I'm Returning to San Ramon For Sure Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Intermediate Spanish class was very productive and helpful, and the material learned was very relevant to everyday life so you are constantly hearing and using it. Since I came here to focus on my Spanish, it was great to have so much to dedicated to the language, whether it was going outside and practicing, or studying for the class. Not that much studying was required, so there's plenty of time to go explore San Ramon and other parts of Costa Rica. I loved every aspect about studying in San Ramon. Studying abroad is what you make of it. Since I wanted more opportunities to practice Spanish, I was able to find many resources to help me. If you go in there knowing what your goal is, there are resources to help you achieve it!

On-site administration of your program

Very flexible with scheduling your classes. There is always someone in the office that can help you. And if they don't know, they help you to ask and find the answer. Lucy is wonderful, and super helpful. Gerardo is the "papa" of the group and is more than just an administration worker. Everyone is great and approachable.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I love my host family. I was nervous at first because I didn't speak Spanish and they didn't speak English. But that was better because it forced me to learn. The families are all very sweet and considerate from talking to my friends. Ticos in general are amazing people, especially "Monchos" or the people of San Ramon. San Ramon is by far the best location in Costa Rica, because of the cozy town and people in it, and just the convenience of getting around to places. My room is pretty large, i was even surprised. The houses are comfortable and there is wifi. USAC does a great job with finding amazing host families. I was the first student that my host family had, but they did great. I am very close to my host dad, and we play soccer and run together. i go to places around San Ramon with my host family as well, They give me my privacy, do the laundry weekly, and are very clean. Home stay is one of the best experiences of studying abroad for me.

5 stars for my family's food. I always get 3 square meals a day, and most of the time coffee and bread in the afternoon. They let me know when food is ready and i go out to the kitchen to eat. Beans go with just about every meal, and rice as well. But its pretty healthy since everything is just boiled. The sides are different, sometimes chicken, sometimes fish. Even though it sounds boring (and it can be), the food is in one way bad tasting at all. There's plenty of options to eat out as well, but thats just spending more of your own money. The meals with your family are included in the fee, and it's always nice to eat with the family! There's lot of fruits, particularly pineapples and mangos. They are big on fruit smoothies as well. My family makes fresh pineapple juice, mango juice, rasberry juice, and tamarind juice. theres' more, i'm sure, but these are just what i can remember. Overall, Food is good!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had a great experience getting to know the people of Costa Rica. On the weekdays, I am in town and working at my internship, which exposes me to tico customers. I also talk to store owners or workers when i go to buy snack or other items. People are very friendly and helpful in san ramon. I stress "San Ramon" because in bigger cities like San Jose, it's just like another city in the United States: lots of apathetic people who are busy, and crooked taxi drivers who want to make more of your money. On weekends, I go on trips with my friends throughout Costa Rica. It is really easy to take the bus to a different city or place in Costa Rica, and I did this almost very weekend. Stayed in hostels and met very cool Costa Ricans as well as people from around the world who are traveling. I learned a lot about the culture because of my family and the festivals in San Ramon as well.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is an international insurance that you get with the tuition, but i never used it. i'm not too familiar with this, but i know that getting medicine at pharmacies is really easy. just ask for what you need and they give it to you. pharmacists work just as well as doctors in Costa Rica, since CR pharmacists can prescribe medicine as well, unlike US pharmacists.

San Ramon is very safe in the daytime. Girls get catcall from tico guys all the time, but that is just part of the culture here. Just ignore, or if you want, throw out a "pura vida" and be on your way. People in San Ramon friendly and acknowledge your existence. At night, it's always better to walk with someone else. Stay on well lit streets and walk in the middle of the road so you can have a better view of everything. I didn't have much problems at night, but I did have a friend who was followed by a car. luckily there were people on the next street that she knew, and so the car just drove away. Just don't be stupid and lose track of where you are. In crowded areas, pickpocketing does occur. a couple of my friends had their cell phones stolen because they werent keeping an eye on it. just keep things in front of you and you'll be fine. San Ramon is a small town so it is safer. larger cities are more dangerous, with drugs and mugging that happen pretty often. I never witnessed anything, but that is just what people say about San Jose.

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

Food is all included in the tuition, so eating at home saves a lot. I didn't snack much either because the portions were huge every meal. I only had problem with money when i went on weekend trips. Thats when i have to pay for transportation, food, hostel, and activities. But on weeks that i dont leave town, I may spend less than 5 dollars.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Language classes aren't even required. the only encouragement is maybe from Gerardo, who sometimes makes you speak to him in spanish when asking a question.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• The people (host family, USAC group, Tico friends)
• Location and vicinity to everything (forests, ocean, rivers)
• Experience to study abroad and be on your ow

• Panama trip could have more activities included for the money we pay
• "Tico Friends" conversation exchange

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer