Small-town feel, big-time experiences, many excellent friends Past Review
By Chase D (Biology, Business, University of Nevada - Reno) - abroad from 01/17/2011 to 05/18/2011 with
USAC Costa Rica: San Ramón - Life Sciences, Spanish Language, and Culture
I learned how to speak Spanish. I renewed my faith in humanity as a whole (people are good). I am now much more accepting of different types of people (more so than I would have otherwise knew existed).
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses were challenging, but not so difficult that I wasn't able to experience the town, country, and culture. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site staff are some of the greatest people I have ever met. They are only a phone call or short walk away from helping you with or solving any and all questions or problems you may have. Very nice and very helpful. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I host family made me feel like a member of the household. I came to enjoy (and now miss) the beans and rice and meat that my host mama always made. They were also very accommodating if ever I wanted to go out to the bars at night. They understand we are still college kids in a foreign land and may want to stay out late or leave town on the weekends to travel. My host family even took me to family outings and to their family farm out in the countryside. |
| * Food: |
Costa Rica isn't exactly known for their food. While it is still very good and I ate a lot of it, it isn't exactly traditional Thai, Basque, or Italian food. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I stayed with a host family, so I literally became a part of the culture. They taught me the customs, food, culture, etc. Also, all the locals, whether at the university, at the park, or even at the bars late at night, are very nice and accepting to have you and teach you their ways. If a local asks you if you want to dance, accept it! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
When I went spear fishing in the Caribbean (on my own time, outside of USAC), I ruptured my ear drum when free diving, which ended up giving me an ear infection. I talked to the program coordinator (Claudia), who made a call up to the hospital to get me in immediately for free. Claudia joined me to see the local doctor, who gave me antibiotics just the same as would happen here in the US. USAC will definitely help with any issue you may have medically that may happen. I also volunteered/had an internship (for credit) in the hospital and in the operating room with one of the local orthopedic surgeons. This gave me an excellent look into their healthcare system. They have a functioning universal healthcare system, so whenever anyone ever gets sick in any way, they just go to the hospital for help. There are not any truly prevalent health issues within Costa Rica. Out in the middle of nowhere in the broad open countryside rainforests, incidences of Malaria have been found, but those do not exist at all in almost all of Costa Rica, so don't worry much about it. (As compared to Nicaragua, which has plenty of Malaria.) |
| * Safety: |
San Ramon is a very safe town. Numerous times I have walked late at night without incidence. While it is ALWAYS a bad idea to walk by yourself, late at night down a dark alleyway in the rough part of town, San Ramon is a safe area without much threat. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
Costa Rica is still a developing nation, so the cost of living is lower than for example the US or Europe. However, Costa Rica is a touristed country, so the money influx from tourism has increased the standard of living for most Costa Ricans, which has also brought up the prices on items. (If you want super cheap everything, cross the border into Nicaragua. Everything is very inexpensive.) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Hard to judge. I would bring extra money for alcohol/bars if you are into that and even more for outside travels (STRONGLY recommended to travel outside of USAC). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring sun screen! The Costa Rican sunscreen is VERY expensive and mediocre. Pack light to minimize baggage costs (you need maybe a carry-on and a check). Do not buy or bring any clothes that you would not wear at home. If you won't wear it at home, you won't wear it abroad, so there is not reason to buy it. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
The USAC staff is always speaking the language and helping you. The language classes are almost entirely in Spanish. My host family spoke almost purely Spanish (very minimal English). The locals at the university, bars, etc. all speak Spanish to you. While you do not have to speak Spanish to go here by any means, you will constantly be using the language. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish Conversation (Span 305 at my university) |
| 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? | ALWAYS use it. Make an excuse to use it. Don't even put yourself in a situation to speak English. Take language courses before going, although it isn't mandatory to. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring sunscreen! Bring less clothes and stuff. Money is just money, and you can always make more; where are you going to find a better place to spend your money than Costa Rica and studying abroad? |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
