Costa Rica Became My Second Home! Past Review
By Dionne D (Nutrition & Biology, University of Nevada - Reno) for
USAC Costa Rica: Puntarenas - Spanish Language, Ecological, and Latin American Studies
My life would not be the same without this experience. I learned so much about myself and made some life long friends along the way. I've definitely been given a new outlook on, and appreciation of, the rest of the world. Not one experience is alike, so you'll just have to see for yourself.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors and their teaching stlyes were helpful and fun. I learned more than can be taught by a book. The experiences that the professors shared in class impacted my learning so positively. I loved my teachers! They were my family. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The head administrators of the program were not very helpful nor friendly, but the rest of the faculty made up for it ten fold. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family and my housing accomodations was very nice in comparison to the rest. Everything was provided for me. The city itself is not extremely safe, with petty theif being a regular occurance. However, I never had any trouble. The school was a few minutes from my house by bike. Everything was very close and accessible including nightlife, the beach, and transportation for easy travel through Costa Rica. |
| * Food: |
Beans and rice, beans and rice, beans and rice. There are definitely great places to eat, however. You just have to scope out the city. There is great pizza behind the cathedral, and a pretty good restaurant next door to school. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
You MUST do the group trip! In the fall semester the trip is to panama, and in the spring to Nicaragua. It is the best time you will ever have. It's a tid pricy but so worth it. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
My language improved immensely! I went knowing nothing and left feeling comfortable with my spanish speaking abilities. |
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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