to do. The university sponsors lots of events to. One interesting thing is that there aren't clubs and societies in the way that Tufts does, but you can get involved in sports pretty easily (especially if that sport is soccer). Also, there is a lively nightlife around the U, and many take advantage of the 18 year old drinking age.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't get sick, except for occasional indigestion. In fact, I was much healthier than I was in the US. There is a clinc on campus and hospitals nearby. Security is something to be aware of. People don't wander around much at night, expect in certain areas like near the U. Students have been robbed in the past, though I don't know of any violent crime. Basically it's down to vigiliance and common sense. I had my backpack stolen while riding a bus to the beach, because I put it in the overhead bin instead of keeping it in my lap, which is the best thing to do. I wouldn't say that this is a big reason not to do the program, however.

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

Since you will be doing a homestay, you will find plenty of opportunities to speak spanish. In fact, I would recommend requesting a family with kids, as this makes the house more lively and conversation more interesting. A lot of these families have single moms, and they consider this to be their job. For example, my mom had hosted literally 44 other students before me, dating back to 1985 or so. This is a very good thing, because they know all the kinds of problems that we students have in a new country, and there is really nothing that you can do to embarrass yourself around them, hard as you may try. They are great people to ask whenever you have a language problem. I was very nervous my first night on the car ride to my new house, stuttering over sentences and not sure if I was understanding, but it really just takes patience. Give yourself time, and give yourself credit for all the things you do right. Here's a huge tip, and really don't underestimate the power of this: whenever you spend time talking to other americans in the program, do it in spanish. If you get your mind in the habit of talking only in spanish, with no interruptions in english, you'll be thinking (and dreaming) in spanish before you know it. The gap in the level of spanish language skills between the people who did and didn't follow this advice was extraordinarily pronounced at the end of the program.

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• Host Family

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• Local Students