Travel, adventure, studies and friendships Past Review
By Wynne Ebner (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/06/2018 to 07/23/2018 with
University of Costa Rica: San Jose - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained a broader world perspective and stronger Spanish and lifelong friendships. It was definitely worth while.
Review Photos
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. |
There was a lot of coursework but it was not graded very harshly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very helpful, always open to answering questions and very available |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family and had a great relationship with her. |
| * Food: |
Lots of carbs and friend food but overall tasty. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Crime was random and relatively frequent if you let yourself be a target or have bad luck. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved the length of time I was there, the other people in my program and the coordinators. |
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) |
2.5-- I didn't have to buy my own food except for travel. Travel was pretty cheap but I traveled a lot and it added up. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes |
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 |
It encouraged foreign language use through having host families. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 at Middlebury |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with native speakers and spend time with them |
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 Costa Ricans are some of the kindest people and most people want to help. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
The History of Women in Costa Rica |
| Course Department: | History |
| Instructor: | Prof. Eugenia Rodriguez |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Lots of reading, class discussion, exams and group work |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Art |
| Course Department: | Art |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Not extremely challenging but fun and laid back. Practice drawing and art theory. |
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| Course Name/Rating: |
Geography of Central America |
| Course Department: | Geography |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Anthropology |
| Course Department: | Anthropology |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
